Construction Application Filed for Knowledge and Innovation Campus, Anticipated Groundbreaking in Early 2026
The construction phase for the Knowledge and Innovation Campus in Mönchengladbach is set to commence in October 2025, marking a significant step forward in the transformation of the city's Monforts Quarter.
Known as "Textile Factory 7.0", the project aims to foster sustainability and innovation in the textile industry by linking industry with science through collaboration with Hochschule Niederrhein and other partners. The project has recently been approved, and it will be developed independently after its initial funding period, thanks to the establishment of T7 Management GmbH, a joint company tasked with sustaining the project.
The campus will host interdisciplinary cooperation, involving expert knowledge in textile/clothing technology alongside energy management, mechanical engineering, robotics, and biotechnology. This collaboration will provide students with research projects and maker spaces, fostering a dynamic and innovative learning environment.
The first construction phase will address three buildings on the site: the former gymnasium, which will be transformed into the Campus Forum, a building with background areas like changing rooms, sanitary facilities, and multi-purpose room, and another building that will serve as a children, youth, and family center. The family center will include a small café and MINT-oriented educational and recreational offerings.
The symbolic "line of knowledge" now connects the Knowledge and Innovation Campus with another central educational institution in the city, further enhancing the educational and research network in Mönchengladbach. The official address of the Knowledge and Innovation Campus has been changed to Webschulstraße 77, identical to that of the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein. Access to the campus is no longer via Theodor-Heuss-Straße, but via Webschulstraße.
Mayor Felix Heinrichs has emphasized the project's importance for regional transformation and sustainable employment. The Cologne Regional Government is currently processing the funding application for this construction phase, which is approximately 16 million euros. The building application for these constructions has already been submitted to the Cologne Regional Government.
Eva-Maria Heiß, Managing Director of WICMG, expressed her gratitude to all the planners and the team at WICMG GmbH for their joint effort in achieving impressive results in a short time. The planning team has been working diligently to prepare for the physical implementation of the construction phase, which will take place in the coming months.
The construction phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, subject to funding approval and the issuance of a building permit. The project is expected to contribute significantly to the city's growth and development, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration in the textile industry.
Investors looking to finance real-estate projects in the Lower Rhine region may find an interesting opportunity in the upcoming construction of the Knowledge and Innovation Campus in Mönchengladbach. This campus, scheduled to commence in Q1 2026, aims to foster innovation in the textile industry and will host a variety of interdisciplinary cooperations. After its initial funding period, the project will be sustained by T7 Management GmbH, a joint company established for this purpose.
