SENSE Holdings, Inc., a developer of next generation biometric and explosive detection security technologies for government and commercial security applications, has retained China Direct, Inc., a diversified management and consulting organization servicing Chinese entities. Sense management desires to increase shareholder value while pursuing its long term business objectives. In coordination with China Direct, Sense Holdings will seek to formulate a comprehensive acquisition plan to secure an accretive acquisition partner.

Sense Holdings, Inc. will continue to pursue a joint project with Oakridge Laboratories to develop innovative explosive detection applications. The company’s financial commitments related to the Oakridge project have decreased as Oakridge will assume current financial obligations associated with the project. Sense Holdings, which retains commercialization rights to the project, remains an active partner in the goal of producing MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) based explosive detection applications. Sense Holdings will seek to acquire a profitable Chinese entity while it continues its partnership with Oakridge to commercialize various explosive detection applications. The company plans to explore opportunities in which current shareholders will retain ownership of the intellectual property as well as a majority of the commercialization rights for its MEMS based explosive detection applications.

Dore Perler, CEO and President of Sense Holdings, explained, “Our Company has invested substantial resources to commercialize various explosive detection technologies. While we remain committed to the future potential of MEMS based applications, our current situation dictates that management develop a plan for a profitable future for Sense in 2007 and beyond. We believe a well crafted acquisition plan could enable our shareholders to benefit from the ownership of the intellectual property as well as a new, profitable business acquisition.”

Mr. Perler concluded, “We believe, in coordination with China Direct, Sense can identify an acquisition with a Chinese entity at a valuation which will be favorable to our current shareholders. All in all, we believe that this strategy will enhance the success of the company in the years to come and bring value to our shareholders.”

DAON, the biometrics company backed by the financier Dermot Desmond, has teamed up with a consortium led by the weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin to bid for a $1.4 billion (€1 billion) US government security contract.The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is handling tenders for the contract, which is for the Transport Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), a biometric system involving fingerprint and iris-scanning techniques that will provide 10m American transport workers with security cards. It is expected to make a decision early next month.

Daon is pitching for the key role of compiling and managing the database of security information for TWIC, which was designed to improve security at American ports and airports in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Lockheed Martin is proposing to manage the roll-out of the system, while four other companies including Deloitte are playing smaller parts in the group bid.

Read more at TimesOnline.

BIO-key International Inc., a leader in wireless public safety solutions and finger based biometric identification, has been awarded the Gold Level Compliance Certification for its FireRMS software application by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS). 

The certification process was developed to help states collect more standardized elements and eventually submit the data to a national EMS database. Gold Level Compliance ensures that BIO-key FireRMS software conforms to the NEMSIS national EMS dataset. The NHTSA Version 2.2.1 data elements required for compliance include over 400 data elements which are vital components needed for the documentation and description of EMS systems and patient care. Achieving Gold Level Compliance demonstrates the value BIO- key places on its commitment to create integrated and interoperable solutions for Fire and EMS Services and other first responder agencies.

“We are pleased that our state of the art solution for EMS professionals meets national standards,” stated Anthony Barone, BIO-key Vice-President and General Manager of Fire Safety Business Unit. “By satisfying NEMSIS requirements, all agencies using our FireRMS software now have the capability to generate reports that meet these national requirements.”

Electronic passports, biometric visas, payments via fingerprints - almost every day - we hear this kind of news through our news agencies. As a result biometrics, the technology to identify personal characteristics, has come out of its shadowy existence in criminal investigations and become more and more part of our daily lives.

Many companies are now thinking of taking advantage of this new technology for internal security purposes. But which biometrics is appropriate for computer access, time recording or security control? It is a difficult choice to make as processes and offered products are constantly increasing in volume.

Biometric & ID Consulting, Steinbeis Transfer Center for Identification Solutions and IDMC Biometrics Academy have agreed to work together and offer various training courses in Central Europe. The aim is to inform the companies and their employees correctly and extensively about different applications of biometrics.

“It is the first time in Germany and other parts of Europe that one can find courses that are independent of suppliers and where expert knowledge is offered to everybody and we are pleased to have IDMC Biometrics Academy working with us on this“, states Marcus Klische from Biometric & ID Consulting. Dr. Dietmar Fischer, Director of Steinbeis Transfer Centre for Biometrics and Identification Solutions adds: “The courses can also be offered as company-internal workshops, especially for the management, safety officers and employee representatives and Dr Aziz Shaikh is highly experienced in doing this.” Dr Aziz Shaikh, Director of IDMC Biometric Academy, summarizes: „We are very happy that we have Mr Klische and Dr Fischer working with us. They are experts in biometrics and will definitely grade up our programme internationally and support us with the realization. “.

More information on the training course programme is available from: http://www.biometric-id.de, http://www.stz-biometrie.de or www.idmcuk.com.