Senorics was founded by Dr. Ronny Timmreck, Dr. Robert Brückner, Dr. Matthias Jahnel, and Robert Langer in Dresden, Germany, in 2017. The company started as a spin-off of the TU Dresden. At the time, the university owned a range of patents, and it was suggested by Prof. Dr. Karl Leo that Ronny was to take a look at them and possibly develop them into a technology that would benefit the masses. This was the moment the idea of Senorics was born.
Following that, Ronny took on the task to establish a team and secure funding, and Senorics quickly turned from an idea into reality. The journey towards making Material Sensing accessible for everyone had begun.
The founders from left to right: Dr. Ronny Timmreck, Dr. Robert Brückner, Dr. Matthias Jahnel, and Robert Langer
The IAPP at TU Dresden
Senorics journey started at the TU Dresden, more specifically at the Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP), a world leading interdisciplinary center for research in organic electronics and optoelectronics.
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Karl Leo, the IAPP has been researching organic semiconductors and their eligibility for optoelectronic applications for more than 20 years. IAPP has great expertise in investigating the physical properties of organic materials and their use in highly efficient semiconductor components such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and transistors.
It is also the place that led Robert Brückner, Ronny Timmreck, and Matthias Jahnel to each other. Let us take a look at who exactly the founders are and how they came to start Senorics together.
Getting to know Dr. Robert Brückner
Robert received his Diploma in physics from the TU Dresden in 2009. His thesis revolved around monolithically integrated LED driven organic VCSELs. Following this he wrote his dissertation on “Coherence and Coupling of Cavity Photons and Tamm Plasmons in Metal-Organic Microcavities” under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karl Leo in 2012. It was at this time that he met Ronny Timmreck when they were both participating in a solar cell and laser project at the IAPP Dresden.
During his time at the university, Robert wrote a number of academic papers and a book chapter, visited and presented at several conferences around the world, and held a lecture at the MIT in Cambridge. He helped advance the development of microresonators as a key knowledge carrier in the field. He was even offered a position at MIT in Cambridge but decided to become part of Senorics instead. He saw the potential of the underlying technology and the advantages of commercialization.
As he knew the content of the patents that Senorics was going to be based on very well, he was the ideal candidate for the position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO). His dedication and knowledge are what is driving the technological advancement at Senorics forward.
Getting to know Dr. Ronny Timmreck
Ronny was already very interested in physics in high school, especially in renewable energies. Just as Robert Brückner, he went on to study physics at the TU Dresden. He founded his first company, leXsolar, in 2003. It was towards the end of his dissertation that he was recruited by his thesis advisor Prof. Dr. Karl Leo to take a look at the patents that led to the founding of Senorics.
As CEO he is driven by the challenge to turn research findings into real products, something that can be applied in everyday life. Witnessing this transformation is what gives him purpose and the motivation to keep pushing forward.
An in-depth interview with Dr. Ronny Timmreck can be found on our blog.
Getting to know Dr. Matthias Jahnel
Matthias started his education by studying electrical engineering in Cottbus. He went on to complete his master's in physics and wrote his dissertation at the TU Dresden. He met Robert Brückner during this time, as they were both involved in discussions about dielectric mirrors and filter arrangements in connection with sensors and organics. At the time, Prof. Dr. Karl Leo at the IAPP also introduced Matthias to Ronny.
His motivation as Director of Engineering and Manufacturing at Senorics is to increase the performance and manufacturability of the technology, as well as reduce the price so that more people can benefit. The move from the laboratory to prototypes & small series was a first step towards scaling. However, depending on the number of sensors that are being manufactured, there are further requirements and challenges that need to be considered. These challenges need to be faced with creativity and the establishment of improved manufacturing processes, a task that Matthias is working on with much dedication every day.
The fourth founder, Robert Langer, left the company in 2021 to embark on new endeavors. During his time at Senorics he was responsible for the business development and marketing and played an important role in identifying market opportunities and building customer relationships.
5 years have passed since the founding of Senorics in 2017. Since then...
- 4 founders and one employee grew to 40+ employees
- The company moved from the TU Dresden to their office at Räcknitzhöhe in 2020 and to their office at Messering in 2021
- 2 financial rounds were closed and 10 million € raised overall
- ZEISS, Ventura, Fidura, TUDAG, and TGFS joined Senorics as lead investors
- The SenoCorder Solid handheld device and the OEM module were launched
- Many customer and partner relationships were established
So, what will we achieve in the coming 5 years? Make sure to follow our journey and stay connected on LinkedIn.
