The invention relates to a method for cultivating cells in adhesion culture, comprising at least the following steps: a) dissolving or suspending a cross-linkable, biocompatible material having adhesion points 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 that contains at least one component that is required for the cross-linking of the cross-linkable, biocompatible material; c) introducing the cell suspension into a medium in drops under conditions that initiate or permit 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; d) forming stable, preferably porous capsules from cross-linked biocompatible material, which capsules contain incorporated adherent cells; e) proliferating the adherent cells in the capsules for a specified time period; f) breaking up the capsule material by means of a physical or chemical stimulus and releasing the cells as a cell suspension. In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is performed cyclically, in that the cells released in step f) are suspended anew in a cell culture medium that contains a cross-linkable, biocompatible material or in a medium that contains at least one component that is required for the cross-linking of the cross-linkable, biocompatible material and steps c)-f) are repeated at least once.