wavespace Berlin – Opening of the innovation hotspot
16. November 2018
Berlin has gained a new innovation hotspot: On Wednesday evening in the heart of Kreuzberg the new wavespace was officially opened by etventure and EY, guests of honour such as Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister, as well as 200 other guests from business and the start-up scene. A milestone for etventure and EY and an enrichment for the capital.
“We need places like this if we want our companies to continue to be among the world’s leading”
Innovation and co-creation on more than 1,500 square meters for the implementation of digital ideas: This is what the new wavespace will offer startups and corporates in the future. After more than a year of conception and construction works now the starting signal has been given. Around 200 guests from business and the startup scene attended the event on Wednesday evening to see for themselves the modern project offices, co-working and event areas, prototyping spaces and a data lab. Guest of Honour Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister of Economics and Energy, was enthusiastic about the result, too. “The established industry in Germany definitely needs to work more closely with start-ups in order to catch the innovations that are happening in digitalization,” said Zypries. “That’s why it’s good that there is now a place where start-ups and established companies can work together and develop ideas. We need places like this if we want our companies to continue to be among the world’s leading”.
Brigitte Zypries at the opening event of wavespace Berlin
About one year after the acquisition of etventure in October 2017, the wavespace represents a major milestone in the cooperation between etventure and EY. “It was never about adding two companies, but about creating something completely new together, creating new opportunities and increasing our strengths,” Julie Linn Teigland, Regional Managing Partner GSA EY, emphasized. “This wavespace represents this goal: “We have created something that each and every one of us would not have accomplished on our own. There are now 19 EY Innovation Centers at 16 different locations worldwide. As EY’s first subsidiary, etventure was in charge of the concept, development and expansion of the new wavespace.
Julie Linn Teigland, Regional Managing Partner GSA EY
Laura Kohler, Head of wavespace, and Philipp Herrmann, Founder and Managing Director of etventure, are also happy about the successful wavespace opening. However, the new premises are not to become a new “innovation zoo” in the future, where companies just pay a visit and get to know a few startups. Rather, the aim is to bring different players together to not only develop ideas, but also real digital business. “With wavespace, we want to create a place where companies and start-ups, tech and digital experts work hand in hand to develop new digital business models and implement them directly on site,” says Philipp Herrmann.
wavespace: The next level of co-creation and innovation
At the opening ceremony, the guests had the opportunity to get a first impression of the extensive possibilities in wavespace live on site. In an innovation journey with eight different stations – including Internet of Things, the Data Lab, Platform Economy and Machine Learning – the guests then tried, tested and got inspired. Using virtual reality, the guests were able to paint creative works of art and deposit their business cards to have their initials printed in 3D. These technologies, explored and presented in a rather playful way at the opening event, will hopefully soon be the basis for new innovations in wavespace.
Trends and technologies can be experienced at wavespace Berlin
The starting signal has been given, now an exciting journey full of exchange and innovation begins. The etventure team as well as the first start-ups and digital teams of established companies have already moved into the new premises and the event calendar is well filled. Stay tuned for more!
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