PYCSEL · Project

Flexible Fingerprint Sensors on Plastic Foil for Security and Access Control

digitalTestedTRL 5

Imagine a fingerprint scanner that's thin and bendy like a sheet of plastic — you could wrap it around a car steering wheel or stick it on a curved door handle. That's what PYCSEL built. Instead of the bulky glass scanners you see at airports, they printed heat-sensing fingerprint detectors directly onto flexible plastic film, capturing up to 4 fingers at once at security-grade resolution. The result is a sensor that's cheaper, lighter, and can fit onto surfaces where today's rigid scanners simply can't go.

By the numbers

500 dpi

Target fingerprint sensor resolution (security-grade)

4 fingers

Simultaneous fingerprint capture capacity

9 partners

Consortium size across 6 countries

Working demonstrators built (curved 2D sensor & 4-slap print sensor)

33%

Industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Current fingerprint scanners are rigid, bulky, and expensive — they rely on glass optics and can only be installed on flat surfaces. This limits where biometric identification can be deployed, locking out applications like curved car interiors, portable security devices, and retrofit building access points. Companies in security, automotive, and access control need a thin, flexible, low-cost alternative that works on any surface shape.

The solution

What was built

The project built two working demonstrators: a curved 2D fingerprint sensor and a 4-slap print sensor capable of capturing 4 fingers simultaneously at 500 dpi resolution. Both use a pyroelectric PVDF sensor layer printed onto a flexible plastic foil with an IGZO TFT active matrix, connected to electronic driver and readout boards.

Audience

Who needs this

Border security and government ID hardware manufacturersAutomotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers developing biometric HMI systemsAccess control and smart building system integratorsConsumer electronics companies adding biometric authenticationMachine tool manufacturers needing user-restricted access panels

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Physical Security & Government ID

enterprise

Target: Companies manufacturing border control or identity verification hardware

If you are a security hardware manufacturer dealing with bulky, expensive fingerprint scanners that limit where you can deploy biometric checkpoints — this project developed a thin, conformable sensor on plastic foil that captures 4 fingers at 500 dpi resolution. It eliminates the need for optical components, cutting size and cost while enabling portable deployment for border control and law enforcement.

Automotive

enterprise

Target: Car manufacturers or Tier-1 suppliers working on personalized HMI systems

If you are an automotive OEM or Tier-1 supplier looking to add biometric driver identification to steering wheels or door handles — this project built a curved 2D fingerprint sensor that conforms to non-flat surfaces. The flexible plastic foil design integrates into car interiors without redesigning ergonomics, enabling personalized settings and anti-theft features through fingerprint recognition.

Building Access Control

mid-size

Target: Access control and smart building system integrators

If you are a building security integrator struggling to retrofit fingerprint readers onto curved or irregular surfaces — this project created a conformable sensor that bends to fit any shape. With 500 dpi resolution on a thin plastic substrate, it can be embedded into door handles, elevator panels, or turnstiles without the bulk of traditional optical scanners.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this sensor cost compared to traditional fingerprint scanners?

The project specifically targeted low-cost production using printed electronics on plastic foil, eliminating expensive optical components. Based on available project data, exact unit costs are not published, but the TOLAE manufacturing approach (printing on plastic) is inherently cheaper than glass-based optical systems at scale.

Can this be manufactured at industrial volumes?

The technology uses printed pyroelectric sensors on plastic foil with IGZO TFT active matrices — a process compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing. The project validated the technology from lab proof-of-concept to technological validation in a relevant environment. Scaling to mass production would require additional industrialization steps beyond the project scope.

What is the IP situation and how can a company license this?

The project was coordinated by CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) with 9 partners across 6 countries. IP is likely shared among consortium members under the Horizon 2020 grant agreement. Companies interested in licensing should contact the coordinator CEA or relevant industrial partners for access terms.

What resolution and performance does this sensor achieve?

The sensor targets 500 dpi resolution, which is the standard required for governmental fingerprint identification. It can capture up to 4 fingers simultaneously in a single scan, matching the performance requirements for law enforcement and border security applications.

How mature is this technology — is it ready to deploy?

Two demonstrators were built: a curved 2D sensor and a 4-slap fingerprint sensor for governmental and automotive environments. These allowed fingerprint image acquisition and biometric processing. The project moved from lab proof-of-concept to technological validation in a relevant environment, placing it at mid-stage development.

Does this meet biometric regulations and standards?

The 500 dpi resolution target aligns with FBI and ISO standards for fingerprint capture quality. Based on available project data, formal certification against specific regulatory standards (e.g., FBI Appendix F) would need to be pursued separately for commercial deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

The PYCSEL consortium brings together 9 partners from 6 European countries (Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden), coordinated by CEA — one of Europe's largest research organizations with strong technology transfer capabilities. With 3 industry partners (including 2 SMEs) making up 33% of the consortium, there is a solid mix of research depth and commercial perspective. The presence of 3 research institutes alongside industry players suggests the technology has been developed with manufacturing feasibility in mind, though it remains primarily research-driven. For a business looking to access this technology, CEA as coordinator is a well-established entry point with extensive experience in licensing arrangements.

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESCoordinator · FR
AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABparticipant · SE
IN SMART IDENTITY FRANCEparticipant · FR
BIOAGE SRLparticipant · IT
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUMparticipant · BE
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRIDparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives) in France — a major research organization with dedicated technology licensing and partnership offices.

Order a report on this consortium See COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this flexible fingerprint sensor technology or connecting with the PYCSEL consortium? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate the business fit.

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