Maddyness, January 2025, by Florence Boulenger.
[ Translation from French ]
Crime Science Technology (CST) announced this morning the arrival of C4 Industries, Pascal Cagni’s investment fund, as a “key investor.” This operation ensures that the govtech company, which specializes in the sensitive field of identity document authentication, remains entirely under French ownership.
Focus on France! CST, a govtech specializing in the security of identity documents, is up to conquer the French market, its country of origin, after building a strong reputation abroad.
The company continues its growth, announcing today that C4 Industries has taken a stake in its capital. C4 Industries is Pascal Cagni’s fund, who is also the chairman of Business France—but the two parties emphasize that this investment is not linked to his role at Business France. Since 2014, C4 Industries has supported more than 50 startups, nine of which have become unicorns.
The financial details of the transaction remain confidential. C4 Industries rarely discloses such information, and CST’s core business involves working with public actors on national security issues. “Such figures fall under economic intelligence,” explains Cosimo Prete, a former forensic police officer who founded CST in Lille in 2010, later joined by his two partners, Jérôme Comar and Gautier Alloyez.
Next Objective: Accelerating Industrialization
Fifteen years later, the govtech has acquired an international clientele across five continents. It holds 52 patents or patent families granted in 30 countries, with clients including major organizations such as the FBI and Scotland Yard.
Initially supported by Bpifrance and regional funds from Hauts-de-France, such as Finovam, FIRA, and Nord France Amorçage, CST developed technology capable of visually distinguishing authentic documents from counterfeits. This is achieved through molecules that change color depending on the angle and observation conditions. “When we talk about ‘identity papers,’ we should really be talking about plastic, as everything is now laminated. We’ve given plastic a noble purpose by working on both its substrate and its ink.”
This technology, named OVM (Optical Variable Material), is recognized by organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Frontex, the European Union’s border agency. “We now secure numerous identity documents worldwide, such as ID cards, passports, and driver’s licenses. States define their specifications, and CST provides critical technological components to meet them.”
With this new round of funding, CST aims to further its industrialization efforts. “In our field, it’s a constant race between counterfeiters and innovation!” summarizes Cosimo Prete.
Read full article in French on Maddyness website.
