Themis · Project

Spray-On Forensic Tool That Detects Sperm Traces in One Minute at Crime Scenes

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Imagine police investigating a sexual assault but their UV lamps miss 90% of the biological evidence on the scene. AXO Science built a spray you can apply to any surface — floors, objects, skin, hair, even grass — and within one minute it lights up exactly where sperm traces are. Think of it like a pregnancy test but for crime scenes: fast, visual, and far more reliable than what police currently use. The company already proved it works in a first phase and used this EU funding to scale production for worldwide sales.

By the numbers

5 million

Rapes committed globally each year

90%

Sperm traces missed by current forensic lamps

4.6 per 1,000

Rapists that go to jail per 1,000 reported rapes

1 minute

Time for STK Spray to reveal sperm traces on any surface

134M€

Global sperm detection market size (by 2025)

17%

Target market share by 2025

EUR 1,738,160

EU contribution to scale-up and commercialisation

The business problem

What needed solving

Police investigating sexual assaults rely on forensic UV lamps that miss 90% of sperm traces at crime scenes. This leads to critical evidence being lost, lengthy and often pointless laboratory screening, and ultimately contributes to extremely low conviction rates — only 4.6 rapists per 1,000 rapes end up in jail. Crime scene technicians need a fast, reliable, on-site detection method that actually works.

The solution

What was built

AXO Science developed STK Spray, a portable sperm-revealing spray that detects biological traces on any surface (floors, objects, skin, hair, grass) in one minute. The project delivered a scaled-up production process, a product demonstration workshop at an international forensic conference, and a commercialisation plan targeting the 134M€ global market.

Audience

Who needs this

National and regional police forces equipping crime scene investigation unitsForensic science laboratories processing sexual assault evidencePrivate forensic investigation and consulting firmsForensic equipment distributors serving law enforcement agenciesJustice ministries and victim protection organizations procuring investigation tools

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Law enforcement & forensic services

enterprise

Target: National police forces and forensic science laboratories

If you are a forensic laboratory or police crime scene unit struggling with the fact that current forensic lamps fail to detect 90% of sperm traces — this project developed STK Spray, a one-minute on-scene sperm detection product that dramatically increases evidence recovery. With only 4.6 rapists per 1,000 rapes reaching jail, better evidence collection directly improves conviction rates.

Private forensic investigation

SME

Target: Private forensic and investigation firms

If you are a private investigation or forensic consulting firm that needs rapid biological trace detection for civil or insurance cases — STK Spray reveals sperm on any surface in one minute, replacing lengthy and often inconclusive lab screening. The product targets the 134M€ sperm detection market and is designed as a portable, on-scene tool requiring no laboratory equipment.

Forensic equipment distribution

any

Target: Forensic and law enforcement equipment distributors

If you are a distributor supplying crime scene investigation tools to police agencies — AXO Science is seeking worldwide distribution partners for STK Spray. The company already has an existing forensic product portfolio and customer network, and aims to capture 17% of the 134M€ sperm detection market. This is a new product category with no direct competitor at this detection level.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does STK Spray cost compared to current forensic detection methods?

Specific pricing is not disclosed in the project data. However, the product targets a 134M€ global sperm detection market and is designed for on-scene use by crime scene technicians, suggesting it is priced for volume procurement by police agencies rather than as a premium laboratory instrument.

Can this scale to equip police forces nationwide?

Yes — the entire purpose of this Phase 2 project (EUR 1,738,160) was to scale up production and prepare for massive worldwide commercialisation. AXO Science planned to double its headcount by 2022 and open two overseas subsidiaries by 2025, indicating serious manufacturing scale-up.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

AXO Science SAS is the sole consortium partner and owns all IP. As a private commercial entity (SME), the technology is proprietary. Based on available project data, no licensing to third parties is mentioned — the company plans direct sales through its existing distributor network.

How does this compare to existing forensic detection tools?

Current forensic lamps fail to detect 90% of sperm traces on crime scenes, resulting in lengthy and often inconclusive lab screening. STK Spray detects sperm on any surface — floors, objects, skin, hair, grass — in one minute. The proof of concept was validated during the earlier SME Phase 1 project SexAssault-ID.

What is the regulatory pathway for this product?

Based on available project data, specific regulatory approvals are not detailed. However, the product is a forensic presumptive test (not a medical device), which typically faces lighter regulatory requirements. The demonstration workshop at an international forensic conference (IAI) suggests engagement with the professional community for validation.

What is the timeline from purchase to deployment?

The project ran from July 2020 to December 2022 and is now closed, meaning the product should be at or near commercial availability. STK Spray is designed as a ready-to-use spray requiring no special equipment or training beyond standard crime scene protocols, suggesting rapid deployment once procured.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by AXO Science SAS, a French biotech SME specialising in forensic products. The 100% industry and SME composition is typical of the EIC SME Instrument, which funds commercially-driven companies directly. AXO Science is not a startup — founded in 2010, it already has a forensic product portfolio and distributor network. The EUR 1,738,160 budget was entirely focused on scaling one company's product for global commercialisation, with plans to double headcount and open two overseas subsidiaries. For a potential buyer or partner, this means you are dealing with a single, focused vendor rather than a research consortium — decisions are fast and IP ownership is clear.

AXO SCIENCE SASCoordinator · FR

How to reach the team

AXO Science SAS (France) — forensic biotech company with existing distributor network. Contact their commercial or partnerships team.

Order a report on this consortium See AXO SCIENCE SAS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

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