The company behind a Danish COVID passport app says its rollout will cause a “domino effect” across Europe.
Netcompany is developing an app which will be ready for use in Denmark by May.
It will show whether a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19 as well as recent test results.
The firm’s chief executive Andre Rogaczewski said international interest in the technology is “very high”.
“We are talking to at least a dozen of countries, and most of them in Europe right now,” he told Sky News.
The UK could be among them, although no details have been confirmed.
The Danish app is being designed with three main goals; efficiency, simplicity and safety.
“It allows you to use an offensive test strategy, combined with vaccinations, in order to go into events, or to participate in business life,” Mr Rogaczewski said.
The app could be used at airlines and airports, so travellers can prove they’ve been vaccinated, or had a recent coronavirus test.
Sporting venues could also use the technology to quickly scan and assess fans before allowing entry.
“If you have to certify that you’ve been tested you run around with a piece of paper.
“Or if you’ve been vaccinated, you probably run around with a piece of paper. Now this is replacing the paper with a digital certificate.”
Denmark was the first country in Europe to confirm it will use digital passports.
Mr Rogaczewski said: “I think that’s going to start some sort of domino effect. We will see more countries in Europe following suit.”
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He was quick to defend the platform’s safety.
“It’s actually safer than using the paper, because if you use a paper certificate, you can actually copy it, you can lose it, someone else can use it, you can you can pretend to be someone else,” he said.
The idea of vaccine passports has faced some strong opposition in the UK – a marked difference to Denmark where Mr Rogaczewski says there is a “broad acceptance”.
He thinks it will be a vital tool in reopening life.
“The only thing you’re exchanging, it’s basically a red [or] a green light saying, I’ve been tested or vaccinated, and it’s only been exchanged in that moment between those devices.”
The app comes with a “sundown clause” which means once it’s no longer needed it will be destroyed.
There has been suggestion the technology could be incorporated into the existing NHS COVID app.
It can’t be done quickly though.
Netcompany’s platform takes at least two to three months to set up, depending on the amount of preparation already in place.
