Shaping Jena's digital future together

Jena is getting a new contact point for anyone developing new ideas in the field of digitalization. The "Jena Digital Innovation Hub" will be launched in a former store in Postcarré (Engelplatz 8) on 12.08.2024 with an opening week. All interested parties are cordially invited to the free program of workshops and discussion rounds.

The new hub is run jointly by the Jena Digital association and the city of Jena. Jena's digital economy is playing a major role here in order to strengthen the digital location and make even better use of the knowledge from business and science for the city's development. The "Jena Digital Innovation Hub" serves as a platform for communication and collaboration between business, science, administration and urban society on the topics of digitalization, innovation and the city of the future.

Versatile creative space

The premises can be used in a variety of ways as a creative space and, depending on the format, can be converted either as flexible workstations or for workshops, meet-ups and hackathons. In future, experts will be able to expand networks and find cooperation partners here. Students and researchers can share their knowledge with industry and social stakeholders in interdisciplinary participation formats in order to jointly develop digital solutions. The "Digital Innovation Hub" will also be a contact point for founders to get in touch with business, science and administration. There will also be opportunities for children, young people and students to acquire and develop digital skills.

The new facility was created as part of the Smart Cities model project funded by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building, as part of the "Jena Digital Werkstadt" measure. It is a counterpart to the tasting store that will open just a few meters away at Engelplatz 14 in September. While the focus of the tasting store is on promoting basic digital skills, the "Digital Innovation Hub" will create the framework conditions to bring together innovation drivers from the city and the surrounding area to develop ideas and projects.

The opening week of the "Jena Digital Innovation Hub" starts on Monday, 12.08.2024, with an official welcome by the Lord Mayor, a panel discussion with representatives from politics, business and science and a presentation of the digital exhibits to be discovered there in the future. All citizens are cordially invited to this and the weekly program to make contacts, discuss digital trends and shape the digital future together.

Statements from the participants

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche:

"The digital economy in Jena in particular is participating here in order to jointly advance the digital location and make digital knowledge from business and science even more available for the city of the future. The 'Digital Innovation Hub' serves as a joint communication and collaboration platform for business, science, administration and urban society."

Head of Digitalization Benjamin Koppe:

"With our comprehensive approach to developing a smart city, we are sending out a clear signal: The citizens in our city should benefit from the digital transformation, which is why we want to develop needs-oriented, digital solutions together with the experts in our city at this new anchor location."

Overall project manager of Smart City Jena, Dorothea Prell:

"The Jena Digital Innovation Hub is an important step towards smart and sustainable urban development. Innovative ideas and technologies can be developed here that will make our city even more liveable."

Christian Grötsch, Board Member of Jena Digital e. V. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of dotSource SE:

"With the Jena Digital Innovation Hub, we are creating a central platform for exchange and collaboration between business, science and society. Our aim is to position Jena as a pioneer for digital innovations and to develop sustainable solutions for the future."

Hans Elstner, Chairman of Jena Digital e. V. and rooom AG:

"Here we are creating a communication and cooperation platform for business and an important contact point for start-ups to discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of digitalization and make valuable contacts. We are delighted to be part of this forward-looking project and, as an association for the digital economy and science, to be driving forward the digital transformation."

Stephanie Hänsch, Board Member of Jena Digital e. V. and Managing Director at Accenture GmbH:

"The Jena Digital Innovation Hub will be a neutral platform for skilled workers and the experts of tomorrow. Especially during Code Week Thuringia/Jena, we are sending a strong signal about the importance of digital education. In addition, practical modules as collaborations between companies and students offer hands-on learning experiences and promote knowledge transfer at the same time."

Wilfried Röpke, business promoter and board member of Jena Digital e. V.:

"The new hub plays a decisive role in the success of the digital and innovation location by pooling resources, creating synergies and increasing the visibility of digital experts."

Program highlights:

Monday, 12.08.2024
10:00 am: Official opening
10:15 am: Panel discussion with representatives from politics, business and science
11:30 a.m.: Impulses and tour of the exhibits

Tuesday, 13.08.2024
Digi:Talk on the topic of "Smart & Sustainable Spaces"
3:00 pm, 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm: Presentations Digital nameplate, digitalization & sustainability, AI & administration

Wednesday, 14.08.2024
From 18:00: Software architecture get-together meets Jena.AI - the developer get-together for artificial intelligence

Thursday, 15.08.2024
16:30: Summer Summ_IT: Panel talks on the topics
"Advantage through algorithms: How AI is redefining corporate competition"
"From Thuringia to the world: Cosmopolitanism as a driver of digital transformation?"

Friday, 16.08.2024
From 14:00: Presentation of Code Week 2024 for children and young people
From 15:00: Taster sessions for children and young people

About Jena Digital e. V.:

Jena Digital is the innovation network for digital business & science in Jena. As a joint communication and cooperation platform, Jena Digital, with around 40 members, offers important conditions for networking, knowledge transfer and innovation with the aim of establishing Jena as a beacon for the digital economy and science in Germany.

Address Jena Digital Innovation Hub:
Engelplatz 8
07743 Jena

Contact:
Dorothea Prell
Overall project management Smart City Jena
smartcity@jena.de

Domenique Dölz
Network Manager Digital Economy & Science
Jena Digital e.V.
d.doelz@jena-digital.de