The research objectives of this research project are: To explore fingerprint matching algorithms and compare their performance and HW affinity. To develop an algorithm which can be mapped in HW for subsequent mapping on FPGA-based system. To design a Fingerprint Matching Processor based on the designed algorithm. To characterize the Fingerprint Matching Processor for the number of matches it can perform in every second. To develop a scalable architecture utilizing multiple instances of the Fingerprint Matching Processor for high density applications. The academic objectives of this research project are: To develop research group in CASE, working on state of the art algorithms on biometric in general and fingerprint matching in particular. To strengthen the DSP-Architecture group in CASE, which is specialized in mapping signal processing algorithms in silicon. To design a specialized graduate level course focusing on VLSI mapping technique of signal processing algorithm. The key benefits of this research project are: The developed project will have an international market. Some of the important organizations facilitated by this project will be national registration agencies, security agencies, banks, and immigration authorities, etc. The project will develop exceptional human resource to take on other projects of comparable complexities and scale in the future. The project will develop an infrastructure that can create a knowledge community which can subsequently generate various financially rewarding activities. The main project activities of this research project are: Algorithm Development in Matlab. Porting of the Algorithm in Fixed-point C. Architecture Exploration and Design. Coding of Architecture in Verilog and its functional verification. Synthesis and porting on FPGA-based COTS boards. Incorporation in application and HW-SW co-verification. Review and documenting.