Gateway Factory
The Rhineland is set to become Europe’s leading deep tech hub. To achieve this goal, the University of Cologne has partnered with RWTH Aachen University, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, the other Gateway universities in Cologne, and the Start2 Group to launch the Gateway Factory. Through this initiative, the consortium supports high-potential start-ups in scaling their businesses—with the aim of developing them into internationally successful scale-ups.
The region is already one of the strongest start-up ecosystems in Germany. According to the German Startup Monitor, RWTH Aachen ranks 2nd and the University of Cologne 3rd among the top universities for spin-offs. In the past five years alone, over 500 start-ups have been founded here. Still, scaling remains a challenge—particularly for innovation-driven, tech-intensive ventures. Deep tech start-ups often face major barriers when it comes to international financing and growth. This is precisely where the Gateway Factory steps in: providing targeted support to help these start-ups expand and succeed on a global level.
Deep tech start-ups from across Germany and abroad can benefit from the combined strengths of the Gateway Factory’s founding partners. RWTH Aachen brings cutting-edge technological research and deep experience in industrial collaboration. The universities in the business hubs of Cologne and Düsseldorf contribute leading expertise in management and finance. The Start2 Group adds its specialized scaling know-how and access to international networks.
Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure is a key success factor for deep tech start-ups. The Rhineland region stands out with world-class facilities such as the Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL), several Fraunhofer Institutes, the Anlauffabrik, and the Innovation Factory at RWTH Aachen Campus. Start-ups supported by the Gateway Factory gain access to these resources.
Four Core Elements of the Factory
Universities - They are shareholders of the Factory and provide their most promising start-ups.
Horizontals - Cross-industry programs that promote high-potential start-ups regardless of sector.
Verticals - Sector-specific support via knowledge hubs and infrastructure across four verticals—where research excellence meets strong industry ecosystems.
Enablers - Corporates engage as enablers—financially, operationally, or strategically—and benefit in multiple ways from close collaboration with innovative start-ups.
Start-ups also benefit from proximity to customers and talent. The Rhineland is one of Germany’s key economic regions, home to robust industrial networks and about 10 million people. Both B2B and B2C start-ups enjoy excellent market access. The talent pool is vast, with more than 12,000 researchers and around 140,000 students at the participating universities alone.
Ideal conditions for launching and scaling innovative ventures.