diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6537c0477..32ff60191 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ There are clients outside of the Eclipse IoT eco system as well, e.g.:
 
 # Runtime dependencies and support
 
-## Java Runtime Environment: 17
+## Java Runtime Environment: 21
 
 ## SQL database
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 2810cb0b8..4659f27a5 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 
         <revision>0-SNAPSHOT</revision>
 
-        <java.version>17</java.version>
+        <java.version>21</java.version>
         <!-- java.version is used to build the hawkbit in general, however, some artifacts which could be used
         as libraries in other projects might be compiled with a different, lower, java version. -->
         <java.client.version>17</java.client.version>