Kiel's €230M nutrition research hub to open by 2028 under Hochtief's leadership

A major new research facility focused on nutrition and food science will be built in Kiel. The project management, led by Hochtief, will cost around €230 million and is set to open in autumn 2028. The 65,000-square-foot centre will serve as a hub for the Max Rubner Institute (MRI).

The German Federal Institute for Real Estate (BImA) has awarded the contract under a public-private partnership (PPP). Hochtief will handle design, construction, operation, and maintenance for 30 years. The facility will replace existing MRI sites in Kiel and Hamburg.

The new building will sit next to Kiel University. It will consolidate research currently spread across multiple locations, including Kulmbach, Oldenburg-Holsten, and Detmold. The project management aims to streamline MRI's work in food and nutrition science under one modern facility.

Once completed, the facility will become a key centre for MRI's research activities. The €230 million investment covers all aspects of the project management, from construction to long-term upkeep. Operations are expected to begin in late 2028.