Thuringia in digital awakening: I3TC is revolutionizing higher education!

Thuringia in digital awakening: I3TC is revolutionizing higher education!

On August 15, 2025, an important cabinet meeting took place in the Grace Hopper Building at the Ilmenau University of Technology. Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow said he was impressed by the developments in Thuringia, particularly in the areas of nanotechnology and the detection of flora and fauna. The Grace Hopper building is one of two IT centers in Thuringia that supplies all ten Thuringian state universities with IT applications and services. This building represents an essential basis for the digitalization of universities in the region.

The creation of the “Ilmenau Interactive Immersive Technologies Center (I3TC)” was also presented at the meeting. This new research center focuses on innovative virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies and will be one of the most modern installations for rendering virtual environments in Germany. The press conference took place inside the I3TC's high-tech audio laboratory, with Digital Minister Steffen Schütz emphasizing the importance of this laboratory for Thuringia as an innovation location.

Focus on immersive technologies

The I3TC has set itself the task of researching and developing immersive media in industrial contexts. Users are able to immerse themselves in virtual environments or expand reality with additional information. The new VR laboratory rooms in the IT service center of the TU Ilmenau offer practical training opportunities for students and doctoral candidates in these promising technologies.

There is a particular focus on computer-generated VR, AR and mixed reality (MR). The technologies not only enable interaction through 3D images and sound, but also the analysis of user behavior. The impact of these technologies on users is also being intensively studied to explore their full potential in different economic sectors. This includes industries such as media, communications, medicine, architecture, industry and even space applications.

Digital higher education in Thuringia

With the founding of the I3TC and other initiatives, the Thuringian university landscape is actively involved in digitalization. Higher education is already transforming through a range of measures aimed at making teaching and learning methods more individualized, flexible and mobile. Digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), offer new opportunities for students, teachers and university administrations.

Numerous projects were launched as part of the federal-state initiative to strengthen AI skills. These include the establishment of interdisciplinary courses and the development of certificate programs that adapt to the requirements of the digital future. From the “University Forum Digitalization” platform to specific course offerings on the AI ​​campus, the federal government has made great efforts to make higher education fit for the future.

Overall, it shows that Thuringia, with its I3TC and the supporting measures, is on a promising path to the digitization and technologization of its universities, which will not only increase the region, but also global competitiveness. Constant development in these areas is crucial for contemporary academic training and the promotion of innovative approaches in science.

The THU Ilmenau and the federal government's initiatives are central players in this transformation process, which is characterized by enthusiasm for new technologies and a clear vision for the future of higher education. The challenges arising from digitalization are met with creative solutions and extensive research work.