German
"Slab of the future": Smart ideas continue to have an impact
With the symposium on January 14, 2026 in the Volkshaus Jena, the Smart Neighborhood Jena-Lobeda model project was officially completed last week - and at the same time the focus is on the future. Around 50 project partners from the housing and energy industry, city administration, science and business drew a positive balance on a formative urban development project for Jena
In the Smart Neighborhood Jena-Lobeda, new solutions for the housing stock were tested over five years: from energy-efficient living and digital support in everyday life to new forms of healthcare. The aim was to make technology suitable for everyday use and achieve concrete improvements for people in the neighborhood
Project manager Mandy Steinbrück"The Smart Neighborhood has shown that innovation is effective when it is designed with people in mind and works in everyday life. Technology was not an end in itself here, but a tool to improve quality of life, safety and participation in a tangible way."
The project achieved several milestones:
- Sustainable solutions for the housing stock
- Energy-efficient building technology & digital control
- New approaches in healthcare, e.g. telemedicine
- concrete improvements for people
The symposium marked the official conclusion of the project. In keynote speeches and a panel discussion, however, it became clear that the knowledge gained in the neighborhood should continue to be used. For example, the telemedicine tested in the project is considered a transferable model. Plans are currently underway to implement similar services in the Saale-Holzland district.
The smart district was developed and supported by the municipal utility subsidiary jENERGIE. In the area of health, jENRGIE is supported by the Smart City Jena model project.
