The Research Institute of Tsinghua University invests in security screening company Asqella as it looks to expand into global markets.

Asqella, a Finland-based company that sells security screening imaging systems, has raised €1.8m ($1.9m) from a partnership including Shenzhen Leaguer Venture Capital, a venture capital firm founded by Research Institute of Tsinghua University.

Shenzhen Leaguer Venture Capital was joined in the round by Finland-based venture capital firm VTT Ventures 

Asqella has developed a system that offers passive submillimetre-wave imaging that can be used for security screening and loss prevention.

Arttu Luukanen, co-founder and managing director of Asqella, said: “We see a clear increase in the demand for fast-throughput people screening, driven largely by urbanisation and the large number of regional conflicts around the world.”

The company plans to use the investment to expand into global markets.

Luukanen went on to say: “We have concentrated our efforts toward really understanding what our customers need in order to screen vast numbers of people for concealed items safely and securely while respecting their privacy.

“One of the outcomes of that analysis is that this radically new technology can actually reduce the costs of security screening, while improving security and convenience in comparison to more traditional measures.”