Cornish facial recognition company TouchByte, based in Falmouth, has received a government grant of just under £50,000 from Innovate UK.

Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas.

The grant has allowed TouchByte to develop a prototype in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, using facial recognition technology to grant access to spaces.

Technology requiring fingerprints, keycodes, and smart cards to gain access to buildings is no longer a safe access solution. This grant has enabled TouchByte to adapt its current technology to fit new requirements; entirely contactless access to buildings and spaces.

In a world where contactless methods have become a vital necessity, TouchByte are delighted to be taking the next step into safety conscious access solutions.

Jeremy Sneller, TouchByte’s managing director, said: “The obvious solution is the ability to use ‘face’ instead. It’s non-invasive, automatic, and most importantly, safe.”

TouchByte now has four months to create a prototype ready for market release.