Project: Biometric Innovative Rechargeable DeviceS

The overall objective of the BIRDS project is to develop a contactless payment card based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This card will be controlled by a full biometric system (i.e. a fingerprint swipe sensor and its biometric algorithms) directly integrated into the card enabling image capture, feature extraction, and match-on-card operations._x000D_The addition of fingerprint swipe sensor to standard credit cards will minimize the possibility of credit card fraud and market studies conclude that both payment cards issuers as well as end-user are positive towards the introduction of biometric makers on cards. However the development of such a card is faced with a number of technological challenges._x000D_The CO challenges faced by the BIRDS project are to develop an embedded biometric system compatible with the standard ISO 7810 as well as a NFC card compliant with standard ISO 7816 for electronic payment. With this common goal for the consortium, the Ps plan to provide a functional card called “Biometric EMV NFC” in order to reach the banking market. This card will COly contain a biometric sensor, a Rechargeable circuit, a NFC Chip and an EMV-contact-chip. _x000D_An intermediate card called “Biometric NFC” will be developed to validate the ISO relevant requirements of the working biometric sensor, rechargeable circuit and NFC Chip components, and to test its functionality through real payment conditions. This solution will be marketable, contributing to the economic success of BIRDS._x000D_To achieve these objectives, the project consortium gathers complementary R&D and market competences within the value chain for production of NFC cards and development of biometric fingerprint sensors:_x000D_- UINT, a French SME created in 2008, is known as an innovative company, pioneer and leader in powered card industry. UINT’S team is made of 8 experienced engineers and PhDs with high expertise in electronics cards. Its activity covers many fields of expertise: Flexible circuitry design aimed to be integrated in bank cards, Flexible components, power inlay technology, Security. UINT has developed several active cards in different markets: health, gaming, gift card, and security. Each one innovates in its own market: first card to guide someone to make an efficient CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), first card to integrate lights and music into an ISO Credit Card, First card to integrate a display in an ISO banking card. UINT has received several awards and nominations for its innovative products and international strategy._x000D_- IDEX is a Norwegian public company created in 1996, specializing in fingerprint imaging and recognition technology. IDEX has developed the award-winning SmartFinger® Film technology platform including the patented fingerprint imaging principle, sensing scheme and chip design combined with core software algorithms for imaging and authentication._x000D_Due to this close collaboration, the ambition of the BIRDS project is to provide a payment solution with a high level of security linked to the cardholder’s biometric recognition._x000D_The BIRDS project will be focused on the payment cards market with special focus on the the banking payment segment. Indeed, conventional authentication systems at ATMs, transactions at the point of sale, phone and online banking as well as many other banking applications are vulnerable to fraud and can be further secured through biometrics. Although some customers still have concerns about privacy, the banking sector is increasingly more and more interested in this technology._x000D_There are early signs that there will be a huge market growth for biometrics with respect to payment systems and the banking sector overall, with great opportunities. More than half of the customers across Europe would be willing to switch their accounts to financial institutions that offer biometric authentication services. In this mercantile context, the product aims to address COly this high potential credit card market, at the crossing of the following sectors._x000D_

Acronym	BIRDS (Reference Number: 7110)
Duration	01/04/2012 - 31/03/2015
Project Topic	The BIRDS project aims to develop an innovative NFC (contactless) payment card with an embedded biometric sensor. In an exponential market, this match-on-card solution will revolutionize the banking transactional market segment, offering a high level of security with EMV compliant uses.
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 7

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	IDEX ASA	Partner	Norway
2	UINT SA	Coordinator	France