Digital fingerprints "made in Jena" in the Wiesencenter since March 2022

JenaBusiness Summer Tour visits the new headquarters of JENETRIC GmbH

Everything at JENETRIC GmbH revolves around the fingertip and its unique grooves and lines. The company was founded eight years ago by managing directors Dirk Morgeneier and Roberto Wolfer and develops biometric fingerprint scanners. And it has been so successful that the previous domicile in the Jena Technology and Innovation Park has become too small. Since March 2022, the team of 30 employees has been based in the Wiesencenter, where new office and production space has been created on 750 square meters. A subsidiary in the United States is now also part of the business. During the summer tour of the Jena Economic Development Corporation (JenaWirtschaft), its Managing Director Wilfried Röpke was given a comprehensive insight into the wide range of applications of the scanners and the latest product development, a contactless 3D scanner.

User-friendly innovations from Jena for the global market

Whether at border control, in local authorities, in banks or at elections - fingerprints are used everywhere today as proof of identity. The fingerprint scanners from Jena-based JENETRIC GmbH are used worldwide at airports, authorities, prisons and border crossings. Due to the wide range of possible applications, user-friendliness of the devices is the top priority for the managing director duo:

"Our devices should be able to be used regardless of the language, culture and education of the user. This is precisely why we use our creativity, our expertise and our energy and are considered pioneers in this industry",

is how Dirk Morgeneier describes the company's motivation. In order to achieve these goals, JENETRIC GmbH has already registered 44 patents, some of them worldwide. According to Morgeneier, the coronavirus pandemic has greatly accelerated interest in contactless fingerprint scanners.

"We have been working with local partners on a contactless system for five years and are now aiming for certification by the American FBI."

After eight years in the Technology and Innovation Park, the company is now looking to grow further.

"To do this, we first needed more space," says Roberto Wolfer, explaining the challenge. "It was important to us to remain loyal to the Jena location and also to maintain proximity to the city centre," emphasizes the Managing Director.

The company was supported by JenaWirtschaft in its search for space.

"It wasn't easy to find an affordable space in Jena that was suitable for production. We are therefore all the happier to have found suitable premises here at Wiesenstraße 2, which have been completely adapted to our needs."

Scarcity of resources and shortage of skilled workers concern the company

However, Roberto Wolfer is concerned about the current shortage of resources.

"Procuring materials and logistics for electronic components is particularly difficult at the moment."

The company is also concerned about the need for qualified specialists.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified personnel. The competitive pressure in Jena is very high."

Wilfried Röpke from JenaWirtschaft is also aware of the difficult situation when it comes to skilled workers:

"We are working with many partners to shape the framework conditions for both companies and skilled workers in such a way that everyone can develop optimally here. This is the basis for Jena to remain a successful business and living location."

Ramona Scheiding, Head of the Skilled Workers Service at JenaWirtschaft, adds:

"We advise companies when they hire skilled workers from abroad on how best to integrate them locally or support them in opening up new recruitment channels."

The two managing directors expressed one wish to the city during the company visit:

"We would be delighted if the digitalization of the administration in Jena were to pick up even more speed and it were to implement even more pilot projects with local companies, for example," says Roberto Wolfer. For example, a biometric terminal in the residents' registration office makes it easier to issue ID cards and passports. "With a 'self-service station' like this, citizens can scan their fingerprints themselves and have biometric photos taken," adds Co-Head Dirk Morgeneier.