Jena becomes a Smart City model project

The Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) announced today that the city of Jena is one of the municipalities that will receive new funding as model projects for the development and implementation of integrated smart city strategies. Jena will receive 15.7 million euros over seven years to implement the goals, strategies and measures.

Benjamin Koppe, Strategic Director of the overall project and Head of Digitalization, was delighted with the BMI's announcement: "Our constant efforts have paid off. This is a boost for digitalization in Jena and gives our ambitions as a city administration a boost. In the coming years, we will now gradually implement the project ideas that were approved by the city council and that we submitted as part of the competition. I would like to thank everyone involved, above all Martin Berger as coordinator of Jena's application for the BMI funding program and Jena's members of parliament, especially Christoph Matschie, for their support at federal level.

Jena had applied under the slogan "Jena digitizes, learns and shares - Our city creates and uses knowledge". The central infrastructure project is WISSENsAllmende Jena, an urban data platform that not only collects and structures data, but also contains tools for generating knowledge. This infrastructure is to be linked with many other projects. These include digital projects at educational and social institutions, digital logistics concepts, the 'smart district' in Lobeda and eGovernment projects.

"With digitalization in the sense of sustainable, integrative, public welfare-oriented goals, the Smart City model project is an important building block for Jena's urban development in the coming years," emphasized Mayor and Head of Urban Development Christian Gerlitz.

"The Smart City strategies will cover the entire city area and all areas of social, economic and civic life. We are delighted about this digital accolade and will invest the associated funding in sustainable urban development and growth, in better services for our citizens and businesses, and in expanded opportunities for participation for everyone," said Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche.