Hochschule Geisenheim University will receive a total of €500,000 split across 2026 and 2027 for its new Beverage Technology Center from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. These funds, which were arranged by CDU Bundestag member Klaus-Peter Willsch, will be used to develop a Knowledge Transfer Center that will be integrated in the new Beverage Technology Center.
The goal of the ‘Liquid Foods’ Knowledge Transfer Center is to provide researchers and businesses a platform to test new processes and product ideas in the beverage sector under real production conditions and quickly bring them to market maturity.
The plan is to draw on concrete needs in the beverage industry: ‘Although many companies in the beverage sector develop innovative ideas to laboratory maturity, there is often a lack of opportunities to transfer these ideas to an industry scale. With our current infrastructure, highly qualified experts, and a well-developed concept for the dual use of established resources in our Beverage Technology Center, Hochschule Geisenheim University has ideal conditions to bring this idea to life,’ explains Professor Ralf Schweiggert, head of the Department of Beverage Research at Hochschule Geisenheim University.
‘Geisenheim’s Beverage Technology Center is once again demonstrating the innovative strength of our region. This is a project allowing for research, industry, and practice can mesh together perfectly – and that's exactly how knowledge transforms into added value. It's a lighthouse project that radiates beyond just the Rheingau region, which is why I was happy to champion the university and support the project from the very beginning to the best of my ability ,' adds Klaus-Peter Willsch.
The President of the University, Professor Hans Reiner Schultz, was also particularly pleased with the support offered by the state: ‘Federal funding will enable us to finance important measures at the Beverage Technology Center and significantly develop our ’Liquid Foods' knowledge transfer project. I am also delighted about the recognition this brings to our university and its scientific work. I would like to express my special thanks to Klaus-Peter Willsch, who has supported our project from the very beginning.'
Hochschule Geisenheim University's new Beverage Technology Center officially opened in May 2025 and has since received a significant amount of interest, demonstrating exactly how great the need for a bridge between laboratory development and industrial practice in the food and beverage industry is. The Knowledge Transfer Center project could serve as a model for other innovative industries nationwide and strengthen the bridge between applied research and industrial implementation in the long term. The financial support provided by the federal government also underscores the potential that Geisenheim has to offer.
