Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) in Thuringia

Academic Education

Thuringia is committed to promoting young IT talent. Nine universities offer degree programs with a focus on information and communication technology. Nearly 20 percent of all Thuringian students receive academic training (Bachelor/Master) in this field.

Further Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in Information and Communication Technologies are offered by University of Erfurt, the Bauhaus University Weimar as well as the Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach at.

Training and further education

Nearly 5,000 school leavers receive a well-founded theoretical and practical dual training in the ICT sector each year in the following professions:

The Thuringian universities, together with business-oriented research institutions, ensure an excellent research infrastructure.

Research focuses of the Thuringian ICT industry:

• (Big) Data Science
• Analysis, management and simulation of complex systems
• Virtual and Augmented Reality
• Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Engineering
• Natural Language Processing
• Sensor technology
• Biosignal Processing
• Cryptography and Media Security
• Intelligent assistance systems
• Web technologies
• Mobile communications
• Digital Media Technology
   

Research Institutes and Application Centers

The media campus of the STUDIOPARK KinderMedienZentrum offers a media-oriented, well-networked and communicative environment for companies in the creative and media industries. The close proximity to KiKA, ARD, ZDF and MDR enables excellent business-promoting multiplier effects and fosters cooperation opportunities.

The Digital Bauhaus Lab is an interdisciplinary research center where scientists from computer science and civil engineering, as well as artists, address the challenges of the information society. It features highly advanced large-scale equipment such as interactive
displays, a computer cluster and an interface development laboratory.

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT der Technischen Universität Ilmenau
works on AI-based recognition and classification methods for audio and video data for improved industrial quality control and for applications in the areas of broadcasting, television
and online media.

With the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the Ernst-Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena (ZAKI@EAH) a platform is being created that connects actors from science, business and society,
to further advance the topic of Artificial Intelligence in Thuringia and, above all, to bring it into application.
 

Networks:

• ITnet Thuringia e.V., a network of Thuringian companies with the goal of strengthening the industry as a whole through cooperation and networking.
• Jena Digital e. V., Innovation network for digital economy & science at the Jena location.
• MENT - Media Network Thuringia, network for Thuringian media players.

diva-e Digital Value Excellence GmbH
is an IT service provider for eCommerce, SAP and eSecurity. It specializes in implementing international B2B and B2C (omni-channel) business models. Diva-e offers consulting, implementation and operation of eBusiness solutions along the entire value chain. With more than 100 employees at seven locations, Diva-e can best support the digital strategy of large corporations and the upper middle class in B2B2C online business.

dotSource SE
from Jena supports companies in designing digital customer relationships. Specializing in e-commerce, digital platforms and CRM, the company develops and implements scalable digital products for its customers.

KIDS interactive GmbH
sees itself as an agency for young media, developing and producing interactive learning and gaming applications at the Erfurt location since 2007. Its competencies range from complex edutainment and e-learning projects for school lessons to sophisticated children's websites for organizers, companies, and products. The company was awarded as one of the top 20 most innovative companies in Germany in the field of "Internet, Media & Communication" in June 2017 by the business magazine BRAND EINS and STATISTA, based on a survey of 20,000 executives.

Funkwerk AG
is a technologically leading provider of innovative communication, information, and security systems. Tailored concepts for railway operators, vehicle manufacturers, industrial companies, and institutions worldwide manage and streamline operational processes in transportation, logistics, buildings, as well as public and private facilities of all kinds.

IBM Deutschland CSS GmbH
is one of the leading vendor-independent IT service providers in Europe. From Erfurt, help desk services for international major customers from all over the world have been provided 365 days a year and in up to 25 languages since 1996.

IBYKUS AG
has been on the market in Erfurt since 1990 and specializes in holistic IT services. The business areas Systems, Software, and Services offer customers a comprehensive range of services from a single source. The strong competence in software development makes IBYKUS a reliable partner for complex and customer-specific IT projects.

retarus GmbH
acts as a leading information logistics provider, managing communication for renowned corporations worldwide. The IT service provider comes into play wherever large volumes of data need to be transmitted securely and reliably - regardless of the communication channel. The basis for this is a Global Delivery Network with data centers in Europe, the USA, and Asia. Global customer support has been centralized in Erfurt since 2018.

NT AG
has been active as a solid and innovative IT company for more than 20 years. The special expertise of NT.AG lies in the digitalization of business processes and the redesign of value chains through digital transformation. The portfolio ranges from software development to managed IT and hosting services.