Thuringia as a location for innovation: New solutions for infection diagnostics and the fight against antibiotic resistance

The increasing spread of antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges in healthcare, as simple infections can suddenly become life-threatening. Rapid and precise infection diagnostics are therefore becoming increasingly important – both for effective treatment and for containing resistant pathogens. Rapid tests and modern analytical methods are thus gaining significant importance – especially those that can be used directly on-site, at the point of care.

Thuringia unites precisely the expertise and stakeholders that are crucial for this development. The Free State is an established location for infection research and biophotonics – that is, light-based technologies. These enable new diagnostic procedures that are faster, more precise, and often less invasive than previous methods, and create the foundation for point-of-care tests that can be used directly in hospitals or care facilities. Furthermore, the close collaboration between Thuringia's diverse diagnostics and biotech industries allows innovative procedures to not only be researched but also rapidly brought to market and implemented industrially. 

InfectoGnostics: Cluster for diagnostic innovation in Thuringia

The InfectoGnostics innovation cluster plays a central role in this. For over a decade, it has been connecting partners from science, clinical practice, and industry, including Jena University Hospital and the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technologies (IPHT), as well as companies such as Analytik Jena GmbH & Co. KG, BLINK AG, and Senova GmbH, to accelerate the integration of diagnostic solutions into routine care. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular benefit from this through: 

• the shared use of research equipment

• Direct transfer points between research and development

• Opportunities for validation and clinical testing

Diagnostics is considered here along the value chain, and with connections to adjacent areas such as databases/IT and device technology, with the aim of networking, enabling cooperation throughout Thuringia and accelerating new product developments.

New funding phase: 8 million euros for diagnostics of the future

Since October 2025, InfectoGnostics has been in the third phase of the research campus initiative. With approximately 8 million euros, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is funding seven new flagship projects until 2029, focusing on modern technologies for infection diagnostics – from practical molecular rapid tests for use in Thuringian nursing homes to biophotonic approaches for determining the immune response, and point-of-care tests for inflammatory markers, which could also be used as home tests in the future.

The 7th flagship project TransDiag also supports the transfer into healthcare through clinical needs analyses, study planning and networking of developers and users – a direct benefit for companies that want to test and improve their solutions in a practical setting. 

New infrastructure strengthens the location

This development is strategically complemented by the establishment of the "Leibniz Centre for Photonics in Infection Research" (LPI) in Jena. It is intended to further accelerate the path from application-oriented research to marketable products and to consolidate biophotonic expertise at the site.

InfectoGnostics as an important biotech network for the whole of Thuringia

The InfectoGnostics innovation cluster is supported by the Free State of Thuringia within the framework of the joint task "Improvement of the regional economic structure" (GRW) and works closely with Innovativ Thüringen for the exchange with Thuringian partners and the expansion of sustainable network and cluster structures. 

Through exchange formats, joint events and topic-specific networking, InfectoGnostics, together with Innovativ Thüringen, creates spaces where companies, research groups and clinical partners can meet and new collaborations can emerge. 

At the same time, InfectoGnostics is actively involved in shaping the specialization field "Healthy Living and Health Industry" of the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) Thuringia, thus contributing to the targeted linking of the diverse diagnostics and biotech activities in the Free State.

International visibility: Thuringia at the AMR Conference Basel

Thuringia is increasingly demonstrating its expertise internationally. One example is its participation in the AMR Conference Basel from March 3-4, 2026 – one of the most important European events on the topic of antibiotic resistance.

Together with Innovativ Thüringen, Infectognostics and its partner companies SMA Development GmbH, Dynamic42 GmbH and Applyo Jena GmbH will present current research results and technologies there. 

Conclusion

Thuringia is far more than a classic research location. Here, solutions are being developed for one of the greatest medical challenges of our time.

The close connection between photonics, molecular diagnostics, clinical expertise and entrepreneurial implementation makes the Free State a visible innovation hub for infection research and diagnostics.