The Ship – Germany’s most digitalized office building is taking shape in Cologne
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This is what The Ship will look like when it’s finished in the first quarter of 2020 © The Ship
A fully digitalized campus complex is currently being constructed in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne. In the future, established companies and startups alike will come together here and benefit from knowledge sharing in the Acceleration Deck.
The Ship
About 500 jobs will be offered by the companies occupying the 13,000 square meters of floor space in the complex, which will feature a smart building control system and state-of-the-art building technology. The Ship will provide an atmosphere of well-being and offers its users an in-house fitness studio, a bistro and a childcare centre. Plans call for the building to be completed in the first quarter of 2020.
The Acceleration Deck
The Acceleration Deck has been designed for two target groups: startups and established companies. In the innovation incubator called the Startup Acceleration Program, startups will receive strategic support for the implementation of their business ideas, as well as multifaceted personal coaching. A network of experts will give them help in the form of knowledge, resources and feedback. Startups will also benefit from close connections with potential investors. The Acceleration Deck will be an essential component of The Ship and of its vision: promoting entrepreneurial spirit and innovations, especially in Cologne as a business location.
The founders of the FOND OF company are also the initiators and developers of The Ship. In addition to the Acceleration Deck, FOND OF and other companies connected with it will be moving into the new building. Together, these companies will form a strong network. FOND OF was launched in 2010 as a brand for backpacks. Today it understands itself as a platform for development, the maximization of potential, and personal growth.
Projects such as The Ship are boosting the innovative power of Cologne as a business location and strengthening sustainable entrepreneurship. Here you can find our interview with Sven-Oliver Pink, one of the company’s founders, in which he talks about the group’s successful concept and Cologne as a business location.