Cornerstone laid for the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

“I am truly delighted that today we are able to lay the cornerstone for the building dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation. In doing so, we are taking another important step toward jointly developing the university and the region into a genuine engine of innovation,” said University President Professor Dr. Stefan Leible at the ceremony.

Together with the Regional Innovation Centre (RIZ), the IEI forms a strategic alliance aimed at closely linking cutting‑edge research with practical economic application. This cooperation between the university, the city, and the district is designed to retain talent in the region and to further position Bayreuth as an internationally visible innovation hub.

The new building will offer approximately 1,800 square metres of space for academic chairs and service units focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. It is expected to generate strong impulses for start‑ups, established companies, and regional value creation. Sustainability is a core element of the project: a timber–steel hybrid construction, a photovoltaic system with 64 modules and a total output of around 27 kW, LED lighting, and demand‑controlled ventilation with efficient heat recovery will ensure energy‑efficient and environmentally friendly operation.

The project application was submitted on 1 December 2020, with approval granted by the Bavarian State Parliament’s budget committee on 13 July 2022. Following the commissioning of the general contractor Züblin in November 2025, construction began on 16 March 2026. Completion is scheduled for August 2027, with total costs of approximately €25 million.