Jena is one of the most important startup hubs in eastern Germany, according to a recent study by Passion4Business GmbH. It numbers Spaceoptix, Polytives and rooom AG – all Jena-based companies – among the top 15 startups of 2020 in Germany. These honors, along with top placements in previous years, makes the City of Lights one of the most important start-up hubs in eastern Germany, right after Berlin and its environs. Companies in Jena owe their high rankings to their ideas and expertise, but also to the city’s excellent start-up infrastructure: good universities, numerous research institutions, multiple start-up incubators, a broad network of experts as well as Jena’s towering reputation as an optics and photonics center.
