European research project "BioP@ss" aims to develop electronic ID card in chip card format

Eleven companies from six European Union (EU) countries participating in the European research project BioP@ss to develop a high-security chip card platform.

BioP@ss aims to do the technical spadework for the introduction of an electronic ID card in chip card format valid throughout the entire EU. The BioP@ss is to make chip card technology even more secure and easy to use. For instance, EU citizens can draw on the services of governments and public authorities by using their ID card on the Internet. Potential services include registering a change of address, registering a vehicle, filing a tax return (eGovernment), casting a vote in elections (eVoting) and other services provided by the retail, banking and insurance sectors (eBusiness).

In BioP@ss project, the two semiconductor companies Infineon and NXP are working on refining encryption technologies for chips. Another main focus is to enhance the data transfer rates between chip card and reader. G&D is developing an innovative chip card operating system which, by means of conventional Internet protocols (e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP, TLS and SOAP), will allow the chip cards to be used with Internet PCs without the need to install additional software components. The connection between the chip card and the PC can either be wireless or via a USB interface.

The BioP@ss research project, which is planned for completion by the end of June 2011, has a total budget of some Euro 13 million.

Further information on the BioP@ss research project and the project partners is available at www.biopass.eu