What benefits does the Ready to Scale program provide?

The program helps deep-tech startups raise €5M+ faster, win real customers and validation, scale from MVP to market-ready products, increase TRL with technology experts, build leadership-ready teams, and master compliance from day one.

When is the application deadline for Spring Cohort 2026?

Applications for the Spring Cohort 2026 must be submitted before February 25, 2026.

What is the application process?

The application process consists of 6 steps: Check entry criteria, complete quick readiness check, submit extended application, participate in Top 20 selection, final cohort decision, and kickoff & pitch event.

Shared Lab Space | Gateway Factory Life Sciences Lab

How it works?

Simply contact us using the interest form on this page. We will discuss your requirements, we will come back to you for a 1:1 meeting to discuss your questions and provide you with a customized offer.

Which equipment is included?

The labs are fully equipped with cooling units (4°C, -20°C, -80°C, -150°C), centrifuges, fume hoods, autoclaves, microbiological safety cabinets, CO₂ incubators and standard analytics.
The latest state-of-the-art equipment is available: Multimode plate reader, flow cytometer, automated purification and liquid handler.
Special equipment needed? Talk to us!

The offices are fully furnished with height-adjustable tables and don't miss our cool lounge space!

Flexible terms. Scale up or down.

You rent per lab workstation or rent a private lab. Rent with startup-friendly terms from 6 months to several years. You can scale-up or size down, without long-term commitments or high exit costs. Just as you need!

How do I get on-site support?

You receive technical and administrative support on site by our lab head. Additional consulting services are offereed by our lab operator and include assay development, analysis optimization, laboratory sustainability and biosafety consulting. In addition, we offer CRO services: DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, cell culture and in vitro screening with organoids.

Where is the Lab based?

The labs are in the heart of BioCampus Cologne, which is conveniently located near the A3, A4, A1 and A57 highways – easily accessible from Aachen, Düsseldorf, Cologne and the Benelux region. On site you will find a parking garage (extra charge) and a vibrant life sciences start-up community, as well as established partners such as Lonza.

More information regarding the BioCampus Cologne: BioCampus Cologne – Home

Who operates the Lab?

We would like to thank Cellcolab for their outstanding support as both the lab planner and lab operator.

Cellcolab supports with additional expertise and capacity to ensure a smooth, professional lab experience for our users. We’re truly looking forward to working together and shaping the next chapter of the lab with Cellcolab.

Learn more about Cellcolab here:
‍https://cellcolab.com‍

Talk to our team.

Not sure who to reach out to?
Here are the right contacts to help you quickly.

Your main contacts

Ann-Sophie Reinshagen
Lab Manager, Gateway Factory
Your first point of contact for onboarding, lab access, safety, equipment, and daily lab operations.

Tanja Bloser
Vertical Lead Future Health & Life Sciences, Gateway Factory
Your overarching contact for strategic questions, partnerships, and how the Shared Lab connects to our FHLS ecosystem.

Validate, prototype and run your first experiments

What You Get With Us

Your main contacts

Find all details here!