• Hirsch Electronics biometric station wins award

    The Verification Station from the Santa Ana, California-based company wins Buildings Magazine 2008 award; “Finally…a high-end, cost-effective biometric system for more stringent security needs,” the magazine’s editors explain

  • Federal money for identity programs boost biometrics market

    A slew of U.S. government programs — US VISIT, the Real ID Act, TWIC, the FBI’s next-generation database, and many more — depend on biometric technology; the estimated value of potential contracts to implement federal identity-solutions programs has more than doubled since 2006, rising from $890 million to $2 billion this year; biometric companies fiercely compete — and lobby — for contracts

  • The big biometric hitters

    Five companies are in the lead in the competition for a share of the U.S. government biometric market; they have plowed money — a lot of money — into their lobbying activities, and some hope to strengthen their hand by hiring former administration officials

  • Malaysia renwes Unisys contract

    The Malaysian government has renewed its contract with Unisys Malaysia to continue work on the national ID card (MyKad)

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  • Congress weighs in on Digimarc sale

    Legislators uncomfortable with French company Safran acquiring U.S. ID maker Digimarc; they want CFIUS to take a very close look at the sale and its consequences for U.S. citizens’ security and privacy

  • L-1 Identity Solutions receives $4.9 million order for biometric devices

    L-1 contracted to sell its hand-held detection device, identifying individuals via iris, finger, and face biometrics in a mobile situation, to unnamed U.S. government agencies

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  • Northrop's Florida unit to get $185M for surveillance systems

    Congress’s supplemental war-time bill, which President George Bush recently signed, includes nearly $185 million for Northrop Grumman’s Joint STARS combat surveillance aircraft program

  • New organization to fight multi-product threats

    Five big technology hitters create a new organization aiming to address complex, multi-product, multi-vendor security threats

  • Fujitsu promotes palm vein biometrics in U.S.

    Palm vein architecture biometric technology is wide-spread in Asia, especially in Japan, where many banks use it in their ATMs; one reason for the popularity of the system in Japan is the stronger association made in Japanese culture between fingerprinting and criminality; Fujitsu believes other reasons — the fact, for example, that fingerprinting is not suitable for about 8 percent of the population — offer opportunities in the U.S. for its technology

  • £500,00 boost for hi-tech firm

    Warwick Warp has developed innovative technology in biometrics which dramatically improves the accuracy and speed of recognition of fingerprints; VCs are intrigued

  • BAE Systems acquires Tenix Defense

    BAE acquires versatile Aussie defense company; the acquisition grows BAE Australia significantly, taking the number of employees to more than 5,500 and current annual sales in excess of A$1.2 billion

  • French company's bid for Digimarc raises U.S. security concern

    L-1 Identity Solutions’ Robert LaPenta says allowing French company Safran, which is 30 percent owned by the French government, to acquire U.S. ID card maker Digimarc would compromise security of U.S. citizens’ personal information

  • Combined Systems acquires Penn Arms

    As interest in less-lethal and tactical munitions grows, the acquisition of specialty arms manufacturer by a leading branded munitions maker would allow both to pursue new market opportunities more aggressively

  • German solar sector attracting investors

    More and more investors are moving into the German solar energy sector; sector employment should grow from 41,000 jobs last year to around 110,000 by 2020

  • New bird flu vaccine looks promising

    Baxter’s cell-based vaccine appears to work better than more traditional egg-based ones; tests show promise at low doses