FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The INNOVA Commercialization Group (INNOVA), an initiative of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium (WVHTC) Foundation, recently invested in Morgantown-based SecurLinx Corporation. This investment will allow the company to grow its unique and expanding line of biometric software products.

SecurLinx offers software that stores, processes and shares biometric information specific to the challenges of law enforcement and the security industry. Applications for SecurLinx integration software include information sharing, secure access, surveillance, and biometric identification solutions. SecurLinx products add increased security, productivity, and seamless information management solutions in targeted markets where secure access to physical locations or information sharing networks are critical.

"Biometrics technology has been of considerable interest in West Virginia over the past few years. SecurLinx is a company that is capitalizing on this interest by bringing tremendous management talent, industry experience and a well crafted product vision into a region that already has world class biometrics capabilities," said Greg Clutter, Director of INNOVA. "INNOVA is thrilled to be working with such a cutting edge biometrics company right here in the heart of the biometrics industry."

SecurLinx products are unique in that they are compatible with many biometric products and platforms. This open framework design enables their products to be configured to use the biometric components that are best suited to the application. Customers are not forced to use any one solution as the market changes and the technology advances.

"The investment and services by INNOVA will allow SecurLinx to continue its growth as a West Virginia company in biometrics," according to Barry Hodge, CEO and President of SecurLinx. "For example, earlier this year, SecurLinx released its FaceTrac product which utilizes facial recognition biometric technology and images of persons of interest to compare to individuals entering a facility in real time. Such applications have huge potential to increase security and efficiency for our customers. This investment will allow SecurLinx to continue to create and market such products right here from West Virginia."

SecurLinx is one of many companies that INNOVA has assisted and one of a growing list of companies into which INNOVA has invested seed capital.

"The INNOVA program has proven to be vital to the seed and early stage companies into which it has invested and assisted," said James L. Estep, President and CEO of the WVHTC Foundation. "INNOVA is unique in its ability to provide both technical assistance and seed funding for its companies. The INNOVA Commercialization Group has demonstrated — and will continue to demonstrate — its commitment to establishing true partnerships with seed stage West Virginia ventures."

The INNOVA Commercialization Group, an initiative of the WVHTC Foundation, is a non-profit, statewide commercialization initiative designed to advance economic growth by increasing the number of new products introduced into the marketplace by West Virginia innovators. Services include product evaluation, assistance in business planning, market analysis, market strategy development and access to seed or early stage investment capital. INNOVA seeks to cultivate an entrepreneurial climate in West Virginia.

The WVHTC Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization based in Fairmont, W.Va., functioning as an engine of economic change for growing a statewide and regional high tech business sector. The Foundation has established a multi-faceted approach to maximize economic development, including infrastructure development, research and development, commercialization and affiliate services.

SecurLinx Corp., based in Morgantown, W.Va., was established in 2003 to add increased security, productivity and seamless information management solutions in targeted markets where secure access to physical locations or information sharing networks is critical to the enterprise. SecurLinx’s goal is to become the leading provider of secure access, surveillance, biometric identification, and secure data solutions serving law enforcement, government and the security industry. It is SecurLinx’s desire to offer its employees a rewarding work/life balance and "make a difference" in the markets that they serve. SecurLinx strives to maintain the integrity of its business and to act as a reliable ethical partner.