German
Students provide fresh impetus for the digital economy: completion of the 5th practical module
What do digital solutions look like when university and business work closely together for three months - practical, interdisciplinary and with real tasks? At the end of the 5th practical module Digital Economy on January 28, 2026, around 26 students presented their results from nine projects that were developed together with companies from the Jena digital ecosystem.
The final event provided space for project pitches, professional feedback and, above all, exchange: What is already working well? Where are the hurdles in processes? And how can ideas be further developed so that they actually become something in everyday life?
From AI to micro SaaS: practical questions, real use cases
In the practical module, students work in teams on specific challenges from digital practice - from artificial intelligence and software development to digital business models. Companies benefit from new perspectives and implementation-oriented results, while students gain valuable experience in real-life tasks.
Project examples from the 5th practical module (selection):
- space360: Development of a micro SaaS app for an SME
- cdmm GmbH: Integration of the digital product passport into existing processes
- PartPrinZ: AI automation in the procurement and calculation of machined parts
- Intershop Communications AG: Development of an AI social media content factory
- Accenture: Implementation of a CRM solution for NPOs based on Salesforce
- Telekom MMS: Use of AI agents in e-commerce
- onysID: Development of an image quality QA routine for the onySwipe (passport reader)
- ZEISS: Conception of a low-code chatbot for IT support
Science meets business - and both win
The practical module shows how well scientific teaching can be combined with the real requirements of the digital economy: students work on topics that are actually on the table in companies - and companies receive fresh impetus, prototypes and new perspectives that can often be directly transferred into practice.
The format is coordinated by Jena Digital e. V. together with Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Ernst Abbe University Jena - a strong example of how networked work in Jena can accelerate innovation.
