On a discovery tour to the JENA Digital Safari

Interested parties can explore Jena's digital jungle on June 18. The digital ecosystem in Jena is diverse - innovative research institutions, young start-ups, agile software companies, experienced digital agencies and large tech companies - they are all part of JENA Digital and are working on the digital future. On the occasion of the nationwide Digital Day on 18 June 2021, the JENA Digital network, based at the JenaWirtschaft business development agency, is organizing a virtual discovery tour through the digital diversity of Jena's economy for the second time.

"We want to use the nationwide Digital Day to showcase the diversity of IT companies and scientific institutions in the sector. With the safari, we can show participants an insight into this broad spectrum here on site."

says initiator and network manager Domenique Dölz from JENA Digital. With more than 130 participants, the Digital Safari was already very well received last year. The network would now like to build on this success and once again give the public a look behind the scenes of Jena's digital companies.

Participants can expect many a digital surprise in the second edition.

"This year, the safari will take place on three themed tours with a total of 19 stops," says Dölz, explaining the course of the event. "In the 'Digital Business Tour' and the 'Digital Innovation Tour', experts will provide insights into the latest digital trends and present innovations that will shape our lives sustainably."

The company presentations are extremely varied and range from informative short talks and interactive live hacking to 360-degree tours of the companies. In the Digital Career Tour, Jena's digital companies provide an insight into how to enter the digital economy and report on digital career opportunities in the City of Light.

Dölz emphasizes the interactive approach of the format:

"With several networking sessions, we want to give participants enough time to exchange ideas and network with the company representatives." After all, the digital economy is one of the sectors with the strongest growth - and not just in Jena. "The local digital economy has impressively demonstrated its future viability and crisis resilience during the pandemic. The crisis shows that we still have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to digitalization in many areas of our society. Our digital economy is a problem solver and is always looking for bright minds and creative thinkers," says Wilfried Röpke, Managing Director of Jena Business Development. The event should therefore not only offer companies in Jena a platform to present themselves, but at best also "achieve a match with future specialists", emphasizes network manager Dölz. "Whether it's a working student job or internship, thesis or trainee program, career changer or IT professional - the digital economy offers a wide range of opportunities to start a digital career and develop personally."

The JENA Digital Safari is part of the Thuringian Digital Festival and the nationwide Digital Day. Further information and registration at: www.jena-digital-safari.de

Info box Digital Day:

The nationwide Digital Day is supported by the "Digital for All" initiative, an alliance of 27 organizations from the fields of civil society, culture, science, business, welfare and the public sector. The annual day of action is intended to explain digitization with numerous online formats, make it tangible, show ways to digital participation and also create space for controversial debates. Everyone is welcome to take part with their own activities. The individual activities can be viewed at www.digitaltag.eu.