Jena, September 18, 2026 – Jena has made a significant leap forward in the nationwide Smart City Index published by the digital association Bitkom. The city on the Saale has improved by seven places in the current ranking, reaching 47th place out of the 83 German major cities surveyed with 73.0 out of 100 possible points.
- Event: Publication of the Bitkom Smart City Index 2026
- Result: 47th place in the overall ranking (73.0 points)
- Ranking by size: 5th place in the category of cities with 100,000 to 149,999 inhabitants
- Best score: Society and Education category (23rd place nationwide)
The Smart City Index evaluates the progress of digitalization in German cities. In addition to digital administrative services, the overall assessment includes infrastructure, mobility offerings, data applications, as well as education and participation opportunities. Among cities with 100,000 to 149,999 inhabitants, Jena holds a strong fifth place.
Strong performance in Society and Education
Jena performed particularly well in the Society and Education category. With 86.3 points, the city reached 23rd place nationwide, improving by twelve positions compared to the previous year. This area includes, among other things, digitalization in schools, the local digital scene, start-up structures, and digital participation formats for citizens.
Jena also scored above the overall average in the areas of Mobility (77.1 points), Administration (75.9 points), and IT and Communication (72.0 points). Only in the Energy and Environment category does the index identify further development potential with 53.5 points.
Concrete practical examples in everyday city life
Behind this ranking are tangible projects that make the digital transformation in Jena directly tangible for the people. This includes the urban data platform “WISSENsAllmende”, which bundles municipal information and makes it usable for data-based urban development.
Another practical example is the ProbierLaden at Engelplatz, which serves as a low-threshold contact point for digital questions and provides support through personal consultations and courses. This offer is complemented by the JEDI in the Postcarrée, which acts as a place for innovation and transfer, bringing together start-ups, science, administration, and the urban society in workshops and hackathons.
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Digital Participation and Smart City: Fundamentals and Practice
A practical guide to the importance of digitalization and smart city concepts in urban areas.
Background on the Smart City Index
The Bitkom Smart City Index is considered the most important and comprehensive comparison of digitalization in German municipalities. Since the methodology and underlying data sources are continuously being developed, direct comparisons with previous years are only possible to a limited extent. For the city administration, the ranking therefore serves primarily as an important external perspective and orientation aid for future digitalization steps.
Digitalization Officer Benjamin Koppe emphasizes that the ranking is not an end in itself: “What is crucial is that digitalization reaches the people, makes everyday life easier, and at the same time creates good framework conditions for a modern center of science and business.” The current result is both a confirmation of the course taken so far and an incentive to continue consistently expanding digital participation in Jena.
Source:
Jena rises in digital ranking
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.