Whether medical technology, automotive, aerospace or mechanical & plant engineering: many cutting-edge industries would not be possible without technological innovations. The W3+ Fair, which will open its doors for the second time in Jena, Thuringia, on September 25 and 26, 2024, aims to pave the way for them. After last year's successful premiere, the trade fair for photonics, optics, electronics and mechanics is returning to the Sparkassen-Arena Jena. With more than 50 new exhibitors and two fully booked halls, the trade fair continues its success story and underlines its importance as the leading event for innovations in Central Germany. Trade visitors will find the latest technologies, talents and up-to-date knowledge transfer across industry boundaries. Big names such as Zeiss, Jenoptik and Schott will be represented, as will numerous hidden champions that are world-renowned in the industry. The organizers – Fleet Events together with OptoNet e.V. from Jena – are expecting over 2000 visitors.

“We have created real added value for Central Germany with this trade fair,” says Nora Kirsten, managing director of OptoNet e.V. “The W3+ Fair in Jena is the new meeting place for visionary technologies. Here we can join forces and position ourselves well for the national and international market.”

With more than 200 exhibitors and partners, this year's fair will be larger and more diverse than last year. The Thuringian joint stand will be represented with 25 booths. Nucleus – a joint initiative of the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena – will be presenting the latest results of university research at the Campus Area.

Over half of the exhibitors are from outside the region or come from abroad. In total, companies from 11 countries will be exhibiting, including companies from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the USA. This shows the importance of the region for key technologies.

A highlight of the trade fair is the free accompanying conference “en-tech.talks”, which takes place parallel to the exhibition and guarantees up-to-date knowledge transfer. Renowned speakers from companies such as Trumpf, Infineon, and Fisba, as well as representatives from Fraunhofer, Ernst Abbe University and other experts will share their knowledge on topics such as “High-tech from Central Germany”, “Quantum Future”, “Laser Fusion / PriFusio Funding Project”, “Photonics meet Microtechnology”, “Precision Manufacturing Technologies” and others.

The W3+ Fair is supported by numerous trade associations and regional partners, above all the gold partners OptoNet e.V. from Jena and the photonics network EPIC. The Thuringian Cluster Management of LEG Thüringen, the Tridelta Campus Hermsdorf, the medical technology and biotechnology industry association “medways”, the ThZM Thuringian Center for Mechanical Engineering and the Association of Thuringian Chambers of Industry and Commerce are also strong partners and contribute to the success of the fair.