StadtLab Jena opens doors for innovative city center ideas

After 3 months of construction, the StadtLab Jena is celebrating its opening today. The new experimental space for innovative inner-city ideas at Löbderstraße 6 provides a pop-up area and a workshop area. Innovative commercial and non-commercial ideas can be tried out on site on a daily or weekly basis. The project team celebrated today's opening together with representatives of city politics, cooperation partners and visitors to Jena's city center with an "open day". Guests were not only able to view the newly expanded space, but were also invited to join in and linger over a colorful program of experimental stations, music and culinary delights.

Mayor and Head of Urban Development Christian Gerlitz is delighted with the StadtLab launch: "The city center is a strong innovation space, and with this project we are creating the necessary infrastructure to develop and implement new concepts." After all, the city center is "the calling card of our city."

"We are looking forward to a wide range of ideas for the city center and invite companies, small businesses, associations and private individuals alike to join us," says Markus Henkenmeier, authorized signatory at Jenaer Wirtschaftsförderung (JenaWirtschaft), which is responsible for the project. A total of 175 square meters await exciting concepts in StadtLab Jena. In addition to a pop-up area, which is particularly suitable for sales, exhibitions or showroom offers, there is also a workshop area with presentation technology and an open kitchen with fridge and oven for events such as tastings or similar offers.

"We can imagine very different business ideas that can be tried out on site - from wine tastings or pasta workshops to urban production such as jewelry design or cosmetics production to sewing workshops and the sale of special retail products," says Grit Sachse, project manager at StadtLab Jena. The pop-up space is allocated on a weekly basis for a period of two to six weeks. Commercial vendors pay a small service charge. The workshop area can be used on a daily or evening basis. Here, the "StadtLaboranten" can present children's activities, club events or very individual formats. "Perhaps someone would like to start a series of talks on current topics? Or introduce an unusual hobby? Gain new supporters for an aid project? StadtLab Jena should be a place where everyone can exchange ideas and network," says Florian Lauterbach, another StadtLab project manager. There are no fees for non-commercial use.

Following the extensive renovation work in the premises, the project team is now starting the "real" project work. Grit Sachse and Florian Lauterbach are coordinating appointments, evaluating concepts, organizing events and - with a view to the future - also developing a start-up competition. One of the first events in the new StadtLab is the "Hack the Paradise!" hackathon on June 16 and 17. The event is taking place as part of the "Smart City" model project. The city administration of Jena, Lichtwerkstatt Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, JenaDigital e. V. and the urban community are working together to find innovative solutions to make the city "smarter".

"How can digitally collected data help us to make the city a better place to live?" says Smart City project manager Dorothea Prell, explaining the aim of the hackathon. "StadtLab Jena, as an experimental space in the heart of the city, offers ideal conditions for rethinking the city together with citizens, business representatives, scientists and administration," says Prell.

More information about StadtLab Jena can be found on the website stadtlab-jena.de(link is external). Concepts can now also be submitted and appointments booked here. Interested citizens are also invited to visit the newly created project space at Löbderstraße 6 and talk to the project managers about possible usage concepts. The project managers are available daily from 12 noon to 3 p.m. for tours of the space and to answer any questions.

Background:

StadtLab Jena is a cooperation between the Jena Economic Development Agency (JenaWirtschaft) and the Department of Urban Development and Environment and is being funded with a total of 1.3 million euros from the "Sustainable inner cities and centers" funding programme until August 2025.