Settlement history CDS UG
In our interview, the founders provide insights into the growth potential that Hanover has in store for them and explain how local networks and support from hannoverimpuls have spurred on their start and success story in Germany.
Ilker Ertugrul and Nurhak Inan Karacay, what factors influenced your decision to settle in Hanover and not in another city?
CDS (Critical Design Studio) is an architecture and urban design studio founded in Istanbul in 2015 by Ilker Ertugrul (architect) and Nurhak Inan Karacay (landscape architect). Since then, our interdisciplinary team has realized a variety of international projects in regions such as Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The multinational experience has shaped the studio's global vision, which eventually led to the idea of establishing a European branch to provide access to advanced tools and an exchange with forward-thinking practices and academia.
A new project in Duingen, 40 kilometers from Hanover, gave us the opportunity to take this step in 2019. We opened our branch in Hanover. The city's cultural diversity and green infrastructure have enriched our work for five years now. In the process, we have initiated many collaborations with local offices, and our successful business from Hanover is growing day by day.
How did hannoverimpuls support your decision to set up CDS in Hanover?
hannoverimpuls supported CDS-Arch in every phase: from location analysis and start-up to networking. During the pandemic in particular, hannoverimpuls offered practical support and advice for business development. With this help, we got to know and analyze the region. Especially during the pandemic, the support in finding our way in business activities was very valuable. We really appreciate this help.
What advantages do you see in Hanover for the future growth of your company?
Our company has been active in the international construction industry for many years. In the early years in Germany, CDS also offered architectural and planning services in Basel, Switzerland. However, the high demand for construction services in Hanover and the surrounding area meant that we were able to offer our technical teams more construction projects for clients on site. In the last three years, we have therefore concentrated on Hanover and neighboring cities such as Soltau, Hildesheim, Celle, Wolfsburg, Stadthagen and Lüneburg. We are also trying to develop projects in African countries such as Ghana in order to raise the company's international profile. We have already made a number of contacts in this direction and are optimistic that we will be able to make even better use of our potential in the future.
What challenges did you face during the settlement process and how were these overcome?
As CDS Hannover was founded by non-European entrepreneurs, we had to go through numerous legal steps. Ilker moved to Hanover to manage the local office as a partner. hannoverimpuls provided direct advice to quickly obtain residence and operating permits. Despite the pandemic, we successfully mastered this process and the letters of recommendation from hannoverimpuls had a big impact during this time. However, it wasn't easy to cover our staffing needs and deal with the German bureaucracy.
How important is it for a company like yours to have local support from an organization like hannoverimpuls?
For foreign service companies like us, it is crucial to build a productive network and maintain its exponential growth, as it is the key to demonstrating our capabilities and talented team in the local market and also gaining recognition in the European market. The local support from hannoverimpuls, especially in official procedures and networking, allows us to better focus on our actual work and growth. Our aim is to stand out, especially on international markets, as a German company that guarantees the well-known German quality and precision.
What are your plans for the future?
As mentioned above, CDS is a design studio with proven international experience and award-winning projects. In our first five years in Germany, we focused on adapting our way of working to local regulations and business models. Despite the challenges during the two-year pandemic, we have largely fulfilled our five-year plan by adapting our business model to local requirements. Over the next five years, we want to further develop CDS as a planning and construction company in order to grow economically and gain experience. A significant milestone was winning first prize in the design competition for the renovation and redesign of the sports and leisure park in Kist, which was made possible by successful cooperation with a local office in Kassel. We have a lot to do with the implementation over the next three years.
Peter Eisenschmidt, Head of Internationalization at hannoverimpuls GmbH, on CDS:
"The establishment of CDS UG is an important success for Hanover as a business location and shows how attractive our region is for innovative companies in the field of architecture and construction planning. With its focus on sustainable and digital construction processes, CDS-Arch fits in perfectly with the economic and ecological goals of our city. The Economic Development Agency has been actively involved in creating optimal framework conditions to support the establishment of the company - from site selection and networking with local partners to assistance with funding opportunities. This is an excellent example of how economic and technological innovation is supported and driven forward in our region."
Contact details:
CDS UG - Urban planning and architecture
Davenstedter Str. 32, 30449 Hanover
Phone: 0176 37390432