Fenjax Secures Software License for Real-Time Hospital Asset Tracking
In a step toward the digital transformation of clinical infrastructure, the RWTH Aachen University spin-off Fenjax GmbH has secured a software license agreement for a real-time localization system (RTLS) developed during its EXIST-funded research phase. The agreement, facilitated by RWTH Innovation, marks the transition of a high-precision indoor tracking technology from academic prototype to commercial deployment.
Engineering Efficiency in Healthcare
Hospitals are complex logistical ecosystems, where the timely availability of equipment can directly affect patient outcomes. Fenjax addresses this challenge with a UWB-based RTLS platform that enables the precise localization of medical assets, supplies, and mobile units within clinical environments. This is achieved by attaching small tags to assets, which send radio signals to anchors. The collected data is then processed and displayed on dashboards and specific apps. Unlike conventional Bluetooth or Wi-Fi-based systems, the ultra-wideband (UWB) approach employed by Fenjax offers decimetre-level accuracy with minimal infrastructure, often requiring just a single receiver per ward, a so-called hallway-anchor system, which allows one anchor to cover multiple adjacent rooms, significantly reducing installation effort and cost.
The system’s architecture is designed for scalability and interoperability, integrating seamlessly with hospital IT systems and supporting both on-premise and private cloud deployments. It is compatible with standard clinical information systems (CIS), ensuring smooth data exchange across departments. Data is visualized through intuitive interfaces, enabling clinical staff to locate critical items in real time, reduce idle operating room time, and prevent equipment loss.
All relevant assets are displayed in a real-time digital twin of the hospital infrastructure—including location, status, and movement history. This live view forms a data foundation for further process optimization, analytics, and AI-based applications. Fenjax’s modular platform is also designed to support future robotic and AI-assisted services aimed at automating clinical logistics and improving operational efficiency across healthcare facilities.
Founders with a Vision
Fenjax was founded in 2024 by Dr.-Ing. Jonas Gesenhues (CEO), Dr.-Ing. Tobias Salesch (CTO), and Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wehr (CFO), three engineers from RWTH Aachen University with a shared vision of bringing industrial-grade logistics to healthcare. Their interdisciplinary expertise spans embedded systems, signal processing, and systems engineering.
“With this technology we want to revolutionize efficiency in hospitals,” says Dr. Matthias Wehr. “By making the physical location of assets digitally accessible, we enable smarter workflows and reduce the cognitive load on clinical staff.”
In 2024, the team took part in the RWTH Incubation Program, a structured support initiative by RWTH Innovation that supports early-stage deep tech startups moving from idea to market. Through mentoring, workshops, and access to RWTH’s innovation ecosystem, the program enabled Fenjax to refine its business model and prepare for market entry. The team’s work has not gone unnoticed. That same year, Fenjax was awarded the RWTH Spin-off Award, a distinction that recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial achievements rooted in academic research. The award underscores the spin-off’s potential to shape the future of healthcare logistics and affirms its strong ties to the university’s innovation ecosystem.
From Lab to Market
The licensing agreement represents a textbook case of successful technology transfer. RWTH Innovation supported the process from first idea to contract negotiation.
“Fenjax exemplifies the kind of impact-driven entrepreneurship we aim to foster,” says Dr. Andreas Otten, Head of IP & Technology Transfer at RWTH Innovation.
By helping hospitals shorten search times, prevent asset loss, and streamline logistics, Fenjax provides tangible relief for clinical staff and lays the groundwork for smarter, more data-driven healthcare systems. The team is working to bring its solution into clinical practice and contribute to the ongoing digitization and automation of hospital operations. With a solid technological foundation and clear clinical relevance, the company offers a promising approach to modernizing healthcare infrastructure.
