The BioP@ss project, a program funded through the EUREKA micro-electronics cluster MEDEA+, has been working on a way to speed up passport control at European airports. As reported on PhysOrg.com, digital security specialists, European electronics makers and biometrics experts have been working together on this new technology to meet the air travel security standards for 2014.

The project worked on contactless card scanning and high speed data interfacing to boost security, speed up passport control lines, reduce government administration costs and ease access to public European electronic services. Companies involved with the project had to find a solution that didn’t necessitate vast overhauls in current airport infrastructure.

Gemalto partnered with 11 companies in five countries to develop e-passport and e-ID cards that incorporate a microprocessor chip that stores private information and personal biometrics. Extended EU security requirements mandated encryption and the need to have physical access to the card in order to read the chip.

Beyond airport security, other applications were developed for health care, voting and other government services. The project also contributed to a new ISO standard for contactless data transfer that’s under consideration, as well as the CEN IAS standard for the European Citizen Card.

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