Digital economy discusses cluster ideas

IT companies cooperate in the new industry network "JENA Digital"

Jena is getting a new cluster. In future, the "JENA Digital" industry network will bundle the interests of the digital economy and science, implement initiatives to attract skilled workers and raise Jena's profile as a digital location both locally and nationally. More than 30 company representatives met last week for the kick-off workshop to coordinate specific topics and projects for the initiative for the first time. Domenique Dölz, the new Digital Economy Cluster Manager based at the Jena Economic Development Corporation (JenaWirtschaft), is responsible for the network.

The challenge of staff growth

"We surveyed the companies in the sector in the run-up to the kick-off workshop," says Cluster Manager Dölz. "According to the companies, up to 28% growth in personnel would be possible next year - but the biggest challenge remains the lack of qualified specialists," says Dölz, summarizing the biggest obstacle to growth in the local IT industry. "The topic of recruiting is therefore a key focus of the cluster's work." However, the new cluster manager emphasizes that it is not just about recruitment. "In the long term, we want to develop structures and measures that will strengthen the digital economy in the long term."

Using synergy effects

For this reason, the local workshop used themed tables to discuss how the sector can network better with each other, with the high-tech industry and with the local university and research landscape. Ideas were also discussed on how to develop and strengthen the digital skills of young people, as well as lateral entrants. "We have everything we need here on site," says Cluster Manager Dölz. "Knowledge about forward-looking educational opportunities, agile working methods, future-proof technologies and programming languages. If we pool this knowledge, everyone can benefit from it. That's why we need the JENA Digital cluster." The network can therefore be more than just the sum of its individual parts.

Commitment to the network

A realization that the local digital economy shares and is therefore actively involved in the network. According to Cluster Manager Dölz, everyone should get involved as much as they can: "JENA Digital thrives on the participation of everyone - in terms of ideas, organization and, of course, concrete implementation." The implementation of the first concrete projects is planned for the fall. All information about the new cluster can be found on Jena Digital.(link is external)