2005, a year to remember !

- 2005 was high in celebration and fruitful contacts. Eurosmart 10th Anniversary event in Brussels was an opportunity to unite the smart card industry’s top management and provide a platform to express their common goals to European decision makers. Mrs Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Technology and media introduced the evening by confirming her support to the industry and providing an efficient framework in the i2010 strategy.

The audience was amazed by the figure of 13 billions smart cards were shipped from 1995 to 2005, representing the world’s most sold computing device, above computers and mobile phones!
Such success represents a combination of benefits, performance, security and connectivity.

- This year was a tremendous success for the Smart Event in Sophia-Antipolis (eSmart, World eID, Smart University) gathered 400 participants in September. Eurosmart wishes all the best to the 2006 edition for eSmart 7th year and a new area of conference on Ambient Intelligence.

- Cartes 2005 in November welcomed more than 18 000 visitors, breaking all the records for its 20th Anniversary.

Eurosmart important meetings in early 2006

- 2006 will be a turning point for the Association as a new Chairman will be elected on 28 April during Eurosmart General Assembly in Brussels. A press conference is to be organised gathering the specialised press and Brussels based journalists from EU media. It will be the occasion to discuss latest development on identity applications and future perspectives (2006 forecast).

- The Market & Technology working group members on 2 February will work on the industry recommendations in the field of transport and health applications, discuss environment/waste issue and prepare an overview of the market trends for 2006.

- The Steering Committee will prepare the General Assembly during a meeting in Barcelona on 15 February

- Communication working group members will meet on 25 January in Brussels and on 16 February, during the GSM World Congress organised this year in Catalonia.

- Security working groups, still very busy, will organise their first meeting in January (25/01: PSSWG in Brussels and 16/01: SMWG in Paris). A better definition of security levels and a coherent and efficient approach towards certification schemes are on 2006 agenda.

Eurosmart increases its international scope by welcoming 3 new members from China, Sweden and Hong-Kong :

Watchdata’s offerings range from smart card operating system, smart card, card terminals, card management system, Public Key Infrastructure products to security consultant.

XPonCard is a service company that offers plastic and smart card products and services (from production to administration) for safe payments, smart mobile solutions, increased loyalty, and secure identification.

SpartaMatrix is a global integrator in the maritime, logistical and transportation process. They develop security monitoring devices, tracking technology systems and seamless integration networks.