The
Research Factory
A place where research approaches, ideas, and findings can be tested and directly translated into workable prototypes for industrial applications
The ARENA2036 Research Factory
After winning the “Research Campus: Public-Private Partnership for Innovation” competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the fall of 2012, it became clear that a new building would be constructed to house the emerging research campus—one that would provide a production environment where research approaches, ideas, and findings could be tested and directly translated into practical prototypes for industrial use. The result is a flexible “research factory of the future”—an open coworking space—that has been honored with the Industry Award. Half of the total construction costs for the new building were covered by the European Union (ERDF funds) through the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the other half by the University of Stuttgart.
The heart of the Research Factory is the Research Hall. The front building consists of a reinforced concrete frame structure and houses, across three floors, the office spaces of Startup Autobahn / Plug and Play, the Institute for Entrepreneurship, and the management of ARENA2036 e.V.
The column-free hall space provides room for various experimental setups supporting a flexible production process with freely configurable production steps that combine human and machine operations. The space is divided according to specific applications or projects, with each project being allocated a specific area tailored to its individual needs. In consultation with the research coordination team, new members and new projects are synergistically integrated into the existing hall infrastructure.
On the north side of the hall, on the first floor, is the office wing, which is accessible to all members. The “wing” can be used for various work activities. It features open workspaces, phone booths, meeting rooms, and the necessary facilities for hosting workshops. Two treadmills from the company “walkolution,” which were installed as part of the area’s redesign in late 2025, provide opportunities for physical activity during work. A fully glazed, floor-to-ceiling partition wall separates the space from the main hall while offering a clear view of the activity taking place there.
Virtual Tour of Our Shop Floor
You can see what the warehouse space—commonly known as the “shop floor”—looks like today and get a glimpse into some of the projects here: