EC offers up EUR 4 million for innovators in online authentication
The European Commission has launched a new Horizon Prize: "Seamless authentication for all". EUR 4 million is available for inventing secure, privacy-friendly and affordable authentication methods for smart objects available to everyone.
People rely on passwords and similar means on daily basis to access online services. They need a secure and personal way to identify themselves to access e-mail, online banking, social media networks and the likes. The access to these online services requires authentication, i.e. the process of identity verification. The existing methods can be cumbersome and come with substantial security risks, like online fraud and identity theft. Also, quick development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has allowed connected smart objects to become autonomous and include self-adapting and intelligent decision-making. There is a clear need to develop identity links between people and their smart objects (e.g. smart household appliances, smart cars).
To tackle this, the European Commission has launched "Seamless authentication for all" Horizon Prize to stimulate innovation and come up with solutions to problems that matter to European citizens. A Horizon Prize is a challenge prize offering a cash reward to whoever can most effectively meet a defined challenge. In order to win, participating innovators have to come up with digital solutions that will best enable users and their smart objects to seamlessly authenticate (i.e. prove their relationships, identities, privileges and rights) across a wide range of services, applications, systems and devices within IoT ecosystems.
