“The growth of KWS and resulting need for additional laboratory capacity made the new building to the east of the existing BioTechnikum necessary. KWS is investing around 20 million euros in BioTechnikum 2 and thereby once again demonstrates its commitment to Einbeck as a research site," said Dr. Léon Broers, the member of the KWS Executive Board responsible for research. The three-story laboratory and office building has 2,350 square meters of laboratory space.
About 200 colleagues will work in the new BiT2. Many of them have already moved into the spaces and are benefiting from the mainly short distances. “During the planning stage, care was taken to ensure that, for example, the respective work areas are located on one floor if possible, thus facilitating mutual exchange," said Dr. Jürgen Schweden, Global Head of Research and Services. Open areas around the break rooms invite people to meet and talk. In general, plenty of glass and openness ensure a high level of transparency. The laboratories can be flexibly reorganized in case the requirements for the layout change in the future.
A classic inauguration ceremony did not take place due to coronavirus, but there was still a great deal for employees to see and marvel at: At almost the same time they moved into the building, large format photos of KWS researchers who took part in the "Art meets Science" project had been hung up in BiT2. "A project where we design and beautify our new environment for ourselves. A project where creativity, science and art were joined together. And a project where the courage to try something new, close collaboration and commitment – we received over 200 suggestions – led to a remarkable result," said Schweden.
Starting with the planning and implementation stage, KWS paid attention to state-of-the-art construction methods and forward-looking energy standards, while taking into account the high expectations for aesthetics and an appealing working environment. Numerous companies from the Einbeck region were involved in the construction of the building. With its façade, the new building integrates into the overall structural concept of the location and it is particularly energy-efficient: The building uses just 55 percent of the energy of a reference building and thereby meets the KFW 55 standard, which far exceeds legal requirements.
About KWS*
KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In the fiscal year 2018/19, more than 5,500 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of EUR 1.1 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 150 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflowers and vegetables. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to increase farmers’ yields and to improve resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested approximately EUR 200 million last fiscal year in research and development.
*All indications excluding the results from the companies accounted for using the equity method AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC, AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG – KWS SEEDS CO., LTD.
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