Grab the Zeise! StadtLab Jena enters the second round with the ideas competition

Ideas competition supports creative minds in their visions for the "first house on the market"

Into the second round with fresh ideas: under the motto "Grab the Zeise!", StadtLab Jena is calling for entries to the 2025 ideas competition. This year, the focus is on the former "Ratszeise" - a historic building on the market square that is to be filled with new ideas and life. We are looking for concepts for the creative interim use or long-term transformation of the "Zeise" - whether gastronomy, retail, art and culture, social meeting place or exciting mixed concepts.

Creative minds of all ages, start-ups, associations and established companies can take part. "We want to encourage the people of Jena to actively help shape their city - in a very concrete way in a place that has emotional significance for many," emphasizes Grit Sachse, project manager at StadtLab Jena.

Kick-off event heralds the start of the ideas competition

The competition will officially start with a kick-off event on 24.06.2025 at 18:00 directly in the "Ratszeise". Interested parties will receive initial information about the ideas competition and discuss future prospects, building culture and framework conditions for the contemporary conversion of historic buildings with experts. Afterwards, themed tables will invite participants to exchange ideas with stakeholders and other contributors.

"We're not just interested in collecting ideas - with the ideas competition, we want to support the people behind them so that an initial sketch can become a real concept," explains Erza Plava, also a project manager at StadtLab. Participants can expand their network, find partners and take part in exciting start-up events. The winners will receive prize money of up to 1,000 euros for their ideas. Please register for the kick-off event via the StadtLab website.

Interested parties can submit their idea sketches online until mid-August - even if they miss the kick-off event. In July and August, there will be an opportunity to visit the former "Ratszeise" and ask questions about the competition. The exact dates are yet to be announced. This will be followed by a workshop phase in which the participants will further develop their concepts together with the StadtLab team and experts. The final phase will be a presentation to a jury - the best ideas will be awarded prizes in November.

The first round of the StadtLab ideas competition last year already created space for living creativity! A total of 18 innovative concepts for a vibrant city center were submitted. The second winner of the 2024 ideas competition, the "Education Center" from Steinarium, has already been successfully implemented in Jena's city center. "We are hoping for just as much creative energy and commitment for the second ideas competition," adds Markus Henkenmeier, authorized signatory of Wirtschaftsförderung Jena. "We are excited to see what visions the citizens of Jena have for their city center."

More information and registration for the ideas competition can be found on the website stadtlab-jena.de/ideenwettbewerb