Innovative technologies, exciting discussions, and strong collaborations: On February 27, 2025, experts from science, business, and practice met at the Jena Technology and Innovation Park to discuss future issues in the healthcare industry.

With the kick-off event of this year’s “IKT meets…” series, Thuringian Cluster Management, together with the Thuringian Chambers of Industry and Commerce, medways e.V., and Batix Software GmbH, sent a strong signal for the networking of information and communication technologies (ICT) with the healthcare industry.

Participants enjoyed a varied program:

• Prof. Cord Spreckelsen from Jena University Hospital impressively demonstrated how artificial intelligence can be used beyond diagnostics and therapy in hospital logistics, data protection, and documentation.
• Prof. Iwan Schie from Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences in Jena presented the reorientation of medical technology degree programs – interdisciplinary, practical, and with a focus on AI, robotics, and digital health.
• Eike Dazert, managing director of medways e.V., presented the AVATAR project, which develops innovative solutions for the secure handling of health data.

Afterwards, parallel workshops provided an opportunity for exchange: one focused on the challenges of digital and AI-supported healthcare, with key topics such as data protection, digital infrastructure, acceptance, and interoperability. The second workshop focused on opportunities for cooperation in the areas of digitization and automation and showed how joint projects can create new synergies.

The program was rounded off by specialist presentations on innovative data rooms, new production methods in medical technology, and the QUANTIFISENS project, which builds bridges between medical imaging and infrastructure monitoring.

The event made it clear that forward-looking ideas arise when players from different fields come together. We would like to thank all our partners, especially LEG Thüringen and the IHK Ostthüringen, for the successful organization and look forward to the upcoming formats of “IKT meets…”.