SciTransfer
cast · Project

Touchless 3D Fingerprint Scanning for High-Security Government and Commercial Identification

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Imagine a fingerprint scanner that works like a high-def 3D camera instead of a touch pad. It captures the tiny hills and valleys of your finger without you ever touching the device, making it much cleaner and harder to trick with fake prints. Because it sees the full 3D shape, it still works with the old 2D databases used by governments worldwide.

By the numbers
3 billion
people with fingerprints recorded in government databases
2,500,000
EU Contribution in EUR
The business problem

What needed solving

Contact-based fingerprint scanners are unhygienic, wear out over time, and are vulnerable to spoofing or latent print theft. Furthermore, new technologies often fail to work with the massive existing 2D government databases.

The solution

What was built

A compact, dust-free, and splash-proof 3D contactless fingerprint scanner. It includes custom camera optics, a specialized cooling system, and AI-supported data evaluation software.

Audience

Who needs this

High-security facility managersGovernment biometric database operatorsMedical facility administratorsBorder control agencies
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Government & Public Safety
enterprise
Target: Border control and immigration agencies

If you are a government agency dealing with hygiene and fraud at border crossings — this project developed a 3D contactless scanner that ensures interoperability with existing 2D databases. This allows for secure identification without the risk of latent prints being left on the device.

Banking & Finance
mid-size
Target: High-security vault or data center operators

If you are a security firm dealing with high-risk access points — this project developed a 3D scanning system that is difficult to counterfeit. It captures microscopic ridge and valley structures to prevent unauthorized access using fake fingerprints.

Healthcare
enterprise
Target: Hospital patient identification systems

If you are a healthcare provider dealing with the spread of germs via shared touch-surfaces — this project developed a touchless scanner that removes the need for physical contact. This provides a hygienic way to identify patients while maintaining high security.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What is the cost or price of the system?

Based on available project data, a specific price is not mentioned, but the project redesigned the housing and components to be suitable for low-cost series production.

Can this be produced at an industrial scale?

Yes, the final results indicate that the device housing and component arrangement have been redesigned specifically for low-cost series production.

How is the IP or licensing handled?

Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of licensing terms, though the technology was developed by IDLOOP GMBH.

How does it integrate with existing systems?

The system is designed for interoperability with contact-based scanners and existing government databases by capturing the ridge and valley structure in a way that matches 2D scans.

What is the deployment timeline?

The project period is from 2023-03-01 to 2025-02-28, indicating it is currently in the final stages of bringing the product to market maturity.

Consortium

Who built it

The project is led by a single SME, IDLOOP GMBH from Germany, with a 100% industry ratio. This lean structure suggests a fast-track approach to commercialization, focusing on a single entity's ability to integrate hardware and software for a specific market need.

How to reach the team

Contact IDLOOP GMBH in Germany

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Contact us to explore licensing or partnership opportunities with IDLOOP GMBH.