Major European chip manufacturers join BioP@ss chip card platform research program

The project is carried out by eleven companies from six EU participating states. BioP@ss aims to develop the technology needed for the large-scale rollout of an electronic ID card in chip card format valid throughout the entire EU. In addition to its function as an ID card, the chip card will also constitute a secure means of authentication for services offered by governments and public authorities, with BioP@ss holders being able to identify themselves electronically and carry out biometric authentication over the internet.

The objective of the BioP@ss project is to make chip card technology secure and easier to use. Potential services to which BioP@ss holders could gain access online are registering a change of address, registering a vehicle, filing a tax return, casting a vote or else accessing retail, banking and insurance facilities over the internet.

A number of European nations –the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Switzerland and the UK among them – have announced their intention to roll out such electronic ID cards over the next years.