Plan your visit now to one of Thuringia’s largest technology trade fairs
Here you will find all the latest side events, workshops and guided tours for the W3+ Fair Jena 2026
Tue 22 September
Wed 23 September
for Thuringian businesses
powered by Thüringen International
Thursday 24 September
Guided Tours
on the topics of Defence & Security, Microtechnology & Aerospace
from 6.00 pm | at JEDI – Jena Digital Innovation Hub
W3+ Warm-up: Get to know Jena’s innovation ecosystem
Before the W3+ Fair opens its doors in Jena on 23 and 24 September 2026, de:hub Jena and the de:hub Photonics & Digital Experience Platforms invite you to the W3+ Warm-up.
In a relaxed atmosphere, you’ll get to know key players in Jena’s innovation ecosystem and make contacts with relevant partners even before the fair begins.
There are 40 places available for this event.
September 23, 2026 | 9:45 AM | en-tech.stage in Hall 2
9:45 – 10:30 AM Opening of W3+ Fair Jena 2026
10:30 – 11:15 AM Business and Press Tour
September 23, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 PM
Seminar Room 1st Floor – exclusively for Thuringian companies + international delegations from Poland and France
September 23, 2026 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Seminar Room 1st Floor – for all Thuringian visitors and companies + international parties interested + all participants
The International Matchmaking Platform by LEG and EEN brings together companies, R&D institutions, and all stakeholders interested in international business, technology, or research cooperation.
Registration is open until September 22, 2026.
September 23, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Defense & Security Tour 3:30 – 4:00 PM: Presentations & Panel Discussion | en-tech.stage in Hall 2
Security and defense are among the fastest-growing application fields for optical and photonic technologies. The Mitteldeutsches Institut für Sicherheitsindustrie (MISI) brings together companies, research, and policy from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, opening access to security-relevant markets for small and mid-sized suppliers. As part of this topic block, MISI first guides participants to selected exhibitors with a Defense & Security focus, before the following presentation session addresses industry needs, market access conditions, and dual-use potential.
Program:
Participation in this topic block is free of charge. Spots for the tour are limited – registration required in the ticket shop.
September 23, 2026 | 2:30 PM | Starting point: EPIC booth S3 in Hall 1
The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) offers students the chance to connect with companies from the photonics sector as part of a guided tour. Get first-hand insight into career opportunities in this leading technology field.
The tour visits a total of 6–7 companies and is conducted in English.
Fair admission and participation in the tour are free of charge for students.
September 24, 2026 | 8:30 AM | VIP Catering, 1st Floor
The EPIC VIP breakfast at W3+ Fair is a tradition: EPIC member companies meet invited guests from the region for networking.
Participation in this event is limited to 1 person per company and requires confirmation. Registration is requested.
September 24, 2026 | 1st Floor, 10 AM – 1 PM
“Effective Trade Fair Communication” – by OptoNet
Through Your Customers’ Eyes – Communication Diagnostics at W3+ Fair
At a trade fair, visitors often decide within seconds whether a booth catches their interest. Technology-driven companies in particular do not always communicate the benefits of their carefully developed solutions clearly – especially when expertise in customer-specific developments is hard to make visible.
In this interactive OptoNet workshop, participants deliberately shift perspective: instead of viewing booths as exhibitors, they view them as visitors, analyzing which messages land and which questions remain unanswered.
Further information is available on the OptoNet e.V. website.
September 24, 2026
1:00 – 2:00 PM: “Enabling New Space” Tour 2:30 – 3:45 PM: Presentations & Panel Discussion | en-tech.stage in Hall 2
As the industry association for the aerospace sector in Saxony and Thuringia, the Kompetenzzentrum LRT connects companies and research institutions across the entire value chain – from materials development to manufacturing technologies to component qualification for use in space. Ahead of the “Aerospace – Mission and Technology” presentation session, LRT guides participants to exhibitors developing components, materials, and testing methods for aerospace applications.
Program:
Participation in this topic block is free of charge. Spots for the tour are limited – registration required in the ticket shop.
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Presentations | en-tech.stage in Hall 2
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Tour | Starting point: At the stage
Presentations & Guided Tour
Photonics is one of the key enabling technologies for microtechnology – whether in sensor technology, medical technology, or industrial machine vision. In the “Optics & Photonics for Microtechnology” presentation session, the international IVAM Microtechnology Network brings current industry developments to the stage. Afterward, IVAM guides participants to exhibitors combining optics and microtechnology into advanced system solutions.
Program:
Participation in this topic block is free of charge. Spots for the tour are limited – registration required in the ticket shop.
Hall 3 | Booth I8 + Foyer
At the Campus Area of W3+ Fair Jena, five universities and research institutions present their current projects in optics, photonics, electronics, and mechanics.
Participating institutions include Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, Tridelta Campus, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, and Deggendorf Institute of Technology.
Exhibitors and trade visitors gain direct insight into research results, technology transfer opportunities, and possibilities for collaboration with young talent and researchers.
Students and pupils are especially welcome. Simply show your student ID to receive free admission.
Hall 1
Thuringian companies look forward to expert exchange at their joint stand. The range presented spans from precision components and assemblies to equipment and services for development, manufacturing, processing, and surface finishing.
September 23 + 24, 2026 | Speakers Corner, Hall 3
September 23 | 2:30–2:50 PM
September 24 | 11:00–11:20 AM
The “de:hub Photonics & Digital Experience Platforms Jena” presents four Thuringian start-ups showcasing the latest developments in optics, photonics, and IT.
Special Area Job Wall | Hall 1
September 23 + 24, 2026 | all day | en-tech.stage in Hall 2
