NanoScent COVID-19 · Project

Instant Breath-Based Disease Screening Using Nano-Sensors and Machine Learning

healthMarket-readyTRL 8

Imagine a tiny electronic nose that can sniff your breath and tell in seconds whether you might be sick — no lab, no swab, no waiting days for results. NanoScent built a small device packed with chemical sensors that detect specific scent molecules (volatile organic compounds) your body releases when infected. A machine learning algorithm then reads the scent pattern like a fingerprint and flags potential infections on a mobile app. Think of it as a breathalyzer, but instead of alcohol, it detects disease markers.

By the numbers

€100s

Cost per PCR test that this technology aims to undercut

1-2 days

PCR result delivery time eliminated by real-time screening

Total project deliverables completed

Demo-stage deliverables including CE mark and commercial app

The business problem

What needed solving

Standard disease screening methods like PCR are expensive (€100s per test), slow (1-2 days for results), and require trained lab personnel and specialized facilities. This creates bottlenecks in mass screening situations — airports, hospitals, workplaces — where you need to check many people quickly and cheaply. There is no practical way to do instant, low-cost respiratory disease screening at the point of care.

The solution

What was built

NanoScent built a CE-marked breath screening device using proprietary nano-sensors that detect volatile organic compounds, paired with machine learning algorithms and a commercial mobile application. The system delivers real-time screening results without lab infrastructure.

Audience

Who needs this

Hospital networks and emergency departments needing rapid patient triageAirport operators and border agencies requiring mass passenger screeningOccupational health providers managing workplace disease preventionPublic health authorities running large-scale screening programsEvent management companies screening attendees at large venues

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Healthcare and Hospital Networks

enterprise

Target: Hospital groups and clinic chains needing rapid patient triage

If you are a hospital network dealing with slow and expensive lab-based screening that creates bottlenecks at emergency departments — this project developed a CE-marked point-of-care breath sensor with a commercial mobile app that delivers results in seconds instead of the 1-2 days required by PCR testing. The device costs a fraction of the €100s per PCR test, enabling mass screening at intake.

Airport and Transport Security

enterprise

Target: Airport operators and border control agencies needing real-time passenger health screening

If you are an airport operator dealing with the need for rapid, non-invasive health screening of thousands of passengers daily — this project developed a low-cost, fast-responding sensor system with a mobile app that can screen individuals in seconds without trained lab personnel. The CE-marked device could integrate into existing checkpoint workflows for respiratory disease detection.

Workplace Safety and Occupational Health

mid-size

Target: Large employers and occupational health service providers

If you are a workplace health provider dealing with the challenge of keeping employees safe from airborne disease outbreaks without disrupting operations — this project developed a portable, easy-to-use breath screening tool with a commercial mobile app. Staff can be screened on-site in seconds, helping identify potential infections before they spread through the workforce.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the device cost compared to standard testing?

The project data states that gold-standard PCR testing costs €100s per test and requires 1-2 days for results. NanoScent's sensor is described as 'low-cost' and 'fast-responding,' designed as a fraction of PCR costs. Exact per-unit pricing is not disclosed in the project data.

Can this scale to screen thousands of people per day?

The system was designed specifically for point-of-care mass screening. It uses low-cost chemiresistor sensors paired with a commercial mobile app, which suggests it was built for high-throughput deployment. The CE mark for IVD Directive 98/79/EC confirms it met regulatory requirements for in-vitro diagnostic use at scale.

What is the intellectual property situation?

NanoScent's core nano-sensor technology is described as 'proprietary and patent-protected.' The company owns the sensors, the scent recorder hardware, and the scent recognition software algorithms. Any licensing or partnership would need to be negotiated directly with NanoScent Ltd.

Does this have regulatory approval?

Yes. The project delivered a CE mark under the IVD Directive 98/79/EC, which is the European regulatory standard for in-vitro diagnostic medical devices. This means the device met safety, performance, and quality requirements for diagnostic use in the European market.

How long has the company been developing this technology?

NanoScent Ltd. was founded in 2017 by two experienced entrepreneurs. The company was already commercializing its scent recognition technology for other industries before pivoting to COVID-19 detection. The EU-funded project ran from August 2020 to July 2022.

Can the technology detect diseases beyond COVID-19?

The underlying platform is a general-purpose scent recognition system for detecting volatile organic compounds. The project data mentions applications in people safety, personal wellbeing, environmental protection, and energy efficiency. Based on available project data, the ML algorithms could potentially be retrained for other disease biomarkers, but this would require separate validation.

What was actually delivered and demonstrated?

The project produced 5 deliverables, including two demo-stage outputs: a CE mark certification for the IVD Directive and a commercial mobile application. This indicates the system moved beyond prototype into a market-ready, regulated diagnostic product.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project funded under the EIC SME Instrument, meaning the European Commission selected NanoScent Ltd. as a high-potential SME worth backing directly. The consortium consists of 1 partner from Israel with 100% industry participation and no academic partners — this is a pure commercialization play, not a research exercise. NanoScent is an SME founded in 2017, which signals an agile company focused on bringing a product to market rather than publishing papers. The absence of university partners and the CE mark deliverable confirm this was about getting a proven technology certified and deployed, not about fundamental research.

How to reach the team

NanoScent Ltd. is a small Israeli company — the founders are likely reachable via their website or LinkedIn. As an EIC-funded SME, they are actively seeking commercial partners.

Order a report on this consortium

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the NanoScent team, provide a detailed technology brief, and help evaluate fit for your specific screening needs. Contact us to explore partnership options.

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