Science

Jena is an internationally renowned science city and, in addition to the traditional Friedrich Schiller University and the practice-oriented Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences, is also home to a number of renowned research institutions, including institutes of the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society and the Leibniz Association, as well as an institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The majority of the institutes are located at the Beutenberg Campus Jena.

A total of around 4,500 scientists conduct research in Jena, around 3,500 of them at the university.

With a focus on optics and photonics as well as health and the life sciences, Jena's research is oriented towards future issues that are of central importance for the further development of society and the economy. Jena also plays a prominent role nationwide in the fields of innovative materials and energy storage, surface and microtechnology and people in social change.

The profile line "LIGHT LIFE LIBERTY" of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the slogan "where life sciences meets physics" of the Beutenberg Campus document the interdisciplinary research on site. The slogan of the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena "Innovation for quality of life" also stands for important future topics such as health, sustainability and networking.

World-class science

The close-knit research network and a large number of interdisciplinary projects guarantee the success of Jena as a science location. Added to this are the proverbial "short distances" and the close links between the educational institutes and research and industry. Numerous companies and scientific institutes maintain intensive contacts with the Friedrich Schiller University and the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences. Start-ups are promoted by both universities, as is scientific contact with each other. In Jena, basic research and the utilization of its results for the economy go hand in hand.