Next-generation Strong Ultrasonic Fingerprint Biometrics

Project Information

UltraFiBi

Grant agreement ID: 781271

DOI

10.3030/781271

Project closed

EC signature date 19 September 2017

Start date 1 October 2017

End date 31 March 2018

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

MODULEUS SAS
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UltraFiBi (Next-generation Strong Ultrasonic Fingerprint Biometrics)

Reporting period: 2017-10-01 to 2018-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Biometrics are becoming increasingly popular to allow secure, passwordless authentication. Key market drivers are security and convenience, cloudification, online payment/banking and digitalization (IoT). The conventional fingerprint sensors currently in use are basically low-cost products mainly targeting mobile applications, such as smartphones and tablets. Due to security problems, they do not meet the end-user requirements when true security and strong authentication is needed. MODULEUS, a French start-up with patented innovative solutions for ultrasonic sensing, focuses on advanced ultrasound fingerprint sensors for reliable and secure authentication, as current fingerprint recognition systems do not detect the liveness (hence even a play-doh hack works), but ultrasound does.

The main objective of UltraFiBi was to conceive a comprehensive business plan for MODULEUS’ entry to markets initially in Europe, through two main activities: mapping of the market and technology assessment, based on the strong expertise by MODULEUS in the overall value chain of advanced ultrasound systems development, i.e. application, platforms, software, electronic boards, and components.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The added value, and thus the business potential, of our internally developed R&D Platform has been confirmed as a stand-alone product, even reinforced with its updated specifications based on the use of our own ASICs. Even if the first potential customers evolve in the field of medical research, it does not lower the business potential of ultrasound solutions for biometrics, the latter could even potentially strengthen the value proposition of the first as data protection and security of medical information is of great importance. Our business model must be fine-tuned to match the evolution of the strategic vision. Altogether, this project has solidified our believe that we have a solid strategy with a high success potential.

Regarding IPR strategy and freedom-to-operate, MODULEUS had already filed its first 2 patents prior to the project beginning. The anteriority search report of one of the two patents was issued during the project and has confirmed its potential strength, leading us to launch a PCT process. We’ve also been working on two new patent applications, related to inner finger biometric trait imaging and dedicated biometric algorithms, thus reinforcing our IP position.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

MODULEUS has developed an ultra-low size and low power consumption ultrasound system platform (hardware & software), pushed beyond the state of the art, that will bring much more than a highly secured biometric solution. Medical sector will also benefit from our platform as it will enable a brand-new approach of ultrasound imaging, given access to medical monitoring – in a biometrically secured way – to the greatest number of people all around the world, covering a broad range of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular ones and cancers. Consequently, MODULEUS will contribute to lower the economic burden of such diseases.

R&D Platform Operational Printed Circuit Boards