Berlin – Today, CIC, a global leader in building and operating innovation campuses, announced a significant step in its strategic expansion plans with the creation of CIC Berlin. In collaboration with Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management firm, CIC is set to transform the existing shared workspace at the historic Lohmühlenstraße 65 factory near Görlitzer Park into its newest Innovation Campus.
Jamestown, which is serving as the new asset manager for the property, brought in CIC to activate the 14.000-square-meter building as an innovation campus. The project marks the vertically integrated real estate company’s entry into the Berlin market and second project with CIC. CIC is also the largest tenant at Rotterdam’s historic Groot Handelsgebouw, which Jamestown acquired in 2019. Since CIC Rotterdam launched in 2016, it has served more than 900 clients representing companies from around the world, and was recently recognized as one of the Leading Startup Hubs in Europe. This track record of success led to the creation of CIC Berlin, an important expansion of the partnership between the global leaders.
CIC Innovation Campuses seamlessly blend workspace, high-impact programming, and intentional community and culture to serve as physical centers of gravity for local innovation communities. Berlin’s vibrant startup scene and its status as Germany’s innovation hub make it an ideal location for CIC’s expansion. CIC Berlin aims to serve as a nexus for local innovators while providing access to CIC’s expansive global network.
The workspace transition at CIC Berlin began on the first of April, with no interruptions to daily operations for existing tenants while CIC began physical changes to the space to improve client experience and increase collaboration opportunities. CIC has also begun development of key programming for clients and the public alike, spanning innovation-focused workshops, networking opportunities, and industry-focused activities.
The campus will feature a diverse mix of private offices, shared workspaces, event facilities, and amenities. By leveraging its expertise building and growing innovation ecosystems, CIC intends to bolster Berlin’s key sectors, including transport, logistics, mobility; energy technology; media and creative industries; and healthcare.
“Berlin is a pivotal city in the global innovation landscape, and we are proud to expand our partnership with Jamestown, a respected global leader committed to creating physical locations that serve the innovation community, to create CIC Berlin” said Tim Rowe, Founder & CEO, CIC. “Berlin’s role in critical global industries, from healthcare to mobility, energy and many others, has positioned it among the most important cities around the world helping to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time. Together, we aim to create a dynamic environment that catalyzes creativity and enables the incredible entrepreneurs looking for a home in this city to drive forward the next great innovations.”
“CIC’s innovation campuses serve as dynamic hubs that stimulate growth, collaboration, and creativity,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. “Our combined expertise in creating dynamic, community-focused workspaces aligns with Berlin’s culture of innovation and vibrant startup scene. We look forward to continuing our partnership with CIC and bringing a new legacy of innovation to this historic property.”
Since entering the European real estate market in 2019, Jamestown has amassed over EUR 1 billion in assets under management in Europe (as of 31 December 2023) and continues to seek investment opportunities across the continent. Jamestown’s European holdings total approximately 350.000 square meters and include 14 properties across 13 cities and six countries.
With over 40 years of experience in the international market, Jamestown has a long-term ownership and management perspective and is well known for revitalizing historic buildings into mixed-use innovation hubs and community centers.
Jamestown is endeavoring to create a global network of innovation hubs focusing on tech, media, gaming, and climate initiatives. European properties under management include Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam, a portfolio of buildings in Amsterdam’s Schinkel District, the Innovation and Design Building Lisbon, Factory Lisbon, and Schanzenstrasse, a historic, three-building creative office campus in Cologne’s Mülheim neighborhood. In the U.S., Jamestown is known for One Times Square in New York, Industry City in Brooklyn, and Ponce City Market in Atlanta.
Since it was established in 1999, CIC has created the largest startup hubs in the United States, The Netherlands, Poland, Japan, and now Berlin, and has been home to nearly 11,000 clients around the world across its Innovation Campuses. CIC’s expansion to Berlin is part of the company’s broader strategy to establish a presence in leading innovation cities worldwide. With existing campuses in Warsaw and Rotterdam, at the epicenters of innovation, CIC is poised to strengthen its foothold in Europe while actively exploring opportunities in other key global markets. Most recently, CIC announced the creation of its second location in Japan in the city of Fukuoka, and is actively exploring additional opportunities across Asia.
Learn more about CIC Berlin and schedule a tour here.
Jamestown is a global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm with a 40-year track record and mission to create places that inspire. Since its founding in 1983, Jamestown has executed transactions totaling approximately $40 billion. As of December 31, 2023, Jamestown has assets under management of $11.6 billion and a portfolio spanning key markets throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Jamestown employs more than 500 people worldwide with headquarters in Atlanta and Cologne, and offices in Amsterdam, Bogotá, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Current and previous projects include One Times Square and Chelsea Market in New York, Industry City in Brooklyn, Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, the Innovation and Design Buildings in Boston and Lisbon, and Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam. For more information, visit www.jamestownlp.com.
CIC builds and operates a global network of innovation campuses where startups, scale-ups, corporations and public entities connect, work, and grow. Founded in 1999, CIC manages more than 125.000 square meters of innovation-focused workspace, laboratories, and event space across North America, Europe and Asia. Additionally, CIC develops bespoke programming, builds and enables industry clusters, and provides world-class district consulting—all focused on advancing innovation.
Learn more about CIC’s innovation campuses featuring workspace & labs, programming, and events at CIC.com. Follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
