Unique technology from Chemnitz

Dr Karin Weigelt & Jan Thiele

Behind a typical block of houses on Kaßberg, you would expect to find park niches, playgrounds or green meadows. Not so at Gustav-Adolf-Straße 3, the headquarters of Prismade Labs GmbH. The office of Dr Karin Weigelt, her business partner Jan Thiele and the international team of nine employees is located in a winding two-storey building in the backyard. Karin Weigelt received the Saxon Female Founder Award for her innovative printing technology. In this interview, the Prismade founders explain what edding has to do with the company and how colours conduct information.

How did the idea for the company prismade come about in 2016?
Karin Weigelt: I studied print and media technology at Chemnitz University of Technology, where I first came into contact with the topic of printed electronics. Printing technology then accompanied me throughout my entire time at university and also characterised my professional development. I then met Jan Thiele in one of my jobs. We both had an incredible number of ideas on the subject. However, as the structures at our employer at the time didn't leave much room and time for creative ideas and developments, we took the plunge and founded our own company. By the way, Prismade stands for PRInted SMArt DEvices.
Jan Thiele: I studied printing technology and already had my first experience with my own company during my studies. At Prismade, I am responsible for sales and marketing. Many people are familiar with QR codes, which can be found on various posters, images or packaging. As this technology is easy to copy, we have developed a new invisible and secure technology using electrically conductive colours.

What is it about the colours that can convey information?
Jan Thiele: The colours are based on electrically conductive materials, such as carbon, and are printed directly onto the packaging, plastic or film. The sensors on the touchscreen of a conventional mobile phone read the colours in the same way as they would otherwise recognise the touch of a finger. The special thing about this is that the electrically conductive colours do not turn the products into electronic waste. The packaging can therefore still be recycled as normal. This is a major advantage compared to RFID technology. In addition, no special printers are needed to print the colour codes. Everything can be produced with machines that are available on the market.

Jan Thiele demonstrates the technology. He placed a conventional-looking box of tablets on his smartphone. The app, which he opened beforehand, specifies a field on which the packaging must be placed. He swipes his finger from top to bottom next to the packaging on his display. The display's sensors read the colour code, which is printed on the packaging but remains invisible. The result: the medicine has been verified as an original product. The package leaflet is displayed and can be read aloud for the visually impaired or blind. A calendar also appears in which the user can enter when and how often they need to take the tablets. Reminder function included. "This technology is unique in the world," say Karin Weigelt and Jan Thiele proudly.

That's why the edding company was interested in you?
Jan Thiele: Edding is known for its markers and pens. We are working on digital solutions in the field of printed electronics. So edding approached us to work together on a digital marker. The whole thing is called edding code. We provide the technical expertise. The edding family group brings sales strength and ideas for the applications. The aim of the co-operation is to make documents or medicine packaging for example forgery-proof. There are problems with counterfeit medicines, particularly in Asia and Africa.

Ms Weigelt, you have won the Saxon Female Founder Award for this innovative idea and your commitment to setting up your own company. What does this award mean to you?
Karin Weigelt: We actually discussed in the team beforehand whether it was the right way to fight discrimination with discrimination by applying for an award that is aimed exclusively at women. But we came to the conclusion that it is good to draw attention to the fact that women from fields such as STEM subjects can also achieve anything. I therefore applied for the Saxon Female Founder Award and was surprised that I ended up being one of the two winners. Of course, the prize also brought us a lot of attention, which we used to spread the word about our idea. The prize is a very good way of encouraging women to dare and, above all, to show themselves. There are actually many women who have started their own business, but more in the service sector. There are fewer in the technology sector and that should change.

Just under 30% of founders are female and only 8% of women are self-employed. Why do you think the proportion of women in the start-up scene is so low?
Karin Weigelt: I think that the roles of boys and girls are still very deeply rooted in society. This is already evident at school. It is always emphasised that girls can write beautifully and boys are good at maths. Later on, a female student sits among hundreds of male fellow students when she studies computer science, for example.
Jan Thiele: Boys are often encouraged, especially at school, to have the courage to tackle something. You should do that much more with girls too, encourage them to dare to do something, right from an early age!

What do you think needs to change so that more women become self-employed or realise their business ideas?
Karin Weigelt: In general, women should be encouraged more to take risks. That's what starting a business is all about. The gender roles that are taught in kindergarten should be broken down. We should also move away from the traditional model where a manager is expected to work 60 hours a week. People are expected to work very creatively. But you also have to create the framework conditions for this, and that includes more flexible working hours for both women and men. It shouldn't be a problem if the children are at work because there is perhaps no childcare available.
Jan Thiele: It is important to create a working atmosphere in which private problems are also taken into account. If someone has a sick child at home, then the working environment should be organised in such a way that the employee can also take care of it. Because if private matters can be dealt with in peace, everyone can be more focussed and innovative at work. I think everyone would like to see more flexibility and consideration.

The Saxon Female Founder Award is endowed with 5000 euros. What do you want to use the prize money for?
Karin Weigelt: We definitely want to do something for the team. Maybe we'll go on a trip, organise a team event or decorate the office. We are currently discussing this together.

Chemnitz is applying to be European Capital of Culture 2025. What do you want for the city by then?
Karin Weigelt: It is important that the people of Chemnitz are open to other nations, religions and attitudes. This position should be supported and spread from within. Chemnitz has so much to offer. It is big enough to have everything on site. But the city is still just the right size for everything to be within easy reach. Chemnitz has so much to offer, especially economically. Many Chemnitz companies work solidly and successfully without publicising it. Chemnitz could show this more clearly to the outside world. Personally, I really appreciate the fact that the economy here is very down-to-earth and almost modest. I am ambivalent about the hype surrounding start-ups. There is much more to successfully building a company than just founding it. I really like this down-to-earth attitude in Chemnitz.
Jan Thiele: I think the city should be made more child-friendly. The city centre has done very well over the last 20 years. But small oases for children are still missing in some places. You could bring more life into the city centre by creating places where the people of Chemnitz enjoy spending time with their children. For example, a museum for hands-on and playful learning would be a good way to make science, technology or art more tangible for children and all Chemnitz residents in general. Chemnitz has many good museums, but they all seem rather conservative. More life should be brought into them. Children are naturally very interested.