U.S. Department of Homeland Security selects startups for digital ID innovation

A selection of startups have answered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s call to develop digital ID credentials. The tender process has narrowed down a selection of 6 startups that will step up to advance the U.S. digital identity landscape.

The 6 companies appointed contracts include Credence ID, Hushmesh, Netis d.o.o., Procivis, SpruceID and Ubiqu and will receive $200,000 funding towards the first phase of the project. Across 4 phases of development, the S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program will offer a total  $1.7 million in funding to support the development of privacy-minding digital wallets for travel and immigration as well as other purposes which have been in the pipeline for several years.

And said Anil John, technical director of S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program, “DHS is the authoritative source of some of the most highly valued credentials issued by the U.S. Federal Government for cross-border travel, demonstrating employment eligibility, residency status and citizenship. The capabilities developed under this solicitation will ensure that those credentials can be stored securely and verified properly while preserving the privacy of individuals using openly developed standards that are globally acceptable, highly secure and accessible to all.”