Digital economy
Welcome to the digital hotspot Jena
Jena stands for digital excellence: as one of the leading IT locations in Germany, the city offers ideal conditions for start-ups, tech companies and IT specialists. The digital economy is one of the most dynamic sectors in Jena: around 140 companies with more than 3,500 experts are based here and create solutions ranging from A for app development to Z for future technologies.
Birthplace of e-commerce & close to the high-tech industry
The first modern e-commerce software was developed here by the company Intershop – a milestone that still characterises Jena as an e-commerce location today. Numerous IT companies such as dotSource, diva-e, Accenture and T-Systems MMS have settled here and are actively shaping the digital transformation. The connection to the high-tech industry is also strong: IT specialists work at the interfaces to optoelectronics, photonics and medical technology. Over 6,000 employees work in digital professions – including at global market leaders such as ZEISS and SCHOTT, which rely on digital technologies to further develop their products.
Closely networked & globally positioned
Working together is much more effective: this is why the industry association Jena Digital e. V. connects companies , research institutions, universities and administration. The association works as a joint platform for communication and cooperation and is also home to the Digital Hub Jena: as part of the Germany-wide de:hub initiative, it brings together regional strengths in IT, life sciences and photonics with international innovative power. This creates sustainable digital business models – interdisciplinary, collaborative and globally networked.
In addition, the “IT Paradise Jena” e-commerce campus offers excellent conditions for start-ups and business concepts: suitable spaces, shared dialogue and an established digital ecosystem.
The range of services at the Jena site includes, among other things
- E-commerce technologies, online shops & product implementation
- Development of mobile solutions, applications (apps) and business models
- Digitalisation of business and production processes
- Big data analyses
- IT solutions for medical technology, optoelectronics and other high-tech sectors
- Online and search engine marketing, digital marketing, on-demand e-commerce, IT consulting, cloud solutions, web development and Web 2.0 projects, support and training
- Modelling, software technology, real-time systems, databases, operating systems, user interfaces, networks and computer architectures
- Software and services for web applications such as e-government, configurators for product and variant configuration, CAD programmes and modules, knowledge-based consulting systems, electronic data preparation and technical documentation
- Device software (e.g. biometric identification systems, traffic safety technology and government software, systems for capturing, processing, analysing and archiving images in the field of microscopy)
An overview of Jena’s digital companies can be found on the website of the Jena Digital e. V. association and in our company database.
Digital in research & education
Jena specifically promotes young IT talent: both universities – Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences and Friedrich Schiller University – offer practical degree programmes for the digital economy. Local companies provide early insights into everyday working life through internships and student jobs. Dual training programmes, further education and career changers also open up attractive paths into digital professions – and thus strengthen the pool of skilled workers in Jena.
Your contact for expertise
Would you like to find out more about the digital economy in Jena? Please feel free to contact us!
Contact us
Cluster Management Digital Economy and Science
Domenique Dölz
Phone: +49 (3641) 8730039
E-Mail: domenique.doelz@jena.de
Project Manager, Digital Economy and Science
Viktoriya Demchyk
Phone: +49 (3641) 8730050
E-Mail: viktoriya.demchyk@jena.de