A method for cultivating cells in adhesion culture, comprising at least the following steps: a) dissolving or suspending a cross-linkable, biocompatible material with adhesion sites for cells in a cell culture medium, b) suspending cells in the cell culture medium which contains the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, or in a medium which contains at least one component which is required to cross-link the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, c) introducing the cell suspension in drops into a medium under conditions which initiate or allow the cross-linking of the biocompatible material, wherein either the cell suspension or the medium, into which the cell suspension is introduced in drops, contains the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, and wherein the conditions which initiate or allow the cross-linking of the biocompatible material in step c) encompass exposing the biocompatible material to a physical or chemical stimulus which is selected from the group comprising a temperature change, pressure change, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, in particular visible light and UV, a pH change, the action of enzymes, radical starters, addition of water or exclusion of water, ions, in particular cations, and d) forming stable, preferably porous capsules of cross-linked, biocompatible material which contain incorporated, adherent cells, e) proliferating the adherent cells in the capsules for a defined time period, f) dissolving the capsule material by means of a physical or chemical stimulus and releasing the cells as a cell suspension, wherein the stimulus is selected from the group comprising temperature change, pressure change, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, in particular visible light and UV, a pH change, the action of enzymes, in particular proteases and sucroclastic enzymes, complexing agents or solvents, or combinations thereof, characterised in that the cells released in step f) are once again suspended in a cell culture medium, which contains a cross-linkable, biocompatible material, or in a medium which contains at least one component which is required to cross-link the cross-linkable, biocompatible material and steps c)-f) are repeated at least once, and wherein the cross-linkable biocompatible material represents or comprises a material which is capable to form a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel is a protein-based hydrogel, a sugar-based hydrogel, containing modified oligo- or polysaccharides, or a synthetic hydrogel on the basis of polyesters, polyethers or polyalcohols, and/or comprises a thermoresponsive material, e.g. poly-NIPAM or poly(hydroxypropyl)cellulose. a) dissolving or suspending a cross-linkable, biocompatible material with adhesion sites for cells in a cell culture medium, b) suspending cells in the cell culture medium which contains the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, or in a medium which contains at least one component which is required to cross-link the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, c) introducing the cell suspension in drops into a medium under conditions which initiate or allow the cross-linking of the biocompatible material, wherein either the cell suspension or the medium, into which the cell suspension is introduced in drops, contains the cross-linkable, biocompatible material, and wherein the conditions which initiate or allow the cross-linking of the biocompatible material in step c) encompass exposing the biocompatible material to a physical or chemical stimulus which is selected from the group comprising a temperature change, pressure change, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, in particular visible light and UV, a pH change, the action of enzymes, radical starters, addition of water or exclusion of water, ions, in particular cations, and d) forming stable, preferably porous capsules of cross-linked, biocompatible material which contain incorporated, adherent cells, e) proliferating the adherent cells in the capsules for a defined time period, f) dissolving the capsule material by means of a physical or chemical stimulus and releasing the cells as a cell suspension, wherein the stimulus is selected from the group comprising temperature change, pressure change, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, in particular visible light and UV, a pH change, the action of enzymes, in particular proteases and sucroclastic enzymes, complexing agents or solvents, or combinations thereof, characterised in that the cells released in step f) are once again suspended in a cell culture medium, which contains a cross-linkable, biocompatible material, or in a medium which contains at least one component which is required to cross-link the cross-linkable, biocompatible material and steps c)-f) are repeated at least once, and wherein the cross-linkable biocompatible material represents or comprises a material which is capable to form a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel is a protein-based hydrogel, a sugar-based hydrogel, containing modified oligo- or polysaccharides, or a synthetic hydrogel on the basis of polyesters, polyethers or polyalcohols, and/or comprises a thermoresponsive material, e.g. poly-NIPAM or poly(hydroxypropyl)cellulose.