What Crime Science Technology does

Crime Science Technology SAS (C.S.T / CST) is a privately held French deeptech company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lille, with a secondary office in Elancourt and a highly secure industrial facility in the Paris area. The company operates two complementary product lines under a "dual expertise" positioning. The first is identity authentication based on its proprietary O.V.M (Optical Variable Material) platform, which combines chemistry, materials science, and optics to produce O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate and O.V.M Fiduciary Inks that deliver multi-level authentication (Level 1 naked-eye, Level 1+ smartphone flashlight, Level 2 UV lamp, Level 3 laboratory spectral analysis) for ID documents, banknotes, and fiduciary products. The second is forensic technology under the Lumicyano sub-brand — a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate process that develops latent fingerprints in under 30 minutes (versus traditional 48-hour protocols) while preserving DNA for double identification on a single print.

CST's business model is B2B enterprise sales through direct engagement with governments, national issuing authorities, ID-document manufacturers, and forensic laboratories. Revenue is generated via (a) consumable sales of Lumicyano kits and components, (b) licensing and supply of O.V.M polycarbonate materials and security inks to ID-document issuers and industrial partners, and (c) collaborative deployment of authentication technologies into national identity systems. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The technology is supported by 50+ patents, ISO 9001 certification, Intergraf Security Supplier certification, validation by the French Interior Ministry, and COFRAC/ISO 17025 accreditation. The company is active in 30+ countries for ID authentication and reports Lumicyano deployment in 50+ countries, with named users including the FBI, Scotland Yard, German Police, and 100% of French forensic forces. CST is a member of the Secure Identity Alliance and Document Security Alliance. No external funding rounds beyond an early-stage investment from Eurasante are disclosed.

Name

Crime Science Technology

Legal name

Crime Science Technology SAS

Website

https://crimesciencetechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crime Science Technology (CST) is a French deeptech company that develops optical variable material (O.V.M) security features for identity documents and the Lumicyano one-step fluorescent fingerprint development technology, selling through direct enterprise channels to governments, national ID authorities, and forensic laboratories in more than 50 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Identity Document Security & Forensic Materials

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Adhesive Manufacturing (32552)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anti-Counterfeit & Track-and-Trace Packaging (Serialization, Security Features) (IMALAIAJ), Forensic Science & Crime Laboratories (Justice System Support) (BPAIAFAI)

Keywords

• Identity document security
• Forensic fingerprint technology
• Document authentication materials
• Security inks polycarbonate
• Latent fingerprint development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lumicyano Products: Sale of bi-component forensic technology products (Lumicyano Powder and Solution) for latent fingerprint development. Products available in various kits (LK5-100, LK1-20) and individual components (LP5 powder, LS200 solution, sample kits).
2. O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate: Licensing and supply of proprietary polycarbonate materials embedded with O.V.M technology for ID document manufacturing.
3. O.V.M Fiduciary Inks: Supply of proprietary security inks for ID document printing, available for screenprinting, offset, and inkjet application processes.
4. Government and Institutional Solutions: Collaboration with governments, institutions, and leading industrial partners to deploy identity security technologies in critical identity systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Crime Science Technology develops and commercializes proprietary security materials and forensic chemicals built on its O.V.M (Optical Variable Material) technology platform. Its commercial offerings include O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate sheets and O.V.M Fiduciary Inks for embedding into passports, ID cards, and banknotes to provide multi-level visual and spectral authentication, and the Lumicyano one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate system used by forensic laboratories worldwide for rapid latent fingerprint development that preserves DNA evidence.

Product overview

Crime Science Technology (CST) offers a dual-expertise portfolio combining forensic science and authentication technologies. The product line centers on the proprietary O.V.M (Optical Variable Material) technology platform, which underlies both the O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate and O.V.M Fiduciary Inks product lines for ID document security. Complementing this is Lumicyano, a separate core forensic technology product line for latent fingerprint development. Together, these products address identity security across two domains: securing ID documents and fiduciary products through multi-level authentication features, and enhancing forensic investigation capabilities through rapid fluorescent fingerprint development with DNA compatibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lumicyano: A breakthrough technology for latent fingerprint development - a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate fuming process that reveals fingerprints in less than 30 minutes while maintaining DNA sampling compatibility.
• O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate
• O.V.M Fiduciary Inks
• O.V.M

Products and services

• Lumicyano A one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate forensic technology for latent fingerprint development that reveals fluorescent fingerprints in under 30 minutes in standard fuming chambers without any equipment modification, while maintaining DNA sampling compatibility for double identification (papillary and biological) on a single print. Available in various kits (LK5-100, LK1-20) and individual components (LP5 powder, LS200 solution, sample kits). Used by law enforcement and forensic laboratories in more than 50 countries.
• O.V.M Fiduciary Polycarbonate The first fiduciary polycarbonate exclusively dedicated to ID documents, secured in its core with O.V.M (Optical Variable Material) technology. Provides multi-level protection (Level 1 by eye, 1+ with smartphone flashlight, 2 under UV, 3 in laboratory) via color-shifting visual effects (pink on light background, green on dark background). Each polycarbonate carries a unique spectral DNA identifiable in laboratory settings. Designed for integration into existing ID document production processes without modification, sold to ID document and banknote manufacturers.
• O.V.M Fiduciary Inks High-security inks exclusively reserved for ID and fiduciary documents, based on O.V.M technology. Applied on transparent areas (windows) of ID documents, they provide innovative color-shifting visual effects observable at multiple authentication levels (Level 1, 1+, 2, 3). Pigment-free formulation delivers exceptional durability compared to common ID document and banknote inks. Available for screen printing, offset, and inkjet application without modification to existing printing processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fingerprint development time reduced from 48 hours to under 30 minutes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Secure Identity AlliancecoreOthersCST is a member of the Secure Identity Alliance, actively contributing to the evolution of international industry standards for secure identity documents and systems.
• Document Security AlliancecoreOthersCST is a member of the Document Security Alliance, actively contributing to the evolution of international industry standards for document security.
• Forensic Science Laboratory of the French GendarmeriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on scientific research including optimization of revelation sequences for latent fingerprints on thermal papers, published in forensic science literature.
• Sorbonne UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for forensic science studies, particularly regarding fingerprint development on thermal papers.
• IGNA (Institut Genetique Nantes Atlantique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt-appointed reference institute for fingerprint and genetic identification in France. Validated Lumicyano technology for double identification using both fingerprinting and DNA analysis.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEMIA: IDEMIA is one of the largest incumbents in identity and security, supplying national ID, e-passports, driver's licenses and biometric solutions to governments worldwide. It overlaps with CST in identity-document feature supply and forensic/biometric applications, though IDEMIA operates at much greater scale and integrates full document issuance systems.
• HID Global: HID Global is a broad incumbent in identity and secure-document technology, providing e-passport inlays, polycarbonate datapages and credentialing solutions. It is comparable to CST in identity-document feature supply, but HID operates at much greater scale and across broader credential categories.
• De La Rue: De La Rue is a major global producer of secure documents including banknotes, passports and identity cards, with dedicated security feature and authentication solutions. It overlaps with CST in providing Level 1+ security features for fiduciary and identity documents, but at much larger scale and as part of a full secure-printing operation.
• Evident (formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions): Evident (Olympus) provides forensic microscopy, fingerprint comparison instruments, and crime-lab imaging systems used by law enforcement. It overlaps with CST's Lumicyano customer base as a forensic supplier to police and forensic labs, though its focus is on instruments rather than luminescent chemistry.
• 3M (Security Materials & Forensic): 3M supplies forensic science consumables (latent print powders, lifting tapes, security materials) and security/authentication features through its diversified portfolio. It is comparable to CST as a broad incumbent in both forensic consumables and authentication features, although these are non-core lines within 3M's broader materials portfolio.
• Thales (Identity & Security): Thales is a broad incumbent in secure identity, providing e-passports, national ID programs, biometric systems and secure document technology to governments. It is comparable to CST as a potential competitor for national ID document programs where O.V.M polycarbonate/ink features are deployed, though Thales offers much broader system integration.

Direct peers

• SICPA: SICPA is the global leader in security inks and OVI (Optically Variable Ink) features for banknotes, ID documents and brand protection. Like CST, it sells proprietary chemistry/optics-based authentication features to governments and security printers, making it the closest direct peer to CST's O.V.M Fiduciary Inks and Polycarbonate platform.
• Foster + Freeman: Foster + Freeman is a UK-based specialist in forensic science equipment, including fingerprint development systems and document examination devices. It is a direct peer to CST's Lumicyano line as both supply forensic laboratory equipment and consumables to police forces and forensic science providers globally.
• Projectina: Projectina is a Swiss manufacturer of forensic science and document-examination instruments (VSC workstations, ESDA, fingerprint systems). It is a direct peer to CST given its overlap in forensic and document-authentication hardware sold to law enforcement and government agencies.
• Regula Forensics: Regula is a direct competitor in the document-authentication and forensic-examination equipment market, providing forensic devices and ID verification tools used by border police, immigration and forensic labs worldwide. Like CST, it serves law enforcement and government customers with hardware and consumables that authenticate identity documents and forensic evidence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crime-science-technology

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crime Science Technology