A major new initiative, APTITUDE, has launched under the European Commission’s Large-Scale Pilot (LSP) programme to accelerate the rollout of the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet). Coordinated by the French government, APTITUDE brings together 118 partners from 11 EU Member States and Ukraine, with a total of €20 million in EU funding ..

In September 2020, ID & Secure Document News™ reported on the award of the contract for the European Union’s Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS) to the consortium of IDEMIA and Sopra Steria. At that time, the project was positioned as a cornerstone of the EU’s interoperability framework, designed to provide centralised biometric services across multiple Justice and Home Affairs systems; including the Visa Information System (VIS), the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the then-upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES).

Veridos GmbH has officially signed a contract with Nepal’s Department of Passports (DoP) for the production of biometric passports, following an international competitive tendering process. The agreement, announced at the end of July, covers Package 2 of the project—comprising the supply of secure ePassport booklets, personalisation infrastructure, quality control systems, and packaging.

Veridos GmbH, a joint venture of the Security Tech Group Giesecke+Devrient and the Bundesdruckerei Group, has announced a change in the management board.

Orell Füssli (OF) has reported significant organic growth in its security printing and identity documents activities, reinforcing its position in secure document production. The company’s focus on expanding its core business without acquisitions has allowed it to achieve steady and sustainable progress, driven by strategic initiatives and increased demand for its products.

The global security print landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and, in its wake, there are two extremes of skills shortage.

Spectra Systems Corporation, a Rhode Island-based provider of secure transaction technologies, has announced that its security printing division, Cartor Security Printers, has secured a 5-year contract to produce postage stamps for an undisclosed postal supplier within the European Union. The agreement is expected to generate revenue of between $3 million and $4 million over its duration.

On 13 January 2025, DREWSEN SPEZIALPAPIERE, a German leader in the production of specialty and security papers, announced the acquisition of UK-based PORTALS PAPER Ltd, a well-known producer of high-security papers for passports and identity documents. This union merges the complementary strengths of two companies with rich traditions in secure papermaking, marking a significant development in the field of identity and counterfeit protection.

TECH5 has initiated the modernisation of the Virginia State Police’s Livescan systems, a critical upgrade aimed at enhancing biometric identification processes.

The secure identity industry continues to witness significant consolidation as key industry players announce acquisitions to strengthen their portfolios and expand their offerings.