With the Budget Committee’s approval for funding the construction of E&I, the starting signal has been given for the transition from planning to the building phase of this major project: the university’s E&I institute and the Regional Start-up and Innovation Centre (RIZ), operated by the city and district. Through these twin buildings, E&I and RIZ, the State of Bavaria, the City of Bayreuth, the local district, and the university are working together to inspire entrepreneurs and sustainably strengthen the regional economy.
Bavaria’s Minister of Science, Markus Blume, is convinced of the hub’s impact: "We are creating an entire start-up orbit for Upper Franconia here. Through close cooperation with regional businesses, an interdisciplinary approach in research and teaching, and open architecture, the institute’s concept is fully geared towards entrepreneurship. Construction can now begin quickly – the handover of the completed building is already planned for 2028. Many thanks to the colleagues in the Budget Committee of the Bavarian State Parliament for this groundbreaking decision. Together we move forward: investment in innovation is the key to a good future."
The news from the State Parliament has been warmly welcomed at the University of Bayreuth. "The Budget Committee’s decision is a strong signal for the future viability of our region. With the new Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, we are creating a place where ideas grow, start-ups emerge, and innovation is lived. The transition to the construction phase marks a decisive milestone – we thank all involved for their trust and support," says University Provost Dr. Nicole Kaiser.
Dr. Petra Beermann, Head of the E&I Institute Office, is equally optimistic: "With the new institute building, we are creating a space where entrepreneurial thinking and academic excellence come together. Alongside the connected RIZ, an innovation hub will emerge that enables start-ups and companies to grow in an innovative environment and position themselves for the future."
About the New Building
By 2028, the five-storey institute building with a total usable area of around 1,800 square metres will be constructed under the direction of the Staatliches Bauamt Bayreuth. The building will house the E&I Institute with its four research groups, a start-up and innovation advisory service led by Dr. Petra Beermann, as well as the Career Service and Outreach section headed by Claas Hinrichs. The following chairs will be located in the new building: Prof. Dr. Matthias Baum, Business Administration XVI; Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Isidor, Human Resource Management & Intrapreneurship; Prof. Dr. Eva Jakob, Social Entrepreneurship; Prof. Dr. Rebecca Preller, Entrepreneurial Behaviour.
Following the principle of “agile working environments”, the new building offers ideal conditions for ideas, projects, and start-up ventures to emerge: the workspace includes individual offices as well as co-working areas as places of innovation. Many offices can be combined into larger spaces by removing system partition walls, allowing flexible long-term use. The building will also include meeting and workshop rooms, exhibition areas, and a café. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The building will be constructed using a timber-steel hybrid design, combining the technical and economic advantages of steel with the sustainability and CO₂ neutrality of wood. The separation and recyclability of materials and construction at the end of the building’s life cycle further underline the sustainability of this approach. To minimise energy consumption, 64 PV modules with a total output of around 27 kW will be installed on the roof. Only energy-saving LED technology will be used for lighting, and the plans include full-surface, demand-driven ventilation with highly efficient heat recovery.
