PRESS RELEASE

Paris, Swindon, Berlin, Leuven, April 6, 2010 - Four major security clusters in Europe launch the Security Innovation Network SIGNATURE to increase the competitiveness of enterprises and organizations in North-Western Europe. SIGNATURE's members are SITC (UK), SYSTEM@TIC Paris Region (France), LSEC (Belgium), nGage (UK) and TeleTrusT (Germany). Jointly, these clusters gather over 1,000 companies from all over the world - including Thales, SAGEM, Zetes, Vasco, McAfee, Sophos, Unisys and Dimension Data - with significant expertise in security. They are accompanied by a number of innovative start-ups, researchers and academic experts. The project is supported through the European Regional Development Fund by means of the INTERREG IVB NWE program and is specifically focused towards supporting innovative developments within Small and Medium Sized companies in the domain of security. Companies are welcome to introduce their ideas or challenges to the partnership. The participating clusters are open to public-private partnerships, other European networks and companies and individuals that would like to participate.

Security unleashed

The Security Innovation Network (SIGNATURE) aims to support innovation development in the physical and logical security sector. Potential threats, such as industrial espionage, identity fraud and possible drawbacks of virtualization and cloud computing will be addressed to improve NWE's competitiveness in a global market. The Security Innovation Network has been set up to facilitate the collaboration and working relationships between companies and experts in different areas of security in the UK, France, Belgium and Germany. In a series of interactive workshops, security experts will be challenged with current and future potential threats. For the first time, these activities will focus on a converging landscape and cross state borders. The different cluster networks will also organize public and closed user group discussions. Some results will lead to the developement of new research & development programs or joint development activities between companies and experts. Other outcomes will be shared amongst the enterprise and SME markets throughout the region.

TeleTrusT Germany [TeleTrusT Deutschland e.V.]

TeleTrusT Deutschland e.V. was founded in 1989 as a non-for-profit association in Germany promoting trustworthiness of information and communication technology in open systems environments. Today, TeleTrusT counts around 100 members. Within the last 20 years TeleTrusT evolved to a competence network for applied cryptography, biometrics and digital signature applications. In various TeleTrusT working groups ICT security experts, users and interested parties meet each other in frequent workshops, round-tables and expert talks. The activities focus on reliable and trustworthy solutions complying with international standards, laws and statutory requirements. TeleTrusT is keen to promote the acceptance of solutions supporting identification, authentification and signature schemes in electronic business and its processes. TeleTrusT facilitates information and knowledge exchange between vendors, users and authorities. Subsequently, innovative ICT security solutions can enter the market more quickly and effectively. TeleTrusT aims on standard compliant solutions in an interoperable scheme. Keeping in mind the raising importance of the European security market, TeleTrusT seeks co-operation with European and international organisations and authorities with similar objectives.

Contact: Dr. Holger Muehlbauer TeleTrusT Germany Chausseestrasse 17