Countdown to the i-work company award

The countdown for the i-work intercultural company award has begun. Companies of all sectors and sizes can apply for the award until May 31, 2026. The award recognizes all efforts to anchor and live intercultural diversity in the team.

New this year are not only the simplified application process, but also the award ceremony. "For the first time, we are awarding this year's i-work company prize as part of the International Business Lounge in cooperation with BARMER," says project manager Cornelia Meyerrose. "This format for interculturally active companies is already established in Erfurt and is now coming to Jena as a strong partner." The event offers companies the ideal opportunity to exchange ideas, make new contacts and gain inspiration from the international community.

But it's not just about networking: "All companies that apply for i-work will be rewarded with an intercultural workshop afterwards. This is intended to support the next development steps and strengthen the exchange within the community," says BARMER Regional Managing Director Maria Alletsee.

The winning company will also receive one-to-one coaching from a service provider of their choice. "A trophy is great, of course, and it will continue to be awarded. But this year, the winner(s) can develop their own intercultural skills in a targeted manner with external support," says project manager Meyerrose. The costs for these formats are covered by BARMER as a project partner of the i-work company prize.

So it's definitely worth taking part. Applications can be submitted online on the website of the business development agency jenawirtschaft.de/i-work until May 31, 2026. "This will be followed by an online interview in which the applicant companies can provide an insight into their intercultural efforts," says Cornelia Meyerrose. "The applications will be viewed and evaluated by a jury with intercultural experience. We visit selected companies on site to get an authentic picture. And of course, the different requirements of the companies, such as company size or sector, are taken into account fairly in the assessment."

The award ceremony with an extensive accompanying program, interesting speakers and impulses will then take place on 09.09.2026 at Scala. There, the award winners and all interested companies can network and take away new ideas for their own work. In addition to exciting presentations on the topics of intercultural leadership and welcoming culture, companies will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the Welcome Center Jena, the Immigration and Residence Department and the Citizenship Office team.

Background:

The i-work - Intercultural Business Award for Jena and the region - has been recognizing companies that successfully integrate international skilled workers and actively shape intercultural diversity since 2017. It is awarded by the Jena Economic Development Agency (JenaWirtschaft).

We are looking for good examples from practice that show how international teams contribute to success. Regardless of whether you are a global company or a smaller business at the beginning of this journey: all companies from Jena and the region can take part.

Cornelia Meyerrose (l.) von JenaWirtschaft und Maria Alletsee von der BARMER freuen sich auf zahlreiche Bewerbungen für den i-work interkulturellen Unternehmenspreis für Jena und Region.