StadtLab Jena

Experimental space for the city centre of tomorrow

What is StadtLab Jena?

StadtLab Jena is an open experimental space in the heart of Jena’s city centre. This space enables people interested in founding a business, companies, citizens, associations and creatives to try out new business ideas, concepts and uses on a temporary basis.

StadtLab Jena was based at Löbderstraße 6 from June 2023 to August 2025. More than 300 uses enlivened the city centre on site. Whether pop-up projects, workshops or new event formats – at StadtLab, interested parties were able to try out which concepts work in practice in a protected environment.

Find out more about the StadtLab at Löbderstraße 6 here.

Since March 2025, ideas can be tested in the StadtLab am Markt in the former Ratszeise. In September and October, the open-air StadtLab on Jena’s Engelplatz also invites visitors to try out mobile open-air concepts for catering and retail.

Interested parties can also take part in StadtLab’s annual ideas competition, in which ideas are further developed and qualified together with a jury of experts.

Goals and background

StadtLab Jena is a subsidised cooperation project between the Jena Economic Development Agency (JenaWirtschaft) and the Department of Urban Development and Environment.
Between the end of 2022 and November 2025, the project received 1.3 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building‘s “Sustainable inner cities and centres” programme.
StadtLab Jena offers a protected space in which new innovative uses for the city centre can be tried out. It responds to challenges such as changing shopping behaviour, online retail and the desire for new forms of use in the city centre. New meeting spaces, mixed functions and temporary utilisation concepts are being tested.

Who can take part?

Founders / prospective founders: can try out a business idea in the StadtLab, obtain real market feedback and test their own pricing without the economic pressure of renting a permanent shop space from the outset. The StadtLab team concludes individual utilisation agreements and provides interested parties with competent and comprehensive advice and support.
Creatives & entrepreneurs: Can organise innovative formats such as pop-up concepts, workshops, network meetings, creative labs, hackathons, etc. in a central space in the city centre. The space is available as a meeting area to create new synergies and further strengthen the interaction between local players.
Associations, networks & citizens: Can present their own commitment in StadtLab, hold events and thus contribute to shaping the city centre together

Would you like to use StadtLab Jena or find out more about it? You can find more information on the project website stadtlab-jena.de.

Join us in shaping the future of Jena’s city centre!