Thuringia starts digital offensive: The new app for citizens and administration!

Thuringia starts digital offensive: The new app for citizens and administration!

Thuringia is driving digitalization forward! Today, on August 13, 2025, Minister Steffen Schütz presented exciting plans to catapult the Free State into the digital age. The measures presented fall under the “Smart State” initiative and aim to establish Thuringia as a pioneer in digital transformation. According to MDR, the new “Thuringia app” is intended to function as a central dashboard that provides both services and relevant information for citizens, administration and business.

The content of the app sounds promising. Among other things, functions for building applications, opening times of offices, weather reports and even information about the Deutschlandticket are planned. Users should have the opportunity to customize the dashboard, which will certainly increase acceptance. In order to promote dialogue with citizens, citizen consultation hours and citizen dialogues are planned, with the first dialogue scheduled to start this year. These are all steps that should actively involve citizens in the digitization process, as [n-tv](https://www.n-tv.de/regionales/thueringen/Smart-State-statt-Fax-So-soll-Thueringen-digitaler- Werden-article25960628.html) reports.

Uniform structures and challenges

A central goal of the digitalization strategy is the standardization of IT structures and workflows in local administrations. The need for such measures was clearly emphasized by Schütz, especially due to the limited human resources to implement these ambitious plans. Nevertheless, the Thuringian Association of Municipalities and Cities is positive, but at the same time warns against unrealistic expectations and unfulfillable promises.

The municipalities are currently faced with the challenge that no municipal funding applications for digitalization have been approved due to a lack of financial resources. The Erfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce has also made its position clear and is calling for clear timelines and binding responsibilities in order to put the digitalization plans into action in the coming year. In order to secure the necessary financial resources and support, significant investments and political backing are required.

Looking at digitalization in Germany

In the context of digitalization in Germany, a mixed picture emerges. According to the Germany Index of Digitalization, online offerings have increased by 42 percent in the last two years, but the majority of citizens still use analogue channels. The proportion of users who use online administration services stagnates at 66 percent. With its new initiatives, Thuringia could become part of the solution to improving the digital desires of many citizens and getting them excited about digital processes.

With clear goals and the necessary political and financial support, Thuringia could actually become a model for other federal states. The course must now be set to make the leap into the digital future - and the Thuringia app could be the key!