Carlos Moreira Internet Journal

I will be chairing the United Nations Private Sector Forum on Water, Food and Energy Security at the NY headquarters at 12 am today

2011-09-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to offer you the role of Chair at one of the Water, Food and Energy Security tables at the UN Private Sector on 20 September from 12:00-14:30 at UN Headquarters in New York.

World Economic Forum 2011 Annual Meeting of the New Champions, Interview with Carlos Moreira

2011-09-06T00:56:00.001-07:00

WISeKey
Brand New Key

Carlos Moreira is nothing if not prescient. Back in 1999, the WISeKey chief executive officer saw that the Internet was hip. It was snappy. It was game-changing. Obviously, it was user-friendly. But there was one big downside: the Web’s security infrastructure was porous and ill-equipped for stable, secure transactions. “We knew one day this would be a real problem,” Moreira recalls. “The question was, while maintaining a cool, open infrastructure, how could we start developing reliable security solutions?”

Geneva, Switzerland-based global e-security leader WISeKey (WIS stands for World Internet Security) is dedicated to restoring the universal right to privacy and anonymity – or at the very least the right to choose when and how to entrust others with personal, identifiable information. By providing governments, businesses and individuals with state-of-the-art, military-grade specialized security and digital identification technologies, WISeKey’s ongoing mission statement is succinct: “to facilitate and enable the mass use of secure digital identities in everyday life.”

From the beginning, WISeKey engaged in early, complex and high-end applications, including working alongside the Swiss government to secure airtight political e-voting from personal computers, and partnering with Microsoft on its Citizen Service Platform, which enables local, regional and national governments to allow citizens and enterprises to identify and authenticate themselves across borders and multiple identity systems and cloud services. Then as now, WISeKey subsidiaries also solve advanced e-security issues for organizations in sectors ranging from defence and health to education and finance. And last year WISeKey made news by announcing plans to collaborate with venture capital firm WI Harper on developing business opportunities in China on behalf of telecommunications and e-commerce businesses.

Today, though, it’s not only industries and governments that need to secure data. Thanks in large part to social networking, individuals want to protect and own their private information, too. Says Moreira: “If the highway a car is travelling on is not secure, then you need to secure the car.” Which is why, over the last five years, WISeKey has also migrated “from an haute couture to a prêt-a-porter platform”, in Moreira’s words. The goal: to help users migrate from an obsolete, password-based infrastructure to a digital identity encryption-based one.

WISeID is a downloadable, theft-proof application that stores and accesses a person’s usernames, passwords, PINs, account numbers, bank and credit card details, frequent flyer programmes, rewards points, and other user credentials, creating a single, standalone digital identity. This way, every single identity and contact detail is traceable to a single person, and his or her mobile device. Lost your smartphone? You are the only one who knows your credentials. Moreover, a copy is stored on an encrypted cloud under the user’s control. With the personal data stored safely in WISeID, individuals regain the privacy they had all but forgotten was their right.

Moreira is particularly excited about WISeKey’s partnership with football club Real Madrid and its use of WISeID on behalf of its 600 million fans worldwide. As one of the world’s leading emotional brands, Real Madrid recognized that its enormous and devoted fan base needed a dependable way to establish a trusted online community – and called upon WISeKey to create a proprietary digital identification platform to monetize both the content and the interactions with fans. “Unlike with Facebook, the digital identity belongs to you, the individual, the fan, and not to the service provider,” says Moreira. Not least, Real Madrid shows that security can be monetized via advertising and rewards programmes, with the proceeds evenly divided among the club, the network provider and WISeKey.

WISeKey’s continuing growth and global leadership – the company recently finalized the construction of a second high security data centre in Bilbao, Spain, in addition to the one it has already built in Geneva and the one in operation in the Swiss Alps – is due in no small part to its dynamic chief executive officer. As an early participant in the evolution of the Global Growth Company (GCC) Community, Moreira dubs WISeKey’s alliance with the GGC as one of the company’s “most relevant milestones”, one that he says has benefited the company in countless ways, not least in terms of international exposure. “As we travel around the world to regional meetings,” says Moreira, “the interaction between WISeKey and all these different sectors, from health to e-government to banking and technology, has brought our outreach to new dimensions. It’s been exciting to see the connections between WISeKey and global growth.”

Humans are so enamoured with the digital revolution that it is easy to forget that one of its downsides is the erosion of anonymity. WISeKey’s industry-defining technology platforms help bring identity back to where it belongs: in the individual’s own hands.

WISeKey
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Industry Sector: Information Technology
Management: Carlos Moreira, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
www.wisekey.com

WIseID Showcased on Spy Kids 4 Movie

2011-08-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

Image of Spykids encrypting their communications using WISekey technologies during the movie.

WISeKey announces the launch of the Spy Kids 4 mobile app, available on iTunes. The Spy Kids app - built in collaboration with the Dimension Films and Troublemaker Studios - features WISeKey's encryption technology to create "secret messages". A text message entered into the app will be encrypted and sent to a friend's mobile device, and only those with the Spy Kids app will be able to decode the message.

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World is the fourth installment of the action series by acclaimed film-maker Robert Rodriguez. The film features unique interactivity through using aromascope cards to experience smells during the movie. The inventive film franchise was an obvious fit for the cutting-edge Swiss security company. WISeKey is always exploring ways to reach new audiences and striving to offer a compelling brand experience. Spy Kids: All The Time In The World in 4D is in theaters Friday, August 19th. For more information go to Spykidsmovie.net.

WISeKey is partnering with media companies to build global network ecosystems in the intersection between brands, ads and digital IDs. Under the umbrella WISeID Social Media™, WISeKey connects the strong identification of their secure mobile app WISeID with passionate fans who want more from prestigious brands, along with a safer online experience. WISeID Social Media allows brands to become part of how people interact on mobile devices.

WISeKey technology is currently used to enhance the social experience for brands such as FC Real Madrid, Hublot, and now Spy Kids.

WISekey China second phase launch in September

2011-08-17T02:41:00.001-07:00

In a bid to bring leading digital identity solutions to China's large and quickly developing economy, WISeKey will be innagurating WISekey China offices in beijing in September 2011.

The WISekey China JV is aimed at creating convergence in the WISeID ecosystem in China by offering WISeKey's expertise in value added services and products to the growing user community of WISeID users.

WISeKey has signed and exclusive agreement with Real Madrid C.F, the twentieth century's best soccer club, for the exclusive distribution of the club's mobile content in China this coming season 2011/2012. The announcement validates the new media strategy WISeKey is now deploying with famous brands, allowing them to monetize their brand value by associating the WISeKey ecosystem of users in selected countries with restricted mobile content rights provided by the brands.

Under the deal, WISeKey and Chinese partners will be responsible for distributing and marketing Real Madrid's mobile content, covering China and the extended network of Chinese Real Madrid fans.

WISekey History

2011-08-17T02:37:00.000-07:00

History

WISeKey was founded by Carlos Moreira. Prior to WISeKey, Moreira served as an expert on IT, e-Security and telecommunications for 15 years at United Nations Organizations, including the European Free Trade Association, the International Labor Office (ILO), International Trade Center, and UNCTAD.[3] His work focused on consulting on security and new technologies. Moreira was named Man of the Year in 2007 by the Swiss business magazine, AGEFI. WISeKey has been analyzing the issues surrounding security for many years. In its first years, WISeKey globally launched and operated Root Certification Authority services. WISeKey took a special interest in contributing to e-Government solutions, such as the electronic voting or e-voting system implemented in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, the Citizen Service Platform implemented for the government of Biscay, Spain, and current initiatives to help governments establish digital ID programs. In the June 2011 issue of Bilan, Carlos Moreira was named one of the 300 most influential persons in Switzerland in the pharma and technologies sectors.

Technology - A public key infrastructures (PKIs) is an arrangement that binds public cryptographic keys with respective user identities by means of a certificate authority (CA). WISeKey uses distributed root-based PKI and Trusted Electronic Identification (“eID”) technologies to provide identification, authentication, and encryption services through the use of digital certificates.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)PKI is the foundation for online commerce and other applications that require security and authentication in an open network. Public-key cryptography requires a public-key infrastructure to publish and manage key values. WISeKey developed its CertifyID product line to protect financial transactions, secure email, authenticate web sites, all tightly integrated with the Windows Server platform.

PKI certificates are the commonly accepted method for authenticating and protecting valuable transactions, beginning with their fairly transparent use in enabling secure sockets layer (SSL) web sites which allow you to trust the site you are using with personal and confidential data, without any risk of leaks. Certificates are also supported in all major web browsers allowing easy client authentication. The same is true for secure devices such as smart cards and USB tokens.

This approach also allows WISeKey to provide companies with the flexibility and scalability they need to satisfy their own requirements. Companies can choose to deploy a framework hosted entirely within their own facility, or partner with WISeKey to implement a managed service hosted at WISeKey’s secure data centre. WISeKey can provide certification services to a small company as well as a national identity system, with in-house or managed modes of deployment.

eIDGovernments and countries are rapidly adopting eID cards as the most secure infrastructure for providing e-Government services.

Individuals can use the trusted electronic Identity (eID) in their business activities as well as their personal transactions. A trusted eID can be used on any secure storage device that will be accepted across the Internet for secure communications and transactions.[7]

Bespoke Solutions- WISeKey supports the paperless office allowing digital signing and time-stamping of documents and archiving that follows complete legal and audit compliance.

WISeKey develops secure transactional solutions to meet specific legal requirements of entities around the world, offering operations with total security, reduced risk, and legally binding audit trails.

Trust ModelWISeKey provides specialized security technologies for data protection, and effective identification and authentication of people and objects over physical infrastructures, networks and the Internet. The company’s philosophy is that the use of secure digital identities can ensure trusted communications and electronic transactions, without hindering the Internet’s efficiency and ability to transfer information.

In order to operate in the market of digital identities, a high level of trust needs to be built up. WISeKey leverages its unique position as a Swiss company with a global reach. WISeKey has developed a novel institutional and trust management framework that enables entities using it to convey trust through the segregation of ownership of components of the technological infrastructure, intellectual property rights, and policy creation authority among entities that are, by law, structured differently and in a manner that reinforces the management of trust. Swiss neutrality and privacy laws enable the company to operate without geopolitical or governmental constraints.

Operations and AuditingWISeKey’s operations are audited annually by independent auditors designated by the OISTE Foundation[8] to ensure its compliance with the OISTE Foundation-approved policies and procedures as well as industry-recognized operations standards such as WebTrust for Certification Authorities.[9]

OISTE FoundationWISeKey is backed by the OISTE foundation to guard and manage its root keys. The OISTE Foundation is a non-profit international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1998, OISTE was created with the objectives of promoting the use and adoption of international standards to secure electronic transactions, expand the use of digital certification and ensure the interoperability of certification authorities’ e-transaction systems.

As part of its relationship with the OISTE Foundation, WISeKey is bound to promote the security of electronic communications worldwide and ensure compliance with essential rights related to information protection online such as privacy laws. It is from this trust model that the WISeKey initiative “The Right to Disappear” evolved: the company is becoming a leading advocate to protect individual privacy rights online while enabling people to maximize the use of the Internet.

High Security Data CentersWISeKey has built its own high security data center in Geneva and is currently finalizing another data center in Bilbao, Spain.

WISeKey root systems backed by OISTE are created and maintained in secure military bunkers under the Swiss Alps and operated by the Swiss Army, recognized as one of the most secure areas in the world today. Because of Swiss confidentiality laws, no private or government body can force the root key to be divulged. This guarantees that all information and data encrypted through OISTE/WISeKey certificates will remain secure. This approach is unique as no other infrastructure of its kind exists in such a high security environment, and the level of neutrality and protection afforded by stringent Swiss confidentiality and security laws is second to none.

The Right to DisappearIn November, the EU issued a proposal on the revision of several of the 1995 directive, which will be voted in 2011. This new directive provides in particular the right to "disappear" to users. This is currently not on social networking sites like Facebook.

Carlos Moreira has been a strong advocate for the protection of consumer data being compiled on a daily basis by companies and social networks. No regulations are in place to police how this data is used, or even to define standards around the security around the storage of this data. This compiled data is personally identifiable information (PII) that can be used to identify or trace a unique individual, or make that person vulnerable to hacking. It is WISeKey’s philosophy that any agency collecting PII has the responsibility to keep it secure and use it only in a responsible, transparent manner, of which the consumer is advised in advance and has the option to opt-out.

CFarlos Moreira Interview with CNBC Simon Hoobs on the Right to Disappeear

2011-04-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Church security measures should be stepped up after deadly church blast in Egypt. I was few days before on an Egyptian Coptic Church in Sharm celebra

2011-01-02T04:01:00.001-08:00

Church security measures should be stepped up after deadly church blast in Egypt.

I was few days before on an Egyptian Coptic Church in Sharm celebrating Christmas with my family. Few days later an explosion outside a Coptic church in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria killed at least 21 people and injured 80, in an attack on an unprecedented scale that marks a serious escalation in sectarian tensions in the country. During my visit to the Coptic Church I had the opportunity to see strong security at the entrance of the Coptic church with armed security guards with bomb-sniffing dogs with increased screening at the door and using the same techniques we already use in airports.

I am sure after this new attack Church security measures will be stepped up in Egypt and many other countries facing terrorism threats. These latest attacks in Iraq and Egypt together to the two recent attacks against churches in the Central Java province of Indonesia has prompted national authorities to open investigations and step up their security measures in fear of further attacks to Churches.

Securing Churches is a serious work than needs professional expertise, as it is the case with securing airports our public places. The problem is that churches do not have the financial resources of airports and will become easy targets. This is going to be a problem for the years to come and Churches should be protected by the governments hosting them.

WISEKEY SA REPORTS RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING

2010-06-30T03:27:00.001-07:00

WISEKEY SA REPORTS RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING

WISeKey celebrated its annual shareholders´ meeting on the 28th of June at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Geneva which was attended by a substantial majority of the company´s shareholders. The issues put to the shareholders were analyzed and debated with enthusiasm and all were approved by an almost unanimous majority.
Among the issues discussed were the financial statements of 2009 (approved by 98 % of the shares represented) as well as a review of the results of the first 6 months for 2010. The Board of Directors also presented WISeKey´s ongoing strategy to expand geographically into the BRIC countries as well as the USA and EU, and to expand into new markets related to eSecurity such as Mobile Security and Trusted Cloud Computing. This expansion strategy was backed by a series of resolutions adopted by the same overwhelming majority, empowering the Board of Directors with substantial resources to work towards its execution.
As an indication of their backing to the current Board of Directors and management, the shareholders re-elected the current board in full for a new 3 year term and approved the election of 2 new board members, namely, Maryla Shingler and Thomas J. Egger.

The Board of Directors closed the meeting thanking the shareholders for their ongoing support to continue making WISeKey a unique offering globally in the secure electronic identity market and the company from which the global privacy and security problems that plague the Internet today can be managed substantially better for the good of consumers, enterprises and governments.

WISekey Releases WISePhone+

2010-06-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

WISekey Releases WISePhone+ a secure GSM Phone developed by WISekey to provide end-to-end secure communication across the GSM network

http://www.wisephoneplus.com/?page_id=16

WISePhone+ brings Swiss trustworthiness to the world of Mobile communications

WISePhone+ is a secure GSM Phone developed by WISekey supporting Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, IPhone and Android using strong military grade encryption to provide end-to-end secure communication across the GSM network. The WISePhone+ technology and management system is designed to be secure and flexible. Digital keys and delivers X.509 certificates are created for all entities in the solution, each WISePhone+ secured Smartphone and the WISePhone+ Gateways are strongly identified using Public Key Infrastructure technology provided by WISeKey SA, a global innovative leader in this domain.
•Secures your mobile phone communications (Voice, SMS’s, E-mails)
•Secures all the information stored on mobile devices (contacts, e-mails and attachments)
•Provides a strong level of end-to-end encryption (typically used by governments to exchange top secret/classified information) to all customers
•Installs easily on commonly available mobile devices (Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Android, IPhone)
•Fully compatible with existing mobile infrastructures, and does not require altering the mobile device

WISePhone+ Secure Mobile Phone
WIsePhone+ is a secure mobile solution which provides swiss privacy to your mobile communications.
It globally secures your communications, providing security and comfort that your mobile communications are secure wherever in the world you may be; especially in territories where eavesdropping is quite common.
WISePhone+ works with most PDAs and mobile Smartphones, is easy to use, and only requires a GSM network to operate.
It safely protects your mobile data (email, contacts) and communications (voice, SMS) using strong military grade encryption, and provides additional features such as secure data storage and restore (Swiss high security data center, or on-premise server), and secure emergency remote deletion of data.
How it works
• The roaming mobile user establishes a secure GPRS/UMTS connection usnig the WISePhone+ software to the WISePhone+ Gateway hosted in neutral Switzerland.
• WISePhone+ Gateway relays an encrypted connection to another WISePhone+ unit (if relay is being done to a normal phone via the corporate PSTN connection then this portion of the conversation is relayed unencrypted)
• WISePhone+ users are protected against interception attempts of their mobile communications

WISePhone+ User Benefits

Data Loss Prevention

•Prevent the loss or exposure of data as a result of a phone is stolen or lost. Sensitive information is encrypted on the device, and only the WISePhone+ user can access this information with his PIN.
Travellers Visa Pass

•One button erases all your sensitive related information on your phone before travelling, and one code reloads it at your destination. Safely cross border points.
Intercept Prevention

•Secure your phone conversations, SMS’s, conference calls and emails against any kind of interception.
Prevention of Phone Hacking

•A firewall protects the phone against hacking attempts (malware, Trojan horses…)
WISePhone+ Platform Benefits

Low Cost of Ownership

•Fast deployment using a smart (thin) client architecture and consolidated fleet management,
•Very good ratio between cost of the solution and “value” of the protected data

High Scalability

•Scales from 10 to several million of users
Flexibility & Interoperability

•The WISePhone+ solution functions in the regular mobile environment and with off the shelf mobile phones
Resiliency

•WISePhone+ offers multiple ways to propose your encryption continuity.
•Applications on end-users devices can be upgraded remotely

Green

•WISePhone+’s encryption solutions consume significantly lower battery power that other encryption solutions

For more information please contact sales@wisekey.com and site http://www.wisephoneplus.com/?page_id=16

WISekey reaches an agreement with the Liaoning Government to establish a WISekey Anti Counterfeiting Center at the Liaoning Watch Factory

2010-04-30T02:21:00.000-07:00

WISekey reaches an agreement with the Liaoning Government to establish a WISekey Anti Counterfeiting Center at the Liaoning Watch Factory, located in Dandong City.

Liaoning Province, is one of China's biggest watch movement manufacturers with over 50 years experience. The range of movements made by the factory include hand-winding tourbillons, automatic chronographs and several variants of the Chinese Standard movement including skeleton and open-heart. Liaoning Watch Factory is a major supplier of movements to Million Smart Enterprises and other OEM companies.

The agreement will allow WISekey unique breakthrough solution to help reduce counterfeiting among the luxury watch industry and to protect the 3 million watches produced at the Liaoning Watch Factory. This solution arrives during a period on which the watch industry is also impacted by the crisis and needs to reassure its clients.

The Liaoning Watch Factory will use WISekey technology WISeAuthentic®, a certification system of authenticity through a smartcard.to secure their local production.

"Counterfeiting represents approximately five to seven percent of all world trade," said Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey. "Therefore, with the luxury brand industries estimated to reach one trillion dollars (US) by 2010, these companies need a solution that will prove authenticity. We are pleased that WISeKey technology can be used in the fight against counterfeiting."

XIII Annual MIT Latin American Conference:

2010-04-21T07:24:00.001-07:00

XIII Annual MIT Latin American Conference: Latin America’s top business leaders to gather at MIT to explore building a solid financial base for a sustainable future
Conference open free of charge to the public

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the wake of the Great Recession, Latin American countries face the challenge of building a solid financial base while providing quality education for all, developing clean and diversified sources of energy, and using natural resources in a sustainable way.

On April 24, top business leaders, government figures, and academics will gather under MIT’s iconic dome in Cambridge, Massachusetts to explore the fundamentals of shaping a new development cycle during the XIII Annual MIT Latin Conference. This year’s them, “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future”, will address the unique opportunities these countries have to implement pending reforms, leverage natural resources, and initiate an era of integration and development across the region.

Panel topics will include:

•The Founder’s Perspective: Entrepreneurship in Latin America
•The Wall Street Perspective on Latin America
•The Integration of the Americas: The Next 1 Billion People Market?
•Land of Resources: Energy and Food as Tools for Growth
•Growth of the Consumer Base
•The Leader’s Perspective on Latin America
Slated key note and panel speakers will include, among others:

•Pratini de Moraes, Chairman, Brazilian Beef Export Industries Association (ABIEC); He has held several positions in the Brazilian federal government;
•Natalisio Almeida, COO, Banco Itau, the largest bank in Latin America;
•Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO, Wisekey, world leader in solutions for secure electronic transactions and digital identity management.;
•Helio Rottenberg, CEO, Positivo Informatica, the largest PC Manufacutuer in Brazil and largest educational conglomerate in Latin America;
•Jose Carlos Grubisich, CEO, ETH, bio-energy arm of Odebrecht, the largest infrastructure conglomerate of Latin America; and
•Mario Garnero, Chairman, Brasilinvest, Brazil´s foremost merchant bank, known as the “Father of the Ethanol.”
Academics from MIT Sloan will include, among others, Dean David Schmittlein, Deputy Dean Richard Locke, and Bill Aulet, managing director of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center.

For more information and to register, please visit: www.mitlac.com

The MIT Latin Conference is held in partnership with by Jornal do Brasil, widely known as JB, one of Brazil´s most traditional and influential news dailies.

The MIT Latin American Conference is a student-organized event held once a year that gathers influential leaders from business, government, academia, and society in Latin America. In this context, speakers share their views and debate about opportunities and challenges for the region. Last year more than 500 people attended including business leaders, students and professors from MIT and other leading institutions.

Le potentiel technologique de Valence

2010-03-13T00:11:00.001-08:00

Le potentiel technologique de Valence
Posted By Le Courrier d´Espagne On 11 mars 2010 @ 9 h 40 min In Affaires | No Comments

Valence se veut premier port espagnol méditerranéen, pôle logistique du sud de l’Europe, porte d’entrée du commerce vers l’Amérique du Sud et centre technologique capable d’attirer les grandes firmes technologiques. Aujourd’hui, elle est plébiscitée par Microsoft, Google ou l’Agence Spatiale Européenne qui y implantent leurs activités.

L'Agence Spatiale Européenne qui avait inauguré en 2008 l'European Space Astronomy Center à Villanueva de la Cañada, à Madrid (photo) devrait inauguré en juin son laboratoire de détection des pannes à Valence. Photo ESA.

Alors que le départ de la première régate de la 33e Coupe de l’America prenait du retard pour cause de vent, des entrepreneurs suisses, américains et espagnols refaisaient le monde, et surtout le futur de Valence dans les salons du Palau de la Generalitat. Objectif : réfléchir à la manière de transformer la région en nouveau centre technologique de la Méditerranée.
Cette table ronde informelle, modérée par l’entrepreneur suisse d’origine espagnole, Carlos Moreira, président de l’entreprise de sécurité informatique Wisekey, sponsor de l’équipe d’Alinghi et impulseur du hub technologique de la Méditerranée, a souligné le potentiel de la ville. Bien sûr, les entrepreneurs valenciens ont vanté la qualité de l’innovation menée dans divers secteurs traditionnels. Mais pour les intervenants internationaux la question du développement de Valence va plus loin. Selon eux, il est maintenant nécessaire de trouver des idées neuves, fraîches, et de mettre l’innovation au service des secteurs du futur.
Que faut-il de plus pour transformer Valence en ce grand pôle méditerranéen, en la Seattle de l’Europe? La Silicon Valley du Vieux Continent ?
Elle compte certes un atout de poids : son port. Pour Claude Beglé, ex-président du service postal suisse et expert en logistique internationale, son développement est tel qu’il pourrait remplir les fonctions de «porte d’entrée» de toute l’Amérique latine en Europe. «Les pays émergents vont croître plus que l’Union Européenne dans les prochaines années, c’est la conquête à l’envers.» Or, selon Rafael Aznar, président de l’Autorité portuaire, Valence, premier port de la Méditerranée, dispose déjà de très bonnes connexions avec Shanghai et facilite les formalités douanières aux cargos au travers de plateformes technologiques.
Mais les atouts logistiques sont une chose. Ils ne remplacent pas le capital humain. Pour Claude Beglé, cité dans le journal El País, la région doit et peut attirer les élites intellectuelles. «Vous avez des universités, le soleil, la mer, vous pouvez dupliquer le style de vie de la Côte Ouest des Etats-Unis. »
Un laboratoire de détection des pannes sur satellites
L’homme d’affaires ne pensait pas si bien dire. Car à peine quelques jours plus tard, l’Agence spatiale européenne annonçait le choix de la ville pour accueillir le laboratoire de détection des pannes sur satellites et navettes spatiales. Et côté cerveaux, cette nouvelle implique la venue de 25 chercheurs et, selon les estimations de la ville, la création de 800 emplois à haute qualification au travers de l´implantation d´entreprises de pointe dans la zone technologique.
Selon la maire de la ville, Rita Barbera, Valence était en compétition avec des établissements français, anglais et allemands ainsi qu´avec l´institut espagnol de technique aérospatiale, l’INTA. Mais c’est elle qui finalement a été choisie pour abriter ce deuxième centre espagnol de l´Agence Spatiale Européenne. Sa mission ? Mesurer et contrôler les effets des radiations provoquées par les satellites, établir les normes de référence de la télécommunication spatiale, surveiller la bonne application de celles-ci, et donner une réponse rapide aux incidents survenant sur les satellites en orbite.
Et pour mener à bien cet objectif, l’investissement est de taille : 15 millions d´euros financés par l´Université polytechnique de Valence, l’Université de Valence, la Generalitat et la municipalité. Mais en échange, Valence peut prétendre à une réputation technologique et scientifique internationale. Pôle de recherche, siège de colloques scientifiques et de congrès internationaux sur les techniques aérospatiales, elle en aura toute la légitimité.
Microsoft s’installe à Torrevieja
Une légitimité que confirment encore d’autres annonces. Comme celle du géant de l’informatique créé par Bill Gates, Microsoft, qui vient d’annoncer qu’il installera à Torrevieja (Alicante) le premier Centre de Développement Technologique Sanitaire du groupe. Le choix de la ville n’est pas anodin puisque Microsoft équipe déjà l’Hôpital de Torrevieja, un centre hospitalier ultra moderne inauguré en 2006 (voir encadré). Sans oublier que la Province d’Alicante concentre un grand nombre de résidents retraités.
Ce centre d’innovation lié aux applications technologiques pour la santé et les services destinés au troisième âge emploierait une dizaine de professionnels sur une surface de 300 m2. L’investissement initial serait couvert par la Generalitat valencienne qui pourrait débourser 800 000 euros durant les deux premières années, selon le quotidien El Pais.
Google Transit commence par Valence
L’autre géant américain, Google, a pour sa part choisi Valence pour lancer en Espagne son Google Transit, sa plus ambitieuse plateforme virtuelle de mobilité urbaine. Le système intégre dans l’application Google Maps tous les moyens de transport locaux et interurbains. Un outil innovant qui permet de planifier les trajets métropolitains en transport public.

S.M.

Article printed from Le courrier d'espagne: http://www.lecourrier.es

URL to article: http://www.lecourrier.es/2010/03/le-potentiel-technologique-de-valence/

WISekey is organizing an executive roundtable the 9th February in Valencia, hosted by the Generalitat (Government of Valencia).

2010-02-07T02:14:00.000-08:00

WISekey is organizing an executive roundtable the 9th February in Valencia, hosted by the Generalitat (Government of Valencia).

This round table will include speakers from both Valencia entrepreneurs and visitors attending the Americas Cup.

After the roundtable a secure platform developed by WISekey will be
activated http://valencia.wisekey.com allowing the Valencia citizen to
access securely all government services together with the distribution of a
cryptographic eKey.

The project will operate as a PPP and will be mainly financed by the
private sector, which will include a state of the art technology hub. The
Hub will become both a super-platform for optimising commercial,
technological and cultural links and also meeting-point and a place for
research and study. We will include the mobility aspects to this project as
a one of the conclusions of the meeting.

El Hub Valenciano de Alta Tecnología para el Mediterráneo

2010-02-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

El Hub Valenciano de Alta Tecnología para el Mediterráneo

Valencia tiene la posibilidad de convertirse en el Hub de Altas Tecnologías del Mediterráneo. Esta visión ha sido ya comprobada por varias personalidades a nivel mundial que, durante la 32ª Américas Cup tuvieron la posibilidad de comprobar esta realidad. Hoy en día ciudades del mundo entero se están equipando con las tecnologías e infraestructuras para el desarrollo de Hubs y Nubes Computacionales (Cloud Computing que les permitan ofrecer servicios a sus usuarios tales como acceder de forma segura a los servicios disponibles "en la nube “sin tener que preocuparse en la gestión de los recursos tecnológicos complejos y costosos que ello implica) que intensifican procesos de investigación, desarrollo e innovación.

El Hub Valenciano de Alta Tecnología se posiciona frente a un ecosistema de innovación de 100 millones de personas repartidas en 25 países principalmente dentro de la región del Mediterráneo, incluyendo África. El compromiso incluye el de un despliegue de un Hub informático (en cooperación con las empresas tecnológicas y de telecomunicaciones) y de un Hub operacional multisectorial y multidisciplinario. Lo crítico es lograr que el trabajo arduo de investigación y desarrollo resulten en innovaciones que resuelvan problemas concretos o produzcan cambios disruptivos en los procesos del mercado tradicionales y que por ello resulten atractivos para el mercado.

Las oportunidades son ilimitadas siempre y cuando se sepan aprovechar. Lograr aprovecharlas implica crear dinámicas que realicen investigación y desarrollo que resulten en innovación aplicable en el mercado. Valencia goza de una serie de ventajas comparativas en diversos sectores de reconocida trayectoria en el desarrollo de la economía futura, como lo son las industrias de la sanidad, la agroalimentaria, la logística y la cerámica, entre otras.

El concepto del hub o cluster, es uno que ha sido acogido en distintas regiones del mundo. En Valencia, ha sido reconocido que hay necesidades concretas de incrementar la inversión en I+D+i, de incrementar las personas dedicadas a I+D+i, de internacionalizar el I+D+i, y de aumentar la participación del sector privado en el I+D+i.

En esta mesa redonda se lanza el reto a sus participantes de debatir como un Hub de Alta Tecnología en la región podría impulsar de manera contundente la innovación como mecanismo de desarrollo económico y de diversificación de la economía valenciana para un posicionamiento de liderazgo mundial hacia el futuro en sectores específicos. En Valencia ya se están desplegando diversos esfuerzos e iniciativas tanto para incrementar la investigación científica y tecnológica como para poder incentivar la aplicación de sus resultados en áreas especificas con vistas al desarrollo regional y su posicionamiento internacional. Los recursos tecnológicos y de innovación tienen fuerte peso en la economía Valenciana, por lo que la agregación sistemática de valor que este Hub le traería a sus diversas etapas de producción, industrialización y comercialización a través de innovaciones basadas en resultados de investigación, reviste la mayor importancia tanto para el sector privado como el sector publico.

Los mejores resultados regionales en innovación se han realizado históricamente como respuesta a los cambios económicos ocasionados por momentos económicos de crisis. Está comprobado que la innovación y el avance tecnológico surge después de periodos de crisis económicas donde las ciudades y regiones económicas debieron centrarse en la educación, la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación para mejorar su capacidad de crecimiento económico.

Para avanzar y poder recomendar acciones concretas, la mesa redonda debatirá cómo mancomunar esfuerzos a nivel de empresas para asegurar un desarrollo regional a través de la innovación. Se comentará cómo otros países representados en la mesa (Suiza, EEUU, Brazil,) se han desarrollado a través del concepto del HUB, sistemas de innovación en los cuales se combinan diferentes mecanismos de administración, organismos de financiamiento, instituciones de investigación y estructuras para la colaboración académica y de negocio y empresarial con el objetivo de reforzar y operacionalizar la estrategia de innovación.

Round Table Participants

Carlos Moreira
(Moderador)
Carlos Moreira was during 15 years a UN expert on IT and Telecommunications, Internet Pioneer; Founder, WISeKey, a Swiss security company. Founder and Secretary-General, OISTE.org Foundation which helps developing countries access Internet and provide digital identification services and secure electronic transactions. Founder of the Geneva Security Forum, Member Global Clinton Initiative, Founding Member World Economic Forum New Champions. Member of the Business Advisory Board, International Organization for Migrations. Entrepreneur in EU and investor in technology companies. Recipient of award, Man of the Year, AGEFI, Switzerland (2007), Vice President Malaga Valley, CoFounder Association International Mobility AIM. Adjunct Professor of the Graduate School of Engineering Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology from 1995 to 1998. Head of the Trade Efficiency Lab at the Graduate School of Engineering at RMIT and the Electronic Commerce research project leader at the University of Minnesota.
Carlos Moreira is Swiss and was born in Cadiz, Spain, 1 Septembre 1958. He has over 20 years experience working with information systems for large multinationals, consulting groups, international organizations and the United Nations.   Originally a former United Nations expert in Telecommunications, Security and Information Networks, Carlos Moreira has been responsible for research, development, implementation, analyses and negotiations related to technology, e-security and e-commerce for the United Nations and specialized agencies.

Mario Garnero Chairman of Brasilinvest, President of UNA-Brazil & Fórum das Américas
Entrepreneur Mario Garnero, 70, has a Law Degree from the Catholic University of São Paulo. During his career he was director of Volkswagen do Brasil, chaired the National Automakers Association (ANFAVEA) and the National Confederation of Industries (CNI). He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Brasilinvest Group and also the President of Fórum das Américas and United Nations Association – Brazil (UNAB-Brazil). "Father of the Ethanol Car" Mario Garnero still today is called the father of the ethanol car in the private initiative, remembered by his tireless contribution for the implementation of over 1 million ethanol cars while president of the National Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers and also for his unshakable belief in the future of alternative energy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Garnero

Claude Beglé Dr. Claude Béglé was born 1949 in Bern, Switzerland. He studied in Geneva and Lausanne where he obtained a Ph.D. in economics, a Masters in Law and a Masters in International Relations. He began his career in 1975 in Nepal, working for the Swiss ministry of foreign affairs. In 1976 / 1977 he was active for the International Red Cross in Lebanon and in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. In 1978, Claude Béglé joined Néstle, which led him all over the world in many varying fields in Mexico, Egypt, Switzerland, Spain, Nigeria, Ecuador, Colombia and Czechoslovakia. As Managing Director for Phillip Morris in Poland from 1993 to 1996, he was responsible for the largest privatization and foreign investment made in the country. In 1977 he joined Dutch TNT as Vice President for Europe, in charge of 58 countries. From 1999 Claude worked for the La Poste Group, as CEO of GeoPost International Division and Chairman of the DPD Group. He led the European and world wide expansion of the group. From October 2005 to January December 2008 he was CEO DHL Express Germany and Managing Director for DHL Express Central Europe. Mr. Beglé´s latest post was as Chairman of the Swiss Post.

Leonard Schrank Leonard H. Schrank was CEO of SWIFT, the bank owned financial messaging service, from 1992 until 2007. During this time he was a regular participant at the Davos World Economic Forum and Microsoft CEO Summit. From 1998-2007 he was President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium. During the 1980’s, Mr. Schrank was head of International, based in London, for Chase Manhattan Bank’s Interactive Data Corporation, a global information services company. He joined Chase/IDC in 1977, when it acquired the software company he co-founded in 1970 with four MIT partners.
Mr. Schrank currently is Chairman and co-founder of a new company for transforming the way marketing is done on the Internet. He holds Board mandates and Senior Advisory positions in Qatar, Belgium and the USA. He is President of the MIT Club of Belgium and is an MIT Educational Counsellor. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin.

Francisco Pons Alcoy Presidente del GRUPO IMPORTACO. Presidente de AVE (Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios). Vicepresidente de ETNOR (Fundación para la Ética de los Negocios y las Organizaciones). Vicepresidente de EDEM (Escuela de Empresarios
Fundación de la C.V.). Miembro del Consejo Territorial de TELEFÓNICA. Miembro del Consejo Territorial de IBERDROLA.
Fue: Fundador de CAIXA POPULAR y Presidente de la misma durante los primeros 10 años. Vicepresidente de GRUPO EROSKI. Presidente de CONSUM durante 5 años. Director General de CONSUM más de 20 años. Presidente de EDEM
Formación académica: Profesor Mercantil, cursado en la Escuela de Comercio de Valencia. PADE del IESE, cursado en Barcelona.

WISekey to present its unique patented anti counterfeiting technology at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva.

2010-01-19T01:57:00.000-08:00

WISekey to present is unique patented anti counterfeiting technology at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva.

WISekey to present is unique patented anti counterfeiting technology at SIHH its 20th exhibition, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) will be held in Geneva from January 18th to 22nd 2010.

Every product made by a luxury goods manufacturer – a watch, handbag, piece of jewellery, etc. – would be accompanied and sold with a smart device, such as a SmartCard, containing the encrypted full details of the product, ie registration number, bar code, date and place of manufacture, etc. Manufacturers, sales outlets and purchasers would then be able to use the SmartCard to verify instantly via the Internet the authenticity of the product using WISeKey-developed technology – namely, WISeAuthentic©.

“The technology,” explains Carlos Moreira, WISeKey CEO, “is based on digital identification encrypted in each product’s SmartCard. What we provide is the service by which the smart device can be used to access the manufacturer’s website and gain access to a special area of the website where the product can be identified as part of the company’s inventory. If the encrypted information on the device is not recognized, access to the website’s special area is denied.”

The technology is virtually fail-safe, as the encrypted digital information within the SmartCard’s chip is impossible to replicate and will remain so for the foreseeable future, according to analysts, mathematicians and academic experts who participated in the development of WISeKey’s technology.

WISeKey developed its WISeAuthentic solution to this with a world-first launch at BaselWorld 2009 (the watch industry’s global premium event). Essentially, it enables the purchaser of a Hublot watch to validate the authenticity of the watch online as well as access the Hublot Certified Owners Club, where unique privileges are available to its members.

WISeKey is now expanding the application of WISeAuthentic to many other luxury brands and expects its patented technology to become a standard in the avoidance of counterfeit luxury goods globally.

“Counterfeiting represents approximately five to seven percent of all world trade,” said Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISekey. “Therefore, with the luxury brand industries estimated to reach one trillion dollars (US) by 2010, these companies need a solution that will prove authenticity. We are pleased that Hublot saw the value in WISeAuthentic and look forward to helping them, and others, in the fight against counterfeiting.”

As a trusted and secure platform, WISeAuthentic will be used by the purchaser to access an encrypted area of Hublot’s Website where the watch can be definitively identified as part of Hublot’s inventory. Each smartcard that is given at the time of purchase, in addition to its Certificate of Origin, is unique to each watch and contains full details of the product including registration number, barcode, place where it was manufactured, among other details. If the encrypted information on the watch, does not match that of the WISeAuthentic smartcard, access will be denied.

Meeting this week in Geneva with Mario Garnero after reaching an agreement to launch the second phase of WISekey Brazil with Brasilinvest.

2010-01-16T02:58:00.001-08:00

Meeting this week in Geneva with Mario Garnero after reaching an agreement to launch the second phase of WISekey Brazil with Brasilinvest. The agreement includes an injection of capital into WISeKey Brasil by the Brazilian group Brasilinvest, accelerating the setting up of a distribution network in Latin America with 22 subsidiaries to distribute WISeKey technology in a regional market with 1 billion potential users.

Carlos Moreira, Founder and President of WISekey said "this new joint venture agreement with Brasilinvest will allow us to enlarge our existing community of users in the targeted markets increasing WISeKey international positioning and leveraging our unique trust and security model of WISeKey, now considered as the fastest e-security company in the world.

Mario Garnero, the Chairman of Brasilinvest Group http://www.brasilinvest.com.br), a holding company located in Sao Paulo with interests in the financial, telecommunications, infrastructure, real estate and agricultural sectors in Brazil and abroad, said: "This agreement to establish WISekey Brasil will allow us to internalize WISeKey's technology in our market and to introduce this unique Swiss technology to be used in other leading Brazilian sectors such as alternative energies. Mr. Mario Garneiro is also the Chairman of Forum das Americas and president of the United Nations Association-Brazil, both non profitable organizations active in Brazil.

WISeKey Brasil will extend its presence to all Brazilian States and main cities, partnering with local software services providers to respond to the accelerated demand of the private and public sectors for Internet trust services.

La Copa del América recupera la idea de Valencia como enclave tecnológico

2010-01-11T08:05:00.001-08:00

La Copa del América recupera la idea de Valencia como enclave tecnológico
Wisekey creará una red social para relacionar empresarios suizos con la ciudad
MIQUEL ALBEROLA - Valencia - 11/01/2010

El regreso de la Copa del América a Valencia en su judicializada 33ª edición no sólo devuelve la emoción al mar y levanta expectativas en la hostelería. También reabre la posibilidad de recuperar proyectos para la ciudad que quedaron truncados con el interminable contencioso del BMW-Oracle contra el defender Alinghi.

El regreso de la Copa del América a Valencia en su judicializada 33ª edición no sólo devuelve la emoción al mar y levanta expectativas en la hostelería. También reabre la posibilidad de recuperar proyectos para la ciudad que quedaron truncados con el interminable contencioso del BMW-Oracle contra el defender Alinghi. La 32ª Copa del América, celebrada en 2007, puso en contacto a un nutrido grupo de empresarios y banqueros suizos con la ciudad. No les pasó desapercibido que Valencia, a diferencia de las dos capitales náuticas Niza y Montecarlo, poseía algo infrecuente en la Europa cálida: un hinterland litoral plano idóneo para complementar actividades de alto turismo y de nueva economía.

La pasada edición de la competición de vela, con el puerto de Valencia como epicentro, apuntó la posibilidad de impulsar un nuevo modelo productivo antes de que la crisis económica agudizara su necesidad. Anticipó ese debate con la resistencia del empresariado local menos sensible a los intangibles, atrincherado en la única opción de un puerto ocupado por la gestión de contenedores y los intereses que concurrían en la ampliación de la instalación frente a la posibilidad de un espacio multiactivo para el conocimiento y la innovación.

Fue el empresario suizo Carlos Moreira, presidente de la compañía tecnológica World Internet Security Key (Wisekey), empresa encargada de la seguridad electrónica del Alinghi, quien detectó el potencial de Valencia para convertirse en lo que él denominó como "el hub tecnológico de la cuenca del Mediterráneo", abonado además por la solvencia en el sector de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia y el Campus Party. Moreira, aprovechando el acontecimiento náutico, vio la oportunidad de que el puerto se convirtiera en un enclave lúdico con un alto nivel de tecnología y un parque tecnológico integrado para empresas con infraestructura de seguridad e incubadores electrónicos.

Los empresarios ginebrinos, con la expectativa de que el modelo de Copa del América que barajaba el propietario del Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, fijaba la siguiente edición para 2009, llegaron a preparar una reunión con empresarios valencianos para concretar proyectos que impulsaran ese modelo que pudiera posicionar a Valencia en la economía del conocimiento, pero nunca se celebró por la deriva que tomó el evento.

Wisekey regresa a Valencia no sólo como proveedora exclusiva de software y servicios de seguridad de alta tecnología para el Alinghi y el perímetro de la Copa del América, sino también como principal patrocinador del sindicato suizo junto a Hublot. La empresa, que ha sido distinguida por el Foro Económico Mundial como "Nuevo Campeón" entre las compañías de crecimiento global, también vuelve con el propósito de rescatar en lo posible su proyecto geopolítico. En su agenda de prioridades figura la creación de una red social que facilite los contactos de los empresarios que se dan cita en el evento con Valencia y que prolongue la relación en el tiempo creando un foro de amplias posibilidades interactivas.

La Copa del América atrae a importantes empresarios extranjeros, aunque en la anterior edición la Comunidad Valenciana desaprovechó ese potencial para abrirse nuevas oportunidades de negocio. La crisis ha alterado por completo la situación y ha extinguido el flujo inversor. También se ha debilitado la posibilidad de anclar en Valencia el acontecimiento deportivo, como pretendía Bertarelli, aunque la probabilidad de lograr una sede permanente de alguna prerregata, aprovechando las sinergias del Gran Premio de Fórmula 1, sigue siendo una expectativa interesante. Pero pese al oscurecimiento del panorama, ahora la necesidad de cambio y de nuevos horizontes para la economía valenciana es mayor. También es mayor la permeabilidad de la mayoría de los empresarios valencianos hacia propuestas que conduzcan hacia un nuevo modelo productivo.

Los empresarios suizos ya han establecido contacto con la Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios (AVE), el principal lobby de patronos de la Comunidad Valenciana. Como consecuencia de un encuentro celebrado en vísperas de Navidad, una delegación de empresarios ginebrinos visitará en breve Valencia con el objetivo de ahondar en la relación, intercambiar experiencias y estudiar proyectos conjuntos que apunten en esa dirección.

Una nueva oportunidad

La celebración de la Copa del América es también una confrontación tecnológica mundial. La más sofisticada tecnología se pone al servicio de los sindicatos en liza, tanto en el diseño como en los materiales y las comunicaciones. Detrás del Alinghi, del BMV-Oracle y del perímetro establecido por el acontecimiento en la dársena del puerto de Valencia hay un pedestal de alta tecnología sin el cual no se podría sustentar el evento. El éxito del Alinghi en 2007 fue el resultado de su estrecha colaboración con Wisekey y la Escuela Politécnica Federal de Lausana, que no sólo ha espoleado la investigación universitaria sino que ha involucrado en ese esfuerzo de I+D+i a unas 250 empresas suizas. Desde ese punto de vista, la 33ª edición de la Copa del América supone una nueva oportunidad para la Comunidad Valenciana. La apuesta de los empresarios de Ginebra por una ciudad que les "trae suerte" es pública y no es nueva. Sin embargo, necesita correspondencia. Valencia protagoniza un acontecimiento de alta visibilidad con un colosal despliegue tecnológico que supone una interesante tarjeta de presentación internacional en la materia. Su posición estratégica en el Mediterráneo, además, añade condiciones para intentar convertirse en un enclave tecnológico internacional. Sin embargo, faltó convicción oficial para aprovechar ese potencial en la pasada edición.

© EDICIONES EL PAÍS S.L. - Miguel Yuste 40 - 28037 Madrid [España] - Tel. 91 337 8200

AGEFI: Wisekey à Masdar: en route vers la Chine

2009-10-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.agefi.com/Quotidien_en_ligne/Enjeux/articleDetail.php?articleID=334984

Enjeux-Suisse
Vendredi - Samedi - Dimanche 23 - 24 - 25 octobre 2009

Wisekey à Masdar: en route vers la Chine
Le Genevois atterrit aux Emirats. Prémisse à ses futures tribulations asiatiques.

De retour de Masdar, près d’Abu Dhabi aux Emirats Arabes Unis, où il était en voyage avec la délégation suisse emmenée par le conseiller d’Etat Pierre-Fran?
ois Unger, le fondateur de WISeKey Carlos Moreira livre ses impressions sur le potentiel du village suisse. Le Genevois, spécialisé dans le marché de la sécurité, sera le premier à s’installer dans une ville vouée au développement durable. Gold sponsor, même, au sein d’une équipe de 70 entreprises, parmi lesquelles se trouvent également Implenia, Avireal, Hublot Oerlikon, 3S et Meyer-Burger. Entretien avec le CEO Carlos Moreira, peu après sa descente d’avion.

Comment s’est déroulé le voyage?

Succès total. Une excellente symbiose politico-économique. Les officiels ont fait un travail extraordinaire. Nous avons vu des politiciens et des dirigeants d’entreprises. Nous avons aussi rendu visite à l’équipe d’Alinghi, avec laquelle nous entretenons actuellement des contacts très étroits.

Parlez-vous arabe?

Non. Pas encore! Cela ne pose pas problème, la majorité des executives ayant été formés dans les universités américaines. La Suisse et les Emirats sont très complémentaires. Le savoir suisse s’adapte aux besoins stratégiques du pays: environnement, énergies renouvelables, haute sécurité et finance.

Comment avez-vous été attiré dans le bazar de Masdar City?

Nous avons été contactés par Rolf Gobet, directeur de la promotion industrielle de Genève. Ce projet est important pour la Suisse, unique pays au monde qui y dispose d’un pavillon. Ce village est gigantesque, environ 20% de la ville de Masdar. Les Suisses s’activeront dans la construction, diverses technologies, l’énergie solaire et éolienne. Et la partie sécuritaire qui nous concerne. Il y a aussi un projet de compensation du carbone qui nous intéresse.

En quoi la route de Masdar conduit-elle en Chine?

Masdar sera un laboratoire pour des technologies produites (notamment) en Chine. Par exemple, les développements sur carte à puce, le cryptage. L’expansion asiatique est naturelle, recelant des marchés de taille pour nos utilisateurs de numéros d’identité. J’étais en Chine et j’y ai vu une superpuissance à tous les niveaux. Et un partenaire stratégique pour une Suisse qui s’affirme dans le groupe des dix pays les plus compétitifs au monde. (FG)

WISeKey estará presente en la villa suiza de Masdar City, Emiratos Árabes Unidos

2009-10-22T05:55:00.001-07:00

WISeKey estará presente en la villa suiza de Masdar City, Emiratos Árabes Unidos

RAS AL KHAIMAH, EAU, October 22 /PRNewswire/ -- WISeKey fue parte de la delegación suiza de Pierre-François Unger, Ministro de Economía y Salud, Estado y República de Ginebra, que visitó esta semana Masdar City, cerca de Abu Dhabi (EAU).

Durante la visita, WISeKey confirmó su intención de estar entre los primeros arrendatarios en moverse a la villa suiza en Masdar City. Suiza es el único país hasta ahora en recibir su propio vecindario en la ciudad ecológica. Las tecnologías WISeKey eSecurity podrán seleccionar clientes no sólo en la misma Madar y Abu Dhabi, sino en toda la región del Golfo. Abu Dhabi pretende hacer de Masdar City un centro global para la energía renovable. WISeKey planea desarrollar un importante papel en asegurar Masdar City y la villa suiza.

Más de 70 compañías forman parte de la Swiss Village Association. WISeKey estará implicada como patrocinador gold y socio estratégico. Otras compañías son Implenia, la mayor constructora de Suiza, Avireal, una compañía de bienes inmuebles Avireal, Hublot, el lujoso fabricante de relojes, así como los tres grandes agentes de la industria de energía solar suiza: Oerlikon, 3S y Meyer-Burger.

Como primera gran economía productora de hidrocarbono en dar dicho paso, Abu Dhabi ha establecido su posición de liderazgo lanzando la Masdar Initiative. La Masdar Initiative impulsada por la Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), una filial propiedad total de la Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) es una plataforma cooperativa global para la implicación abierta en búsqueda de soluciones para algunos de los problemas más acuciantes para la humanidad: seguridad energética, cambio climático y el desarrollo de experiencia humana y sostenibilidad.

Carlos Moreira, consejero delegado y fundador de WISekey, dijo a los informadores que ha habido un aumento considerable en el nivel de concienciación sobre la seguridad entre las compañías locales en los EAU en los últimos años pero añadió que muchas compañías continuaron abrigando el concepto equivocado de que la tecnología o los consultores podrían resolver todos sus problemas. Explicó que las compañías locales deben luchar por una combinación de tecnologías de confianza, prácticas recomendadas y altos niveles de concienciación. WISeKey anunciará próximamente el establecimiento de WISekey UAE para ayudar al mercado.

En Masdar, WISekey expandirá NetCarbonOffset.com, el programa web diseñado para utilizar identificación en Internet y digital para ayudar a la compensación de huellas de carbono con el objetivo final de respaldar los proyectos de reducción de gases de efecto invernadero y acelerar la transición al futuro de la energía limpia. Internet es un fantástico lugar para reducir las compensaciones de carbono pero puede ser más eficiente que otras medidas que permiten a la persona ayudar a combatir el cambio climático, y reducir al tiempo las mismas o más emisiones de dióxido de carbono. A través de NetCarbonOffset.com, los usuarios adquieren certificados de energía renovable digital (WISeKey Digital Certificate) que les permiten demostrar su compromiso de lucha contra el calentamiento global a través de todas sus transacciones de Internet, e-mails y navegación web. Este certificado digital se hará muy visible y se promoverá un mecanismo transaccional para comerciar energías alternativas en una Internet fiable.

WISeKey estará presente en la villa suiza de Masdar City, Emiratos Árabes Unidos

2009-10-22T05:54:00.001-07:00

Un centenar de expertos de empresas TIC acuden a Málaga Valley para tratar la seguridad en Internet

2009-06-24T06:23:00.001-07:00

Cremades afirma que el Club apoyará económicamente los proyectos culturales de la ciudad para impulsar la marca Málaga
MÁLAGA, 22 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

La VI cumbre del Club Málaga Valley reunirá mañana a un centenar de representantes de las compañías punteras en innovación y Tecnología de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) como BT, Oesia, Oracle o Google que abordarán estrategias comunes para "fortalecer el liderazgo tecnológico de Málaga en Europa y el Mediterráneo", según indicó hoy el alcalde de Málaga, Francisco de la Torre. Entre las personalidades más destacadas se encuentran el consejero delegado del BBVA, José Ignacio Goirigolzarri, y el reconocido tecnólogo a nivel mundial en materia de seguridad de los sistemas TIC, Bruce Schneier.

En este sentido, De la Torre destacó en rueda de prensa la conferencia que Bruce Schneier ofrecerá esta tarde sobre los sistemas de seguridad en Internet, dentro del seminario 'Cómo pueden sobrevivir las empresas al día después: los nuevos retos de la seguridad en la sociedad de la información'.

En el marco del encuentro organizado para mañana, los asistentes firmarán además el 'Manifiesto del Club Málaga Valley por Málaga 2016 Capital Europea de la Cultura', "en el que se señala la importancia que tiene en la sociedad de la información, el vínculo entre la cultura y la innovación y las nuevas tecnologías".

"Málaga es una ciudad idónea para ser centro tecnológico de Europa y capital europea de la cultura", resaltó el regidor, quien además anunció que en la reunión se informará "de diversos proyectos de inversión en las empresas del Club, que están creando una imagen y capacidad de fortalecimiento de Málaga como espacio de referencia en el sector TIC".

El encuentro contará con la presencia de la secretaria general de Telecomunicaciones y Sociedad de la Información de la Consejería de Innvoación y Ciencia, Pilar Rodríguez, algo que "nos alegra muchísimo ya que así se demuestra, de manera visible, como todas las administraciones colaboran de forma directa en este ámbito", según indicó el primer edil.

También intervendrán otros miembros del Club, entre los que se encuentran la rectora de la Universidad de Málaga, Adelaida de la Calle; el presidente de Wisekey, Carlos Moreira; el consejero delegado de Google, Javier Rodríguez-Zapatero; el consejero delegado de Neo-Sky, César Arranz; el presidente de Secuware, Carlos Jiménez; el vicepresidente de BT Iberia, Jacinto Cavestany, entre otros.

"Estoy orgulloso de que Málaga sea la ciudad escogida por este grupo de empresarios en un proyecto nacional e internacional, donde el nombre de Málaga fortalece el proyecto por la singularidad de la ciudad y en el que cada vez se avanza más", apostilló.

FIRMA MANIFIESTO

Por su parte, el presidente del Club Málaga Valley, Javier Cremades, destacó que la firma del manifiesto en apoyo a la candidatura de Málaga 2016 "reforzará las condiciones de Málaga para ser vista como un entorno destacado, de forma que las empresas puedan pensar en afincarse y elegir la ciudad como base de sus operaciones".

"El talento busca infraestructuras, equipamientos, conectividad, clima, etc; pero también busca cultura, y que Málaga sea capital europea de la cultura refuerza su capacidad de liderazgo", explicó.

Como una de las novedades de la cumbre, Cremades señaló que se abrirá una línea de colaboración entre el club y los proyectos culturales de la ciudad mediante la cual se apoyará económicamente dichos proyectos con el objetivo de impulsar la marca 'Málaga' dentro del ámbito de la tecnología y la cultura.

SEGURIDAD EN INTERNET

Por otro lado, el presidente de Wisekey, Carlos Moreiras, destacó que Málaga es una ciudad que "tiene los medios tecnológicos e intelectuales necesarios para poder posicionarse de forma definitiva en el centro de operaciones de ciberseguridad".

Además, señaló que el Banco Mundial prevé un movimiento de 300 millones de personas en el año 2050, porque "sus países no les darán garantías necesarias para poder sobrevivir", por lo que "se está estudiando la posibilidad de que la Fundación Hassan II utilice Málaga para coordinar a través de Internet los aspectos de migración de cinco millones de marroquíes que hoy en día están fuera de su país".

"Este proyecto ayudará a los inmigrantes a que puedan seguir utilizando los servicios que tradicionalmente tenían en sus casas", aclaró Moreiras, al tiempo que señaló que "la idea es hacerlo a través de Málaga con Rabat para, posteriormente, extenderlo a otros países de la Cuenca Mediterránea".

Por su parte, el presidente y vicepresidente de la Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga (CEM), Vicente García y Javier González de Lara, respectivamente, invitaron a las empresas foráneas "a hacer de Málaga un lugar de preferencia en cuanto al establecimiento de empresas tecnológicas".

WISekey to provide Digital Certification technologies to the Cecilia Attias Foundation

2009-06-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Photo: Carlos with Cecilia Attias during the presentation of her foundation yesterday in Geneva.

Geneva, 19th June 2009 - WISekey will be providing Digital Certification Services and use of the HighTrusted Platform to the Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women http://www.ceciliaattiasfoundation.org/home which is providing concrete improvement in the lives of women worldwide by serving as a strategic, media, and financial platform for small and moderate sized, established non-governmental organizations, associations and foundations who champion the cause of women’s equality and well-being.

The Digital Certification Services and use of the HighTrusted Platform to be used by the Cecilia Attias Foundation is designed to deliver integrity and accountability capabilities for Web services transactions through centralized digital signatures and timestamping. This service provides critical functions for participating organizations to the work of the foundation (companies, NGOs, international organizations, foundations and individuals) executing transactions with full accountability, privacy and audit.

The services to be provided will include:

Establishment of a Digital Certificate Seal to be displayed on web sites of organizations members of the foundation.
PKI and Digital signatures to represent approval of the transaction by the organizations involved in the transaction
Evidence that the transaction occurred at a particular moment in time
Verification that the transaction has not been altered since it was signed and reached the recipient appointed by the foundation.
Deliver a verification an audit trail of all records even a significant period of time after the transaction occurred

WISekey is presently supporting the work of many foundations and NGOs allowing them to use the Internet for Secure Electronic Transactions and to launch initiatives in this area. WISekey is also teaming with NPO/NGO organizations around the world to develop via the Internet public investment programs that improve access to basic human needs, health, mobility, education, and economic opportunities. We focus this work on underserved communities and look for solutions that harness the power of digital identification on the Internet and trusted communications technology.

Project on how to leverage Geneva’s Oil Trading Platform to an Alternative Energy Trading Platform renewable energy using the Internet

2009-06-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

Project on how to leverage Geneva’s Oil Trading Platform to an Alternative Energy Trading Platform renewable energy using the Internet

Geneva ties with London as Europe’s Number One oil trading hub with roughly one-third or about 700 million tons per year of the world’s free oil trade in terms of physical trade. Also about 75% of Russian exports of crude oil and oil products are managed through Geneva. Of the 85 million barrels per day of crude oil consumed daily, we estimate that about 30 million barrels are traded internationally. To this volume, which corresponds to about 1.5 billion tons annually, one should add about 600,000 tons of refined products (corresponding to the quantity transported by sea).

The typical trader based in Geneva buys a commodity from a producer and sells it to an importer or final user, moving the commodity from one location to another. The trader’s expertise is in transport, logistics, financial instruments and risk management. The more the trader manages the logistics in purchasing further upstream and selling further downstream, the more he can obtain a competitive advantage. Geneva’s trading companies tend to specialize in certain commodities, for example, in oil and/or gas, steel or in such “soft” commodities as grains, vegetable oils and oilseeds, rice, coffee, sugar, ethanol, cotton or paper pulp and paper. Interestingly, we see that both oil and sugar traders, for different reasons, are starting to expand into trading ethanol.

World Trade Center Geneva, WISekey and the OISTE Foundation in Geneva are presently working with the Global Clinton Initiative and the Global Climate Summit to develop a an electronic trading platform for renewable energy credits, the first of its kind within the environmental brokerage community http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS127879+24-Nov-2008+PRN20081124 .

The objective will be to leverage the position of Geneva as a world trading hub to become the hub for an electronic trading platform for renewable energy
Credits. The platform will be based on existing WISekey technology using the Internet http://www.netcarbonoffset.com . The electronic trading platform for renewable energy provides a real-time forum for buyers and sellers of renewable energy credits (RECs) to review available inventory and place bids or offers for all tradable REC programs from a single location.

This market is totally unregulated as alternative energy generators, resellers, marketers, and other parties interested in renewable energy credits trading only rely on more fragmented, intrusive "voice brokerage" channels to
identify inventories and counterparties for REC purchases and sales.

By locating this electronic trading platform for renewable energy in Geneva will allow organizations located in the city and new one moving to Geneva to speed, and centralization to a burgeoning albeit complicated and fragmented
Market. Renewable energy credits, also called "green tags", are tradable environmental commodities issued by an appropriate oversight entity to represent a set amount of energy produced (typically 1,000 kilowatt hours) from renewable natural resources, such as solar, wind and biomass.

WISeKey lands CH 4.5 Million in Anti-Counterfeiting and New Generation Digital Identification technology contracts

2009-06-18T01:03:00.002-07:00

WISeKey lands CH 4.5 Million in Anti-Counterfeiting and New Generation Digital Identification technology contracts

6/16/2009

Geneva, 16th June 2009 – WISeKey SA announced today that it has received orders in June totaling CHF 4.5 million from several clients from its anti-counterfeiting and Digital Identity system that safeguards and verifies the authenticity of luxury goods and protects the digital identity of users.

"Together with the Digital Identification, the anti-counterfeiting industry continues to aggressively pursue the use of our WISeAuthentic technology," said Carlos Moreira, the company's president and CEO, in a statement. "We are pleased to have prestigious brands as significant customers for our proprietary technology and are looking forward to the continued development and application of our patent pending technology in new areas related to the anti-counterfeiting market."

Counterfeiting represents approximately five to seven percent of all world trade and with the luxury brand industries estimated to reach one trillion dollars (US) by 2010, these companies need a solution that will prove authenticity. The technology is virtually fail-safe, as the encrypted digital information within the SmartCard’s chip is impossible to replicate and will remain so for the foreseeable future, according to analysts, mathematicians and academic experts who participated in the development of WISeKey’s technology. WISeAuthentic is also available for use with jewelry, beauty products, haute couture, jet aircraft and automotive parts, luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, software and entertainment.

In addition to the anti-counterfeiting contracts, WISeKey has closed deals in the area of Digital Identification using WISeKey’s new generation semantic validation system which leverages the Web 2.0 functionalities and goes further by taking Citizen services into Web 3.0 interactions. Essentially, citizens will be able to access and transact through citizen services online with different logon mechanisms. Depending on the logon mechanism used, the Citizen portal will be adapted automatically to the functionalities allowed by the logon mechanism used. For example, with a high security electronic identity card, a citizen would be able to undertake the most complex citizen transactions whilst the use of a simple login/password mechanism would limit the functionalities available to the Citizen.

For more information on this solution please visit www.wisekey.com

Contact:
Estrella Vela
Carlos Moreno
+41 22 594 30 00

WISeKey lands CH 4.5 Million in Anti-Counterfeiting and New Generation Digital Identification technology contracts

2009-06-18T01:03:00.001-07:00

WISeKey abre filial no Brasil com Brasilinvest

2009-04-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

WISeKey abre filial no Brasil com Brasilinvest

por Ana Cecília Americano | Gazeta Mercantil

15/04/2009

Empresa de segurança faturou R$ 150 milhões no ano passado e tem crescido na casa de 100% ao ano

A suíça WISekey anuncia, nesta quarta-feira (15/04), a abertura de uma filial no Brasil em parceria com a Brasilinvest. A empresa que faturou US$ 150 milhões no ano passado - e que tem registrado um crescimento do faturamento na casa dos 100% ao ano - é especializada em soluções de segurança para a Internet.

De olho em um mercado onde 35 milhões de brasileiros surfam com regularidade na internet, a WISeKey chega ao País trazendo na bagagem serviços como a identificação de pessoas e objetos na internet. Para tanto, usa uma série de tecnologias de segurança que passam por cartões inteligentes com assinatura digital e com certificados de segurança, podendo dispor de dispositivos para a identificação por meio de leitura biométrica. "Com a nossa tecnologia, criamos na internet portas e fechaduras digitais", resume seu fundador e principal executivo, o suíço Carlos Moreira, que veio ao País, a convite do World Economic Forum, realizado no Rio de Janeiro.

Suas soluções são voltadas a comunidades na internet - corporativas, privadas ou governamentais -- de forma a garantir a realização de transações com segurança, desde a troca de documentos confidenciais a transferências financeiras. Alguns dos concorrentes internacionais - diretos ou indiretos -- da suíça já estão no Brasil, como a francesa Gemalto e a alemã GD, que no Brasil atua como GD Burti.

Uma de suas soluções mais conhecidas é o cartão de identidade digital para o acesso a computadores que rodam o sistema operacional Windows. Fazendo as vezes de uma chave digital física, ele informa ao sistema qual é o usuário que busca o acesso e lhe fornece o seu perfil. Segundo Moreira, a WISeKey já possui 40 milhões de identificações como essa no mercado.

Outro segmento em que a WISeKey atua é em sistemas que permitem a transferência de valores via celulares, com segurança. "Há no mundo 3 bilhões de pessoas que são donas de celulares, mas apenas 2 bilhões delas detêm contas bancárias", afirma o empresário. Uma de suas soluções permite aos não bancarizados a transferência de valores por meio do chip (SIN) do celular. "Hoje, as operadoras dispõem de SINs que têm capacidade de estocar valores, mas não oferecem o serviço por falta de segurança", comenta Moreira. Segundo o empresário, seu serviço permite o envio de créditos entre celulares, os quais podem ser transferidos ao cartão inteligente e retirados em caixas eletrônicos.

Segundo o seu sócio brasileiro Fernando Monteiro de Carvalho Garnero, presidente da Brasilinvest, o mercado alvo inicial da WISeKey no Brasil serão os bancos, tradicionalmente mais ousados na adoção de novas tecnologias. Ele espera, ainda, a entrada de novos sócios que possam complementar as soluções do sócio suíço com tecnologia brasileira e exportar a solução completa para outros países. "Temos conversas adiantadas com a Novo e-pay", disse sem detalhar.

Wisekey chega ao Brasil por meio de joint venture com o grupo Brasilinvest

2009-04-15T01:34:00.000-07:00

Wisekey chega ao Brasil por meio de joint venture com o grupo Brasilinvest
(http://computerworld.uol.com.br/seguranca/2009/04/14/wisekey-chega-ao-brasil-por-meio-de-joint-venture-com-o-grupo-brasilinvest)
Por Rodrigo Caetano, repórter do Computerworld
Publicada em 14 de abril de 2009 - 18h25
São Paulo - Empresa suíça especializada em certificação digital quer massificar a tecnologia no País.

O grupo Brasilinvest e a Wisekey, empresa suíça especializada em certificação digital, anunciaram a formação de uma joint venture para a criação da Wisekey Brasil. A empresa, que tem como objetivo massificar o uso de certificados digitais no País, deve começar a operar nos próximos três meses.

Segundo Carlos Moreira, fundador e CEO da Wisekey, a companhia vai atuar com foco, principalmente, no setor financeiro e governamental. A empresa vai oferecer ao mercado, além de certificação, uma plataforma que permite fazer transações usando os certificados.

>> Opine nos debates sobre segurança na CW Connect

O grande desafio na área de certificação é massificar o uso da tecnologia, de acordo com Moreira. Para isso, a empresa pretende oferecer um produto independente do governo. A raiz dos certificados da Wisekey está baseada em padrões da OISTE (Organização Internacional para a Segurança de Transações Eletrônicas), uma fundação baseada em Genebra criada para promover o uso da tecnologia.

De acordo com o executivo, isso garante a isonomia e independência da solução, uma vez que, mesmo no caso da Wisekey ser adquirida por um competidor, o controle dessa raiz está nas mãos da OISTE. Outras empresas do setor, como a Verisign, não contam com esse tipo de segurança, destacou Moreira.

Para o executivo, à medida que forem surgindo serviços atrelados à certificação digital, o uso da tecnologia tende a crescer. A ideia é que as empresa usem os certificados para formarem redes sociais restritas, que viabilizam a concretização de transações via internet de maneira segura.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2009 Now!Digital Business Ltda. Todos os direitos reservados.

Wisekey chega ao Brasil por meio de joint venture com o grupo Brasilinvest

2009-04-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Segurança > Certificação digital
Wisekey chega ao Brasil por meio de joint venture com o grupo Brasilinvest
(http://computerworld.uol.com.br/seguranca/2009/04/14/wisekey-chega-ao-brasil-por-meio-de-joint-venture-com-o-grupo-brasilinvest)
Por Rodrigo Caetano, repórter do Computerworld
Publicada em 14 de abril de 2009 - 18h25
São Paulo - Empresa suíça especializada em certificação digital quer massificar a tecnologia no País.

O grupo Brasilinvest e a Wisekey, empresa suíça especializada em certificação digital, anunciaram a formação de uma joint venture para a criação da Wisekey Brasil. A empresa, que tem como objetivo massificar o uso de certificados digitais no País, deve começar a operar nos próximos três meses.

Segundo Carlos Moreira, fundador e CEO da Wisekey, a companhia vai atuar com foco, principalmente, no setor financeiro e governamental. A empresa vai oferecer ao mercado, além de certificação, uma plataforma que permite fazer transações usando os certificados.

>> Opine nos debates sobre segurança na CW Connect

O grande desafio na área de certificação é massificar o uso da tecnologia, de acordo com Moreira. Para isso, a empresa pretende oferecer um produto independente do governo. A raiz dos certificados da Wisekey está baseada em padrões da OISTE (Organização Internacional para a Segurança de Transações Eletrônicas), uma fundação baseada em Genebra criada para promover o uso da tecnologia.

De acordo com o executivo, isso garante a isonomia e independência da solução, uma vez que, mesmo no caso da Wisekey ser adquirida por um competidor, o controle dessa raiz está nas mãos da OISTE. Outras empresas do setor, como a Verisign, não contam com esse tipo de segurança, destacou Moreira.

Para o executivo, à medida que forem surgindo serviços atrelados à certificação digital, o uso da tecnologia tende a crescer. A ideia é que as empresa usem os certificados para formarem redes sociais restritas, que viabilizam a concretização de transações via internet de maneira segura.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2009 Now!Digital Business Ltda. Todos os direitos reservados.

Countering the counterfeiters

2009-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Imagine your delight upon opening the beautifully wrapped Christmas gift from a loved one and discovering what you have been dreaming about these past several months – a magnificent Franck Muller Casablanca Chronograph in pink gold with a beautiful handmade alligator strap (approx. retail value $55,000). “Oh, darling, you shouldn’t have.” “It’s OK, dear. I bought it at a special sale.” “Well, that’s all right then.”

A few days later, noticing it needed a slight adjustment, you take it to your local Franck Muller boutique, where the sales assistant welcomes you with a smile and open arms, “What can I do for you, sir?” “My watch – a Christmas gift from my wife – is losing around two minutes a day.” “No problem, sir. If you’ll just have a seat, this will only take a few moments,” says the sales assistant as he disappears behind the iron-barred, steellocked doors to the work-room. Upon emerging a few minutes later with a slightly disconcerted look on his face, he says rather curtly, “We cannot fix this. It is a fake.” “What? That cannot be. Why, I have here the Certificate of Origin.” Examining the “certificate” with not a trace of a smile, the sales assistant says, “This is also counterfeit. Is there anything else we can do for you?” he hastily adds with a sharp glance towards the door.

If you think this scenario is farfetched, then you may be in for a shock when you look at the numbers regarding the counterfeiting of luxury brands. In fact, our erstwhile luxury watch aficionado was fortunate in leaving the shop with his “Franck Muller” still in his hands, as the law requires the confiscation and destruction of counterfeit goods.

The counterfeiting numbers

The total annual global sales of luxury-brand goods are estimated to reach US$ 1 trillion by 2010, with the top-level companies enjoying operating margins to the order of 60–70%. Not a bad round figure, even considering the current financial crisis.

However, the sector is plagued by counterfeiters; in fact, counterfeiting represents the biggest threat these brands have to face and is a major concern of most manufacturers. The overall figure is indeed staggering: counterfeiting represents some 5–7% of all world trade – and it is increasing every year. In 2007, according to the latest figures, the number of seizures of counterfeit goods in the European Union increased by 17% to reach some 43,671 incidents. Not surprisingly, the sectors most affected were the jewellery and horological sectors (an increase in seizures of fake goods of 89% over the preceding year; around 1.8 million items) and the beauty products sector (seizures of counterfeit items up 264% over previous year; more than 6 million items).

Furthermore, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Geneva, the annual global cost of counterfeit merchandise has risen to approximately US$ 650 billion and industry analysts estimate that this is likely to double by 2014. Given these figures, a country such as Switzerland, for example, is losing around $10 billion in sales due to the counterfeit “parallel” market.

Clearly, the inroad made by counterfeit merchandise into the luxury goods sector is no small potatoes. This is due in large part to the increased sophistication of counterfeiters. In times past, it was easy to spot a fake Louis Vuitton handbag or a false Hermès scarf; but the times have changed – it nowadays most often takes an expert to detect the false among the authentic.

Is there nothing to curb this intrusion into the lives (and purchases) of the millions who crave the finest the world has to offer in luxury goods? Or for that matter, is there no way to protect and minimize the increased risks shared among investors/collectors who relish the acquisition of such items for possible future high returns on their investments? Yes there is, if a major player in the area of numeric identification and security of information has anything to say about it.
The WISeKey solution

Just try counterfeiting this …!
As a world leader in its field, WISeKey specializes in the secure protection of information and the identification and authentication of persons and objects by developing and utilizing network infrastructures and the Internet to guarantee secure communications and electronic transactions – without compromising the highest level of confidentiality.

Based on its extensive experience and technologies, WISeKey has devised a system – which at first glace seems utterly simple and logical, yet belies its underlying high-level technology – that is capable of safeguarding and verifying the authenticity of luxury goods, at a cost that is a small fraction of the amount of sales lost to counterfeiters.

In effect, every product made by a luxury goods manufacturer – whether a watch, a handbag, a piece of jewellery or whatever – would, in addition to its “Certificate of Origin”, be accompanied and sold with a fully customized electronic version of the certificate of origin or unique object identity containing encrypted details of the product, such as registration number, bar code, date and place of manufacture, etc. Manufacturers, sales outlets and purchasers would then be able to use the object identity to verify instantly via the Internet the authenticity of the product using WISeKeydeveloped technology – namely, WISeAuthentic (for which Swiss and international patents have been filed).

“The technology,” explains Carlos Moreira, WISeKey CEO, “is based on digital identification encrypted in each product’s object identity. What we provide is the service by which this can be used to access the manufacturer’s website and gain access to a special area of the website where the product can be identified as part of the company’s inventory. If the encrypted information on the object identity is not recognized, access to the website’s special area is denied.”

As with bank cards, the manufacturer itself produces a product’s information-encrypted object identity and then pays a nominal fee – in the case of a high-end watch, for example, WISeKey estimates the cost per inquiry at around 0.05% of the overall value of the watch – each time the manufacturer’s website is accessed – using the licensed WISeAuthentic technology – to verify the product’s authenticity.

The technology is virtually failsafe, as the encrypted digital information, within, for example, a smart card’s chip, is impossible to replicate and will remain so for the foreseeable future, according to analysts, mathematicians and academic experts who participated in the development of WISeKey’s technology.

Not only would the WISeAuthentic Service object identity combination provide a fail-safe system for manufacturers and purchasers, but it would be a boon to police and customs authorities (not to mention e-Bay), who would be able to verify the authenticity – or non-authenticity – of a truckload of hundreds of cases of, say, Cartier jewellery in a matter of a few clicks on the Internet, thereby negating the use of expensive machines currently used for this purpose.
Counterfeiters beware

While initially WISeKey is pursuing the development and implementation of WISeAuthentic within the luxury goods sector (WISeKey plans to make an announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos next January regarding the first global implementation of this technology), the beauty of the concept, according to Moreira, “is that it can be utilized for any product requiring certification of authenticity and be used anywhere in the world through a single Internet connection or even via a phone with Internet connectivity.”

Whether it be watches, jewellery, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, haute couture and even food (caviar, as just one example of a top-grade comestible susceptible to falsifying) or more exotic items such as jet aircraft engines or high-tech automobile parts (yes, even these are being invaded by counterfeiters), whatever the product requiring certification of origin, the WISeAuthentic technology can be used for verification purposes.

In short, if WISeKey has its way, counterfeiters may well have to find new avenues to pursue – but when they do, they will in time be thwarted there as well, and it will most likely be WISeKey

Geneva Vision on eVoting rewarded by the vote

2009-02-10T05:08:00.000-08:00

The eVoting acceptance by the Geneva population rewards the vision of Geneva Government, WISeKey and its partners in developing secure technologies to facilitate the Citizen interaction with their governments.

This Sunday Citizens in Geneva voted in favor of the Geneva eVotiong project by an overwhelming 70 per cent. With this vote of confidence voters decided to enshrine electronic voting in the constitution making Geneva the first of Switzerland's 26 cantons to do so.

This project stated in March 2000, at that time the Cantonal executive (Conseil d'Etat) agreed on a proposal to implement e-voting within the subsequent three subsequent three years.

In the course of a public subscription in fall 2000, two private enterprises (Hewlett-Packard and WISekey SA) were selected for working out the design of the system and the adequate software requirements. At the same time, various experts from reputable local institutions (CERN, University, central hospital etc.) were chosen for studying various critical issues of e-voting procedures (e.g. problems of voter identification, security and confidentiality of votings etc.).
The e-voting system was introduced by the Chancellor of the State of Geneva in collaboration with two private companies located in Geneva, namely, Hewlett-Packard and WISeKey www.geneve.ch/evoting/english/doc/Presentation_generale_english_2006_2_web.pdf . This public-private sector partnership was needed in order to develop a solution compatible with the Swiss voting habits and legal constraints. WISeKey played a crucial role in security of the e-voting system in the State of Geneva. The objective was to guarantee the secrecy of voting and to make sure that votes are not intercepted, modified, nor diverted, and to ensure that many other conditions of secrecy were fulfilled, such as:

· ensuring that each voter can vote only once;

· restricting e-voting access to registered voters;

· allowing access to the system only during the voting period, from the official opening to the official closing of the e-Ballot box;

· ensuring that the ballot box can only be counted in the presence of the minimum quorum of electoral representatives;

· and many others.

WISekey has since this pilot project assisted many governments with their citizen to government applications with the development in cooperation with Microsoft of a Citizen Service Platform which includes evoting among of many other services provided to the citizens that via leading-edge identity federation that enables the establishment of customized citizen portals adapted to the needs and the interests of each citizen in a real Web 2.0 environment.

More information at:

http://www.geneve.ch/evoting/doc/rapports/rapport_version_internet.pdf

http://socio.ch/intcom/t_hgeser12.htm

The Future is Now

2009-02-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Future is now
2/6/2009 by Richard Casna, SWISS STYLE
WISeKey has the key to open the door
A few years ago a young man had had a single (and somewhat simple) idea: to make the Internet secure. The Web was in its early days, as were computers, e-mails, e-commerce and all the other e-concepts, many of which were still figments of imagination.

But this young man also had a vision that looked far into the future: he foresaw a time when the need for security and trust in the electronic world to come would become all-important and all-encompassing – extending into every facet of activity carried on by businesses, industry, governments and individuals. What was needed was a tool to provide that security and for building trust on the infrastructure.

In the beginning there was the key

Having spent some 15 years beginning in the mid-1980s at the UN in Geneva as United Nations expert on IT telecommunications, security and information networks section, and heading the World Technology of the United Nations Trade Point Programme, where he was responsible for the development of the world’s largest Internet network of sites and secure hubs for e-commerce (GTPNet), Carlos Moreira left the UN and set up a company in Geneva named WISeKey. The name derived from the tool that Moreira developed – “World Internet Secure Key” – during his last 3 years at the UN, which he spent at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia working as a head of a lab on a research project for Internet security.

Since then, what began as a small, one-room office in Geneva with him and three other employees has evolved into a global enterprise whose activities and products reach around the world. And as the company prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary in February, its founder – and now numerous colleagues and partners – rather than reminiscing on the past and its many accomplishments, has his eyes set firmly on the future and how to extend the ever-expanding reach of what WISeKey offers to today’s and tomorrow’s world citizens.

Given its development of key innovations in electronic digital identification, authentication and encryption products and services, stemming from its foundation block of the basic security tool, WISeKey will no doubt fulfil that aim, as it has become today a world leader in its field with a unique trust model and neutrality – essential elements for this type of technology.

A record of achievements

In its first years of operations, the company globally launched and operated the first global Public Key Infrastructure based on a common Root Certification services jointly deployed by WISeKey, the OISTE Foundation and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva. Consequently WISekey further developed and commercialized its PKI technology in several different areas related to Digital Identification, Secure Transactions, first-time solutions for e-voting in Geneva (since used in many other areas around the world as well), Citizen Services Platforms and Secure e- Government projects.

In building on this solid foundation in subsequent years, WISeKey strove to evolve its products and services through the development of its CertifyID product line, a joint project using WISekey and Microsoft technology to develop a low-cost Digital Identification platform (enabling customers both public and private to establish their own trusted identity infrastructure, with the overall premise of decentralization rather than through a centralized arrangement, thereby ensuring even more security and trust to users activities).

Based on its collaboration in its very first year with the OISTE Foundation and the development of the OISTE Trust Model, WISeKey subsequently partnered with a number of leading international organizations, including the ITU, HP, Microsoft (allowing Windows CA to issue hightrusted certificates and digital IDs), Verisign (managed PKI services to authenticate and secure business transactions and communications over the Internet) and Sun Microsystems, among others.

Its partnership with the ITU helped to develop international standards on cyber security and spawned e-commerce solutions based on the mass usage of certification by Internet users for authorized access to intranets and restricted Web-based sites, resulting in an approach that changed the entire dynamics of how the Internet is used and will further propel its transactionalbased usage into the 21st century and beyond.

In furtherance of its collaboration with the ITU in ensuring that the highest open standards are implemented to enable all countries in the world to benefit from the introduction of true e-commerce and be accessible to all regardless of origin, and guided by its drive to promote secure electronic communications worldwide – which is fully endorsed and supported by its Board and Advisory Committee – WISeKey has initiated relationships in recent years with numerous international organizations and firms to further enhance the shared opportunities provided by the electronic world. Noteworthy among these are its affiliations with the Clinton Global Initiative, the World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Association for International Mobility (AIM), the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the European Commission, the G8 Cybersecurity Working Group, the Malaga Valley, the Digital Mediterranean Space, OASIS (non-profit consortium driving open standards for global information society), Liberty Alliance (non-profit promoting of identity-related international interoperability standards) the DVB Project Office (Digital Video Broadcasting standards body), and the Global Competitiveness Forum in Saudi Arabia, among many others.

Opening the doors with the key to the future

In all these endeavours, WISeKey has remained – and remains – faithful to its original mission statement: “To facilitate and enable the mass use of secure digital identities in everyday life”. And, as an independent, neutral organization led by remarkable leadership and a team of dedicated, committed partners and colleagues, the company will do doubt continue to achieve the single overall aim first envisioned by that young man with an idea and dream a mere 10 years ago.

The next phases of the company’s evolution include the further development of its recently launched WISeAuthentic service (a cost-effective, reliable anti-counterfeiting solution), its I’M Mediterranean project and its MBanking services, bringing secure electronic credit card and banking services throughout the world’s lessdeveloped regions.

In addition, according to the company’s most recent move forward, WISekey is finalizing the procedures to list the company this year – despite the current crisis – on the Frankfurt stock exchange as a first step to its introduction as a listed company.

In opening the company to the public, WISeKey aims to further enhance its position as one of the world’s leading digital identification and security companies, and to continue to expand its product range around the globe through additional secure revenue models.

With this new positioning, WISekey is becoming an enabler for smart companies (start-ups or established) to disrupt their market. One of the opportunities enabled by WISeKey’s approach is to protect privacy and authenticity while allowing mass deployment and the exploitation the “community effect”. This way, consumers can build up trust through their paying track record. In addition, they have the potential to remain anonymous to all parties except the registering bank. And, last but not least, it allows consumers to use their (anonymous but unique) identity to join clubs or communities with similar interests.

Furthermore, WISeKey has set its eye on domains with high market potential for technology solutions that offer improved security and/or privacy for the transactions together with an improved customer experience.

In the words of its founder, “WISeKey is unique. The future is now and the future is without boundaries. The key to that is here and is based on wisdom.”

[NB: WISeKey is the only Swiss company to have been selected by the World Economic Forum as one of the 100 New Champions during the firstever meeting of New Champions, held in Dalian, China in 2007.]

Full article

Big chill at Davos

2009-02-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

Photo: Carlos with Ikram at davos 2009

Big chill at Davos

Thursday, February 05, 2009
By Ikram Sehgal

Davos normally has a snowstorm during the WEF Annual Meeting week, but the measure of winter this year was not the weather but the deepening freeze in the world economy. Most "feel good" economic soothsayers predictably, and prudently, absented themselves along with a host of world corporate figures, many dumped by the economic slide. Among those conspicuously missing were high-profile John Thain of Merrill Lynch who lost his job, embattled Citigroup chief Vikram Pandit did not turn up to avoid hostile interrogation. Nonetheless, quite a few of world business leaders joined dozens of heads of state and government, like Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Britain's Gordon Brown, as well as many top academics, to discuss the ongoing crisis and work out solutions and possible post-crisis initiatives. The bad news consensus: while 2009 would be a tough year the world recession would not bottom out till mid-2010, or even later. Very bad news for the Third World.

Moderated by Harvard's David Shapiro, the session on "Crisis to Prevent at All Cost" had Gareth Evans, Graham Allison, Kishore Mahbubani, Lilia Shevtsova and Luis Moreno-Ocampo highlighting the dangers: (1) assuming that the international liberal economic order will survive and not come crashing down (2) major terrorist attack by either weapons of mass destruction or a biological one and (3) deterioration of relations between Russia and the West leading to another "cold war." Among challenges identified were: (1) some effective global governance with better sharing of power in international institutions between the west, countries like Russia and China and the developing countries (2) creation of more trust in world trade between the US and EU on the one hand and countries like China and India on the other (3) combating cynicism about the NPT and bringing into the fold not only India and Pakistan but also Israel (Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa impassionedly appealed for the recognition of all nuclear players) (4) making the International Criminal Court (ICC) more effective (5) making the UN agreement strong about intervening in a country where there is gross violation of human rights. Graham Allison and Gareth Evans encouraged addressing the root causes of terrorism and micro-level problems in ground-zero countries like Pakistan.

Another session, titled "the Global Talent Equation" was moderated by David Arkless, head of Manpower Inc, along with Brunson McKinley, former director general of IOM and Carlos Moreira of Wisekey, founding member of a new grouping dealing with international labour mobility, aptly called "Association of International Mobility (AIM)." AIM was launched at Davos on Friday, Jan 30. They debated how education, training, gender and legal issues were hurdles to recruitment of the right people for the right job. In "World-Economic Brainstorming" chaired by Maria Bartiromo, CNBC's anchor and Young Global Leader (YGL), three critical questions outlined the ongoing financial crisis: (1) most damaging policy mistakes (2) regulatory failure producing the largest systemic shock and (3) where did genuine market failure occur? The participants felt that the failure to attribute personal blame for the collapse was intriguing. There should be serious consequences for inappropriate financial behaviour, "including going to jail" like other people are so criminally charged in other fields. Do we in Pakistan have the courage to send to jail for their criminal conduct some of our fat-cat stockbrokers, and those in the SECP who were criminally negligent in failing to regulate them? Manipulating stocks and shares for their personal benefit and holding the country to economic ransom, the SECP gave time to its favourites to bail out at the expense of the taxpayers' money by suspending trading for months.

There is far more to Davos than being a rich men's club interested only in collective gloating over their wealth and partying. Why indeed do world leaders come to Davos in droves? Gordon Brown's predecessor Tony Blair was there, Germany's Angela Merkel made an appearance. UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon was passionate about the Israeli destruction of Gaza. Davos was shell-shocked when Turkish prime minister Erdogan, displaying great sensitivity to the havoc wrought by Israel in Gaza, stalked off the stage and flew off to Turkey after a shouting match with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

The Chinese prime minister spelt out the reasons for Davos: "Annual Meeting (2009) has a special significance. Amidst a global financial crisis rarely seen in history, it brings together government leaders, business people, experts and scholars of different countries to jointly explore ways to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth and better address global issues. The theme of 'Shaping the Post-Crisis World' is highly relevant and reflects the vision of its organisers. People from across the world are eager to hear words of wisdom from here that will give them strength to tide over the crisis. It is our responsibility to send to the world a message of confidence, courage and hope. Confidence being the source of strength, in tackling crisis practical cooperation is the effective way to prevail over crisis, accepting responsibilities is the pre-requisite." Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's suggested: (1) deepening international cooperation and promoting a sound multi-logistics trade regime (2) advancing reform of international financial system and activating the establishment of a new international financial order (3) strengthening cooperation in financial supervision and regulation guarding against the build-up and spread of financial risks (4) effectively promoting the interest of developing countries by actively supporting economic development of the whole world and (5) jointly tackling global challenges and building a better home for markets. To quote the Chinese prime minister, "the harsh winter will be gone and spring is around the corner."

I was privileged to be a panellist in the session entitled, "Future Conflict" along with Interpol's Ronald Noble, Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch, Lockheed Martin's Dr Ray Johnson and moderated by Prof Audrey Kurth Cronin of US National War College. We explored the possibilities of cyber-terrorism and nuclear proliferation, as well as the ground zero of Pakistan's disturbed areas. When explained properly, Pakistan's predicament was better understood by world leaders and intellectuals in Davos. Facing a barrage of hostile questioning, Prime Minister Gilani held his own at my traditional "Pakistan Breakfast" on Friday, Jan 30. Personalities like George Soros, Sonje Bata, Anand Mahindra joined a host of world business and academic leaders at eight in the morning to hear the Pakistani prime minister. Compared to over 100 Indian business leaders, only Hussain Dawood, Arif Naqvi, Zakir Mahmood and Kalim Siddiqui provided Pakistan's scant representation. This was my sixth breakfast for a Pakistani head of state or government and one is grateful that for the first time there was some recognition at home. My friends Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz, privately acknowledged the event and its effectiveness, publicly in Pakistan it never happened!

For a Pakistani head of state or of government not to go to Davos every year would be criminally negligent. We need to drastically expand private sector participation to take advantage of commercial opportunities that can be networked in Davos and government-to-government interaction without the shackles of protocol. Whether in the media, the economy, geopolitics or simply in social engagement, Davos is a must, big chill or no big chill!

The writer is a defence and political analyst. Email: isehgal@pathfinder9.com

Manpower Inc. et WISeKey, deux des partenaires fondateurs de l'AMI, ont joué un rôle déterminant dans la création de l'indice de mobilité

2009-01-29T00:19:00.000-08:00

GENÈVE, January 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Basée à Genève, l'AMI, a été créée en coopération avec des entreprises et des partenaires de la société civile pour permettre au secteur privé d'exercer un impact direct et efficace sur les principales questions économiques, sociales et humanitaires de la mobilité humaine.
Manpower Inc. et WISeKey, deux des partenaires fondateurs de l'AMI, ont joué un rôle déterminant dans la création de l'indice de mobilité de la main-d'oeuvre qui sera lancé lors du Forum économique mondial 2009 de Davos.
Cet indice va permettre aux gouvernements et aux entreprises du secteur privé de suivre les progrès de la politique et des pratiques relatives à la mobilité de la main-d'oeuvre sur Internet. Il inclura une analyse de la législation, de la réglementation, des comportements institutionnels, de l'accessibilité des marchés aux travailleurs étrangers, des services qui leur sont proposés ainsi que des mesures pour leur intégration, permanentes ou temporaires.
Manpower a parrainé Oxford Analytica, la société à l'origine de la méthodologie et des processus d'évaluation nécessaires pour préparer et publier l'Indice de mobilité de la main-d'oeuvre.
<< L'Indice de mobilité de la main-d'oeuvre sera un outil solide pour faire progresser la vision de l'AMI concernant un système ouvert, efficace, juste et viable de la mobilité humaine internationale, >> a déclaré Brunson McKinley, Co-président de l'AMI.
L'Association pour la mobilité internationale (AMI) plaide en faveur d'une mobilité de main-d'oeuvre internationale plus ouverte et plus flexible ; encourage des services rentables aux travailleurs étrangers et aux communautés dans lesquelles ils vivent, en particulier par le biais de la technologie mobile. L'Association sert également de point de référence et de service d'assistance aux groupes de la société civile travaillant dans le domaine de la mobilité humaine.
<< L'AMI va devenir un acteur clé dans le développement de nouvelles recommandations et méthodologies pour encourager la mobilité internationale >> a commenté David Arkless, Président des affaires gouvernementales et d'entreprises chez Manpower Inc.
<< Les technologies de sécurité électronique de WISeKey vont permettre à l'AMI d'activer l'Indice de mobilité de la main-d'oeuvre sur le Web et d'assurer un contrôle sûr, partout dans le monde >> a déclaré Carlos Moreira, PDG de WISekey.
Dans toutes ses entreprises, l'AMI cherche à renforcer l'influence et la capacité des autres acteurs de la mobilité humaine internationale (les individus, les entreprises, la société civile, les gouvernements et les autorités locales, les organisations) et met l'accent sur la dimension humaine de la mobilité internationale.
L'AMI possède un statut d'association à but non lucratif et est régie par un règlement approuvé par le gouvernement suisse. Ses membres sont des sociétés et des associations ayant des intérêts stratégiques dans la mobilité humaine ainsi que des experts internationaux de renom.
Contact : Daniel Ybarra Vice-Président Communications entreprises Tél.: +41-22-594-30-00 E-Mail: dybarra@wisekey.com
WISeKey SA
Contact: Daniel Ybarra, Vice-Président Communications entreprises, Tél. : +41-22-594-30-00, E-Mail: dybarra@wisekey.com

WISekey successfully secured the The Global Competitiveness Forum (“GCF”)

2009-01-28T01:33:00.001-08:00

WISekey successfully secured the The Global Competitiveness Forum (“GCF”)
WISekey succesfully secured the The Global Competitiveness Forum (“GCF”) 2009 edition. The CGF is an annual meeting of top business executives, international political leaders, selected intellectuals, and academics who share an interest in global competitiveness.

Since Bill Gates opened the first Annual GCF under the theme, “ICT an Enabler of Competitiveness”, it has quickly become a global platform for constructive dialogue on core competitiveness issues, including – human resources development, international trade, knowledge based industries, FDI, the environment and sustainability, innovation, globalization – and the micro- and macroeconomic consequences of becoming globally competitive.

Keeping track of registrants' activities has never been easier with WISekey's access control and tracking solutions. Terminals and handheld scanners can collect attendee information from a badge or verify eligibility from a badge or ticket bar code. In addition to tracking access, administrators can view exhibit hall and aisle traffic reports broken out by hour or day. The Hightrusted system includes:

Provides lists of attendees for open attendance sessions
Verifies eligibility for sessions requiring sign-up
Available in desktop or handheld models
Provides valuable information about attendee traffic patterns

WISekey to present is unique patented anti counterfeiting technology at SIHH its 19th exhibition, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIH

2009-01-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

WISekey to present is unique patented anti counterfeiting technology at SIHH its 19th exhibition, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) will be held in Geneva from 19 to 23 January 2009.

Geneva, 19th January 2009. Every product made by a luxury goods manufacturer – a watch, handbag, piece of jewellery, etc. – would be accompanied and sold with a smart device, such as a SmartCard, containing the encrypted full details of the product, ie registration number, bar code, date and place of manufacture, etc. Manufacturers, sales outlets and purchasers would then be able to use the SmartCard to verify instantly via the Internet the authenticity of the product using WISeKey-developed technology – namely, WISeAuthentic©.
“The technology,” explains Carlos Moreira, WISeKey CEO, “is based on digital identification encrypted in each product’s SmartCard. What we provide is the service by which the smart device can be used to access the manufacturer’s website and gain access to a special area of the website where the product can be identified as part of the company’s inventory. If the encrypted information on the device is not recognized, access to the website’s special area is denied.”
The technology is virtually fail-safe, as the encrypted digital information within the SmartCard’s chip is impossible to replicate and will remain so for the foreseeable future, according to analysts, mathematicians and academic experts who participated in the development of WISeKey’s technology.
Not only would the WISeAuthentic©/SmartCard combination provide a fail-safe system for manufacturers and purchasers, but it would be a boon to police and customs authorities (not to mention e-Bay), who would be able to verify the authenticity – or non-authenticity – of a truckload of hundreds of cases of, say, Cartier jewellery in a matter of a few clicks on the Internet, thereby negating the use of expensive machines currently used for this purpose.

El presidente de WiseKey, Carlos Moreira, uno de los miembros fundadores del Club impulsa la iniciativa de un Davos que sea plataforma de proyectos de

2009-01-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

El presidente de WiseKey, Carlos Moreira, uno de los miembros fundadores del Club impulsa la iniciativa de un Davos que sea plataforma de proyectos de alto valor innovador, un foro de reflexión internacional en asuntos específicos, en un claro ejemplo de donde el Club coloca el listón.

Viernes 09 de Enero de 2009 - 16:12
Súbanse a Málaga Valley

21/12/2008http://www.diariosur.es/20081221/opinion/subanse-malaga-valley-20081221.html
Queremos hacer ruido, decirle al mundo que en Málaga apostamos muy seriamente por atraer y fidelizar el talento.
SE cumplen dos años de la constitución del Club Malaga Valley e-27. El pasado 14 de octubre se celebró la V Asamblea de Presidentes, la segunda de las dos anuales. Los padres del proyecto no se sorprenden de lo que está ocurriendo ylos que nos hemos ido 'enganchando' a este ilusionante proyecto de medio fondo.
Superadas las lógicas dificultades de este tipo de iniciativas, enfoque, unidad, credibilidad, ya empiezan a verse los primeros signos de consolidación y, como sin números podemos caer en falsos triunfalismos, ahí van unos cuantos: de los 27 presidentes de compañías del inicio, hemos pasado a mas de 60 con una presencia permanente superior a los 40. De una reunión de medio día, hemos pasado a una semana de intensa actividad. En el balance que hacía el presidente del Club, Javier Cremades mencionaba ya más de 20 acciones en los seis últimos meses. Sin duda vamos por el buen camino, ahora bien competencia de otras ciudades del mundo, dificultades varias, serán compañeras de este viaje. Sin una competencia feroz no se alcanza la excelencia.
En esta V Asamblea hablaron con su habitual saber y visión, por este orden: Francisco Ros (Secretario de Estado de Telecomunicaciones y para la Sociedad de la Información); Amparo Moraleda (presidenta de IBM España); Antonio Brufeau, (presidente de Repsol YPF); Paolo Vasile (consejero delegado de Telecinco) y Jaime Gorbeña (presidente del Grupo Bergé), para dar paso a una segunda parte de diferentes intervenciones, propuestas e intercambio de ideas, diciendo cosas tan importantes como que las crisis y más las globales provocan que los procesos de cambio se aceleren, que las decisiones estratégicas en espacios donde hay talento aportan mas competitividad, o que con la tecnología la rampa de salida de las crisis proporcionan más velocidad, y no debemos olvidar que no basta con generar talento en la Universidad Sino lo fidelizamos, se nos irá de aquí.
La ciudad empieza a enviar señales en aspectos tan claves como atracción de talento, Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TICs), energías alternativas, y otros, haciendo un círculo virtuoso alrededor de la innovación. Consecuencia de lo anterior es el ritmo de acontecimientos vividos con intensidad en Málaga en el espacio de tres semanas. La Cumbre de las ciudades y gobiernos locales del Mediterráneo, donde Málaga ha conseguido la secretaría permanente; la Semana Digital de Málaga organizada por la Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga (CEM) y la firma de un convenio entre la CEM y el Club para la promoción, impulso y fomento de las Nuevas Tecnologías; la propia V Asamblea; y la Conferencia Internacional de Software Libre.
A mi juicio, un factor clave de éxito es que los tres niveles de la Administración empiezan no sólo a ver el potencial de esta iniciativa, sino a hacer piña con Málaga Valley, como en su día ocurrió con el PTA. No es cuestión de quién fue la iniciativa, sino de lo que podemos conseguir. Málaga reúne un conjunto de elementos de éxito a los que es difícil encontrar parangón: Parque Tecnológico, Universidad, espíritu emprendor, comunicaciones, su localización de costa y clima, su oferta turística cultural y de ocio en aumento. Estamos pues bajo la responsabilidad de transformarlo en resultados concretos.
El Club es un espacio de opinión, donde se busca crear las condiciones mas favorables para hacer de Málaga una zona competitiva de excelencia europea, de talento y de atracción de él; la oportunidad que representa para el tejido empresarial el escuchar y compartir ideas con altos ejecutivos de empresas nacionales y multinacionales, la de plantear proyectos en colaboración y complementarios para sus estrategias. No olvidemos que el empresariado local juega un papel fundamental pues está comprometido con el desarrollo local y no está, como en ocasiones ocurre con las multinacionales, condicionado a otras circunstancias.
Esta iniciativa es consecuente con la más que probable futura decisión de la UE de seleccionar un número muy reducido de polos de innovación (clusters) a diferencia de lo hecho hasta ahora de una política nada selectiva y donde ha habido una general complacencia con las distintas regiones que solicitaban ayudas sin agradar a ninguna y con escasos resultados. El Club no solo da una visión de y hacia Málaga, sino que ya tiene un alcance nacional, y próximamente transcenderá esas fronteras. Con ese planteamiento no debe sorprender una de las metas que se escuchan últimamente en distintos actos satélites del Club. Eel presidente de WiseKey, Carlos Moreira, uno de los miembros fundadores del Club impulsa la iniciativa de un Davos que sea plataforma de proyectos de alto valor innovador, un foro de reflexión internacional en asuntos específicos, en un claro ejemplo de donde el Club coloca el listón. En definitiva en él caben todo tipo de iniciativas, se dan forma a ideas que nutren el proyecto Málaga Valley. Queremos que la Industria y preferiblemente la de alto valor añadido se fije en Málaga. Cuantos más ciudadanos aportemos nuestro granito de arena, estaremos creando más opciones para lograr una ventaja competitiva de la Ciudad, y mediante la diversificación haremos que nuestra economía sea más fuerte.
Pero todo esto es lo mínimo que debemos hacer si queremos situar a Málaga en el mapa del talento y la innovación; hay competencia, no debemos dormirnos y necesitamos excelencia. En los últimos años nos hemos dejado llevar, no solo hemos descuidado aspectos tan importantes como la cultura del esfuerzo, sino que falta motivación e interés de los jóvenes por conocimientos en matemáticas, física y otras asignaturas de ciencias, y si esta tendencia no cambia en los próximos años estaremos en desventaja con otros países y especialmente los emergentes, una seria y grave amenaza, y no vale el consuelo de que en el resto de Europa la situación es parecida. Ya saben, mal de muchos . No queremos ganar por la táctica de la sorpresa, como aquellos entrenadores que ocultan la alineación hasta el último momento. Queremos hacer ruido, queremos decirle al mundo que en Málaga apostamos muy seriamente por atraer y fidelizar el talento en sectores económicos junto a las actividades más tradicionales, pero no con el animo de sustituir, sino de sumar, poniendo mas oportunidades en cestas distintas. En definitiva el Málaga Valley engancha. Analice y si le ve potencial no lo deje escapar.
JOSÉ BLANCO ARJONA
DIRECTOR GENERAL DE INGENIA.

Industrie du luxe : WiSeKey numérise les certificats d'authenticité

2009-01-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Applications
Industrie du luxe : WiSeKey numérise les certificats d'authenticité
Doter chaque article de luxe d'une carte à puce cryptographique permettra de s'assurer instantanément qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une contrefaçon. Le système s'adresse notamment aux services douaniers.

Publié le 16 Décembre 2008

Montres, bijoux, sacs à main : les produits haut de gamme sont souvent accompagnés d'un certificat d'authenticité en papier. Problème : avec les imprimantes couleurs disponibles sur le marché, ces certificats sont désormais faciles à copier. Pour lutter plus efficacement contre la contrefaçon, la société suisse Wisekey a conçu un système électronique fonctionnant à l'aide de cartes à puces cryptographiques. Chaque article élaboré par un fabricant sera accompagné et vendu d'une telle carte. Faisant office de certificat numérique, celle-ci contiendra l'intégralité des détails du produit : numéro de série, date et endroit de fabrication etc. Il suffira d'entrer la carte dans un lecteur de carte à puce pour identifier le produit. "Un tel système aidera notamment les services de douane à vérifier à la fois rapidement et avec certitude l'authenticité de certains produits, déclare à L'Atelier Carlos Moreno, directeur des ventes des Wisekey.

Infrastructure à clé publique

La technologie d'infrastructure à clé publique (PKI) utilisée par Wisekey est déjà utilisée en informatique au niveau du contrôle d'accès à l'information mais aussi pour certifier l'identité des personnes. L'un de ses avantages réside dans son infalsifiabilité. "De tels certificats sont impossibles à casser ou à répliquer. Si par ailleurs une personne égare sa carte à puce, il lui suffit de prévenir la marque qui la lui a délivrée pour qu'elle la désactive à distance."De la sorte, il n'est plus possible d'organiser un quelconque trafic de certificats d'origine afin de vendre de faux produits avec de vrais certificats. Autre avantage : les services de douane n'auront pas à s'équiper de matériel spécifique pour authentifier les stocks de produits qu'ils inspectent. "Le système que nous avons conçu utilisant le même type de puce cryptographique que les cartes d'identité électronique, les services de douane ou de police disposent déjà de lecteurs compatibles".

LVMH, PPR et Richemont

Un particulier qui a acheté un produit de luxe sur eBay ou une autre plate-forme pourra lui-même s'assurer de la provenance de celui-ci en se rendant dans une boutique de la marque. Un vendeur pourra y lire sa carte sur un lecteur et dire à la personne si son achat n'est pas une copie. Wisekey ne souhaite pas en dire trop sur la technologie déployée dans son système anti-contrefaçon dans la mesure où son brevet est encore en cours d'autorisation. "Nous sommes de toute façon en discussion avec la plupart des grands groupes de l'industrie du luxe et avons eu des retours très positifs". Des marques de LVMH, PPR ou Richemont seraient intéressées. On ne sait pas encore exactement lesquelles mais le communiqué de presse cite, sans doute non sans raison, le nom de Cartier !

Une puce contre la contrefaçon du luxe

2008-12-17T01:30:00.000-08:00

Une puce contre la contrefaçon du luxe
par Giuseppe Melillo
Une société propose de doter les produits de luxe de puces permettant de vérifier leur authenticité sur internet.

Une puce électronique permettrait d'authentifier les produits de luxe. (Photo: afp)Montres, bijoux, sacs à main, tout article de luxe pourrait être doté d’un dispositif anti-contrefaçon. Une carte à puce contiendrait les données du produit: numéro d’enregistrement, code-barres, date et lieu de fabrication. C’est ce que propose la société genevoise de sécurité électronique Wisekey. Son système, Wiseauthentic, permet aux fabricants, points de vente et acheteurs de vérifier instantanément via internet l’authenticité du produit.

Selon la société genevoise, les informations numériques codées dans la carte à puce seraient impossibles à répliquer. Ce système pourrait aussi fournir une aide à la police et aux douanes. Celles-ci authentifieraient un chargement en quelques clics. Ce qui permettrait l’économie de machines coûteuses.

Le marché de l’anti-contrefaçon est disputé. La start-up veveysanne Alpvision authentifie un objet grâce à un marquage invisible. Elle protège déjà un milliard d’emballages pharmaceutiques par an avec cette sorte d’empreinte.

http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/economie/story/Une-puce-contre-la-contrefa-on-du-luxe-18706873

WISeKey devises an anticounterfeiting system that safeguards and verifies the authenticity of luxury goods

2008-12-16T01:15:00.001-08:00

WISeKey devises an anticounterfeiting system that safeguards and verifies the authenticity of luxury goods
12/16/2008 WISeKey

Geneva, 16th December 2008. Every product made by a luxury goods manufacturer – a watch, handbag, piece of jewellery, etc. – would be accompanied and sold with a smart device, such as a SmartCard, containing the encrypted full details of the product, ie registration number, bar code, date and place of manufacture, etc. Manufacturers, sales outlets and purchasers would then be able to use the SmartCard to verify instantly via the Internet the authenticity of the product using WISeKey-developed technology – namely, WISeAuthentic© (for which the patent is pending).

“The technology,” explains Carlos Moreira, WISeKey CEO, “is based on digital identification encrypted in each product’s SmartCard. What we provide is the service by which the smart device can be used to access the manufacturer’s website and gain access to a special area of the website where the product can be identified as part of the company’s inventory. If the encrypted information on the device is not recognized, access to the website’s special area is denied.”

The technology is virtually fail-safe, as the encrypted digital information within the SmartCard’s chip is impossible to replicate and will remain so for the foreseeable future, according to analysts, mathematicians and academic experts who participated in the development of WISeKey’s technology.

Not only would the WISeAuthentic©/SmartCard combination provide a fail-safe system for manufacturers and purchasers, but it would be a boon to police and customs authorities (not to mention e-Bay), who would be able to verify the authenticity – or non-authenticity – of a truckload of hundreds of cases of, say, Cartier jewellery in a matter of a few clicks on the Internet, thereby negating the use of expensive machines currently used for this purpose.

Further information:
Daniel Ybarra
+ 41225943000
dybarra@wisekey.com

Carlos with Hillary at theCGI

2008-12-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

WISekey showcased its netcarbonoffset.com initiative at the Global Climate Summit in Beverly Hills organized by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

2008-12-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

WISekey showcased its netcarbonoffset.com initiative at the Global Climate Summit in Beverly Hills organized by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

11/20/2008 WISeKey

Geneva, California 20 November 2008 - More than 600 environmental officials along with five U.S. governors along with regional representatives from Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia and Mexico participated at the Global Climate Summit in Beverly Hills organized by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

WISekey represented by its advisory board member Mr. Mario Garnero, President of Brasilinvest presented a new initiative as part of an ongoing drive to boost internet awareness to reduce carbon offsets.

NetCarbonOffset.com is a Service Platform designed to use the Internet and Digital Identification for assisting in the offsetting of carbon footprints with the final objective to support greenhouse gas reduction projects and hasten the transition to a clean energy future. The Internet is a great place to reduce carbon offsets as can be more efficient than any other measures allowing an individual to help to assist on the fight against global warming, while reducing the same or more carbon dioxide emissions.

Via NetCarbonOffset.com users can purchase a digital renewable energy certificates (WISeKey Digital Certificate) which will allow users to demonstrate during all their internet transactions, emails, and web sites that they are contributing to reduce Carbon offsets allowing to take urgent actions on global warming. This digital certificate will become very visible and will be promoted by a series of VIP; Celebrities and major personalities around the world. The digital renewable energy certificates will also be visible in all web sites of all companies participating.

NetCarbonOffset.com includes a High Trusted Social Network Platform developed by WISekey and OISTE which includes a high-level, digital identity verification solution, designed specifically to authenticate that persons are who they say they are, to verify the user's identity and to provide a safer virtual environment for people to network .

The summit agenda includes panels on greenhouse-gas measuring and reporting, and on developing methods to cut emissions in the energy, forestry, agriculture, transportation, cement, steel and aluminum sectors. The governors and regional leaders in Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia agreed in the document to develop policy positions on the industries that produce the most greenhouse gases — forestry, agriculture, cement, iron, aluminum, energy and transportation.

Read more >>

Carlos at E&Y EoY

2008-11-26T06:23:00.000-08:00

Making the most of it ...the key to virtually limitless growth

2008-11-20T05:36:00.001-08:00

Making the most of it ...the key to virtually limitless growth

9/26/2008 THE SWISS STYLE, by Alexandra Galluci

As one of the original founding members of the Annual Meeting of New Champions, Carlos Moreira, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive of WISeKey Corporation, has developed a unique understanding of this dynamic event, so much so that, following last year’s meeting in Dalian, he led the company to realize several direct and immediate benefits.

WISeKey, a Geneva-based world Internet Security Company, is now the fastest growing company in e-trust, esecurity and Digital Identification for personal, governmental and business computing. WISeKey provides high security for communications, identity and information, using specialized technologies to identify and authenticate people, organizations and devices over closed networks and the Internet.

A focused environment

Moreira agrees that the name “Summer Davos” is fitting for the Meeting of New Champions, seeing it as a highly valuable counterpart to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“The Meeting of New Champions fulfils a sector that was not covered previously by the World Economic Forum. Davos is a great environment for multinationals to meet heads of state and VIP celebrities, but it is not necessarily as suitable for those smaller companies in the 200 million to 5 billion US dollar revenue range that are facing specific issues of growth. These companies are in need of a more focused environment in which they can have the opportunity to network with companies of all sizes and establish their brands internationally,” he enthuses.

Along with several other members, Moreira annually attends both the World Economic Forum in Davos as well as the Meeting of New Champions, given that they are undeniably distinct events that present different opportunities. Comparing the two, Moreira says, “The feedback I received in Dalian is that the Meeting of New Champions, for the type of companies that are members of the New Champions, is a more proactive, down-to-earth and business-oriented event. Companies, investors and venture capitalists all come to the Meeting bringing great ideas that inspire innovation and interaction. It is increasingly becoming an international gathering that is particularly unique due its objective to create a new community of fast-growing companies destined to join the ranks of global multinationals in the next 5 to 10 years.”

Visualizing a strategy

Without a doubt, Moreira’s high regard and advocacy for the Meeting of New Champions comes as a result of his positive experiences in Dalian last year. For Moreira, the success that has come to WISeKey from his attendance at the event is specific and quantifiable. At the first annual meeting, he effectively established contact with 25 of the 100 New Champion members. Of these 25, WISeKey has completed business transactions with five different companies on three continents – all within the last year.

However, Moreira stresses that these results did not come effortlessly. He attributes WISeKey’s success to his extensive preparation and he maintains the importance of visualizing a strategy in order to fully realize the benefits of such an opportunistic event. Additionally, Moreira claims that, “WISeKey is highly conscious of the value of establishing brand recognition and this is the reason our company has progressed so quickly. The Meeting of New Champions gives us great visibility in a market that we know will be technology-dependent.”

Without a doubt, the Meeting of New Champions presents valuable opportunities for networking that would otherwise be difficult to find. But even more intriguing is the fact that participants of the event often effortlessly find themselves in one-onone meetings with CEOs of companies of all sizes. At Dalian, Moreira benefited from private meetings with companies such as Avaya, Publicis, WPP, Swift, BT Global Services, Wikipedia, among others. These meetings, Moreira believes, are the type that one can only find at the Meeting of New Champions because arranging such discussions outside the event would prove to be an arduous and expensive process.

Building on the opportunities

The Meeting of New Champions also presents several advantages for WISeKey based on its location in China. Moreira explains that last year’s event in Dalian has led it to become a platform for WISeKey to launch projects in China as well as help focus its marketing strategy for the region and accelerate company growth. Additionally, the event exposes its participants to Chinese investors and helps companies to develop familiarity with the New Champions, which can be a difficult task in a market as large as China’s.

Indeed, the potential gains and opportunities available to the participants of the Annual Meeting of New Champions are simply astounding and the ease with which they can be realized even more staggering.

For those who follow Moreira’s strategical advice, growth may prove to be virtually limitless.

Swiss Style: WISeKey and the future of personal transactions

2008-11-20T02:45:00.000-08:00

M-banking… WISeKey and the future of personal transactions

Modern business can be defined by its speed. Today, major transactions can occur instantaneously over the Internet. This is possible because of services like those provided by WISeKey, an Internet securities company.
Recently, however, WISeKey has taken e-commerce and its idea of immediate abstract transactions a step further, exploring the realm of a Mobile Payment Telco Platform.

Mobile banking – the breakthrough
In September, WISeKey announced that it would be participating in a radical new project to help bring banking to previously unbanked people throughout the world. To accomplish this, they had to identify a route to reach these people.
Carlos Moreira, the CEO of WISeKey asserted, “In the world you have some six billion people, and four billion of whom have a mobile phone. Of those four billion with a mobile phone, only one billion have bank accounts.”
By devising a system where banking can take place through phones, this new platform can rest on the basis of an existing infrastructure and reach previously unattainable heights. This system could bring the ability of banking to people who would otherwise have no participation in the global financial system. It could reach regions where physically getting to a bank simply is not practical. “A bank account is a physical notion, where as here the bank account is on your chip. That’s the breakthrough,” says Moreira excitedly.
To credit money to another phone’s “wallet”, a person would simply enter their WISeKey ID, the desired transfer amount and the number of where it is going. This amount would then be put on the telephone bill of the sender. In essence, the telcos would be working as small level personal banks for these customers. The mobile phone would act in place of a credit card, making it possible to buy things with m-payment credit.
The m-banking system is not only for those without bank accounts. Remote transfers can be made phone-to-phone and then moved into a bank account on the other end. Location becomes arbitrary to the equation.
If, however, you are in a more remote area and have no access to a bank, credit on your phone won’t do you much good. So the “wallet” from your mobile phone can be put onto a smart card and retrieved at an ATM, making this a practical solution in developing areas.

WISeKey’s role: Providing the security
Obviously, this is not a project that could plausibly happen through the efforts of one company. The m-banking project consists of several organizations involved with the Clinton Global Initiative. With the cooperation and collaboration of many institutions, they hope to overhaul the banking system and make it more universally accessible.
Other organizations taking part in the project include CGAP, Equity Bank, the GSMA Foundation (with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Mpower ventures, Tostan, Western Union, Wizzit Bank and Women’s World Banking. Together, these organizations should be able to form a complete enough network to fund, build and provide these services. “The bottom line is solving the problem,” says Moreira.
The technological requirements for m-banking have existed for quite some time. However, WISeKey’s commitment to security is what it took to turn this technology into a realistic possibility. By providing trustworthy security on the transactions, WISeKey has built the platform on which this project can manifest.

“I am Mediterranean”
The first major undertaking of WISeKey and the Telco Platform project is the “I Am Mediterranean” program. Moreira expressed their goal “to create an ecosystem of Mediterranean countries” by providing citizens of the region with WISeKey IDs and the possibility of m-payments. They aim to unite the entire region in an Internet community.
It is kicking off with some 300 people linked up, of whom 60 or so are mayors from towns and cities around the Mediterranean. Their desire being that their communities can be compatible with this infrastructure and move into the future of remote commerce. The target is to help around 100 million people from 25 countries in the area. Film star Antonio Banderas is the flagship member, leading the region into this new community.
This should help the region streamline trade and integrate more of their populations into the financial system. “For me it’s a way of doing good at the same time I am building an ecosystem,” says Moreira. In this way, business growth and altruism are one and the same.
This is not the corporate social responsibility of the past but rather a market-demanded social responsibility born out of the linking of people and the inherent egalitarianism of electronic identities.

WISekey expanding to Dubai

2008-11-20T02:36:00.000-08:00

WISekey CEO visited Dubai last week to expand WISekey services to the region.

WISekey has identified several possible projects in teh area of e-banking, mobile payments and e-government project based on the WISekey Citizen Services Platform (that will make it easier to interact with citizens, streamline processes and, as a result, increase the participation of citizens. WISeKey long experience in securing e-Government services and its unique Trust Platform and ID Portability standard is a major asset for a global deployment of the CSP among Governments around the world said Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey.

Carlos Moreira el la quinta reunión de presidentes del Club Málaga Valley

2008-10-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

MÁLAGA, 14 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

El Club Málaga Valley celebrará hoy martes en la capital malagueña su quinta reunión de presidentes, que contará con la presencia, entre otros, del secretario de Estado de Telecomunicaciones y para la Sociedad de la Información, Francisco Ros.

Esta reunión de presidentes será la más numerosa desde los inicios de la iniciativa en 2006, con más de un centenar de líderes de empresas, frente a los 27 que constituyeron este grupo, tal y como informó a los periodistas el responsable de este club, Javier Cremades, quien destacó el hecho de que el sector audiovisual se incorpore a la agenda de trabajo.

Entre los asistentes estarán, además del alcalde de Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, como presidente de honor del Club Málaga Valley, el presidente de Repsol YPF, Antonio Brufau; la presidenta de IBM, Amparo Moraleda; el presidente de Telecinco y de la Unión de Televisiones Comerciales Asociadas (Uteca), Alejandro Echevarría; el consejero delegado de esta cadena, Paolo Vasile, y el responsable del grupo Bergé, Jaime Gorbeña.

Asimismo, en el marco de esta reunión del Club Málaga Valley, el presidente de Esabe Informática, Florentino del Pozo, anunciará la ubicación de su I+D+i y de un Centro Regional de Atención a Clientes en el Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (PTA).

Este encuentro se incluye dentro de los actos organizados para la celebración de la Semana Digital de Málaga, que se inició el pasado 3 de octubre con la Cumbre de las Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo.

CONFERENCIAS

Por otra parte, durante el día de hoy tendrán lugar también dos conferencias relacionadas con las nuevas tecnologías. La primera, a las 12.00 horas, en la Fundación Picasso-Museo Casa Natal, a cargo del profesor del Departamento de Audiovisuales de la Universidad de Málaga (UMA) José Iranzo, que hablará sobre 'Arte y tecnología: panorama de prácticas de vanguardia'.

Por la tarde, a partir de las 18.00 horas, en la sede de la Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga (CEM), se celebrará la mesa redonda 'Hacer negocios en la sociedad digital', en la que intervendrán el director general y primer ejecutivo de Google en España, Javier Rodríguez Zapatero; el director general de Yahoo! en España, Ignacio Azcoitia; el director general de BT en España y Portugal, Jacinto Cavestany; el director general de Prensa Malagueña, Jesús Alloza, y el responsable de Clear Channel España, Agustín Usallán.

El Club Málaga Valley tiene como objetivo diseñar las políticas y líneas de acción necesarias para convertir a Málaga en la más importante zona de excelencia tecnológica de Europa, un 'Silicon Valley' europeo capaz de arrastrar a empresas de todo el mundo e inversiones en I+D.

Carlos Moreira with Mr. Miguel Sebastián Gascón, Spanish Minister of Trade Industry and Tourism,

2008-10-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

Carlos Moreira with Mr. Miguel Sebastián Gascón, Spanish Minister of Trade Industry and Tourism, Mr Houlin Zhao, ITU Deputy-Secretary General and the Mayor of Malaga Mr. Francisco de la Torre Prados during the event preceding the Malaga Summit.

The project has now taken on a new dimension, focusing on the objectives laid out by President Zapatero at the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) recently organised by President Sarkozy in Paris on 14 July this year, where leaders from 43 countries, representing 750 million inhabitants launched Union for the Mediterranean (UPM).

As a result, the EuroAfrican Technological Hub became the “I’m Mediterranean Hub” and, Malaga the “Technological Capital of the Mediterranean”.

WISeKey, OISTE, Malaga Valley and the Ville of Malaga have culminated in the “Mediterranean Cities and Local Governments Summit”, proposed by the Malaga City government and the FSN, which will be held in Malaga on October 2-3, 2008, where the "I’m Mediterranean" Hub, waslaunched.

In Paris, the President of the Spanish government advocated strengthening the socio-economic and cultural cooperation in the region and underscored the fundamental role of the new information technologies. Zapatero invited European and Mediterranean leaders to the Mediterranean Cities Summit in Malaga, with the objective of promoting a truly Mediterranean digital space (ref. 2) This initiative will help Malaga to become the “Technological Capital of the Mediterranean”.

The cooperation among the City Government, Malaga Valley, FSN, the Technological Park of Andalusia, Mediterranean cities and the Spanish government is an unprecedented opportunity for making Malaga the Mediterranean Hub. This could have an international cooperation component in the release of a "Mediterranean digital space Declaration" which would be ratified and signed by all public and private sector dignitaries who would participate in the Malaga Summit, and in the development of the "I’m Mediterranean" Hub.

LA CUMBRE DE LAS CIUDADES Y GOBIERNOS LOCALES DEL MEDITERRÁNEO REUNIRÁ A 350 DELEGADOS

2008-10-01T06:35:00.001-07:00

LA CUMBRE DE LAS CIUDADES Y GOBIERNOS LOCALES DEL MEDITERRÁNEO REUNIRÁ A 350 DELEGADOS

29/09/2008.- www.malagaes.com

El concejal de Nuevas Tecnologías, Francisco Salas, y el secretario ejecutivo del Fondo de Solidaridad Digital, Alain Clerc, han presentado esta mañana el principal evento de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo: la Cumbre de las Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo, que se celebrará en el Palacio de Congresos de Málaga durante los días 2 y 3 de octubre, bajo el lema “Una financiación innovadora para el espacio digital mediterráneo”.
En el evento, organizado conjuntamente por el Ayuntamiento de Málaga y por el Fondo de Solidaridad Digital, en colaboración con el Club Málaga Valley, participarán 350 delegados representantes de los principales ayuntamientos e instituciones de los países del mediterráneo.

La Cumbre buscará la colaboración de empresas e instituciones para disminuir la brecha digital, promoverá el papel esencial para el fortalecimiento de tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC), la cooperación y el desarrollo de la región con el objetivo de hacer de Málaga el Hub del Espacio Digital del Mediterráneo. Uno de los objetivos de esta cita es la creación en Málaga una Secretaría Permanente de Nuevas Tecnologías para el Mediterráneo, encargada de promover estos proyectos y de celebrar una conferencia anual con el objetivo de crear mayor conciencia acerca de las ventajas que las nuevas tecnologías y de la manera en que pueden transformar las actividades y la vida de las personas.

Dentro de la Cumbre de Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo se realizará el lanzamiento del proyecto “Yo Soy Mediterráneo”. El actor Antonio Banderas forma parte del bloque de personalidades y celebridades que lanzará el proyecto “Yo Soy Mediterráneo”.

El Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital (FSD), compuesto por 25 miembros fundadores (15 estados nacionales, 8 ciudades y regiones, una organización internacional y una compañía privada), tiene como objetivo eliminar las barreras que existen para el acceso a las Tecnologías de la Información entre los países más ricos y los países menos desarrollados, y construir una Sociedad de la Información solidaria e inclusiva.

El Ayuntamiento de Málaga es miembro fundador del Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital, además Málaga es la primera ciudad española que pertenece a dicho organismo como miembro de pleno derecho.

PROGRAMA

2 DE OCTUBRE 2008:

20:00 Recepción Oficial de bienvenida ofrecida por el Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Málaga en la Casa Consistorial.

Presentación de las empresas colaboradoras con la Cumbre.

3 DE OCTUBRE 2008:

8:00-9:00 Acreditación de participantes y entrega de documentación.
9:00-10:00 Sesión Inaugural.
-Sr. D. Francisco de la Torre, Alcalde de Málaga.
-Representante del Gobierno de España.
-Sra. Dña. Rosa Torres Ruiz, Consejera de Cultura Junta de Andalucía.
-Sr. D. Christos Zois, Vice Ministro del Interior Gobierno de Grecia.
-Representante Gobierno de Francia y UE.
- Sr. D. M. Houlin Zhao, Vice Secretario General Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones.
-Sr. D. Brunson McKinley, Director General Organización Internacional de Migración.

10:00-10:30 Pausa café

10:30-12:00 Primera Mesa Redonda: La Solidaridad Digital y la contribución del 1% de
solidaridad digital
Modera : Sr. D. Francisco Salas Márquez, Concejal Nuevas Tecnologías del Ayuntamiento de Málaga.
Participan:
-Sr. D. Alain Madelin, Presidente del Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital (FSD) Ponencia: "La financiación de la solidaridad digital y los proyectos singulares del FSD".
-Sr. D. Philippe Douste-Blazy. Secretario General Adjunto de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas
Ponencia:“Las contribuciones de solidaridad a favor del desarrollo y el 1% de solidaridad digital para reducir la brecha digital”
-Sr. D. M. Houlin Zhao,Vice Secretario General Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones.
Ponencia : “Las TIC como eje determinante del desarrollo social y económico, y el papel clave de la UIT en el seno del sector global de las TIC”

-Sr. D. Brunson McKinley, Director General Organización Internacional de Migración.
Ponencia: “Migración: Movilidad en el Mediterráneo"

-Sr. D. Jean Pouly, Director, Agencia Mundial de Solidaridad Digital
Ponencia:“El papel de los gobiernos locales y de la cooperación descentralizada en la reducción de la brecha digital”

12:00-12:30 Conferencia: “La sociedad de la información y la brecha digital, estrategias jurídicas para financiar el acceso global”

Conferenciante: Sr. D. Rolf H. Weber, Universidad de Zurich.
Modera : Sr. D. Alain Clerc, Secretario Ejecutivo FSD.

12:30-13:30
Segunda Mesa Redonda: Proyectos de colaboración
Modera: Sr. D. Jean Pouly
Director Agencia Mundial de Solidaridad Digital

-Sra. Dña. Karima Ghribi, Directora General Dirección Cooperación UE y Cooperación Transfronteriza Ministerio Desarrollo y Cooperación Internacional Gobierno Túnez

-Sr. D. Gilles Berhault, Presidente de ACIDD.
Ponencia:“TIC, Solidaridad y Desarrollo Sostenible en el Mediterráneo”

-Dr. Bernard Salomé, Representante Director de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina
« El papel innovador de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina en mundo digital »

-Sr. D. André Jean Marc Loechel.Presidente Fundación Territorios del Mañana.
Ponencia:“Unión para el Mediterráneo y la economía del conocimiento: nuevos horizontes de cooperación.”

-Sr. D. Francisco Salas Márquez.Concejal Nuevas Tecnologías del Ayuntamiento de Málaga.
Ponencia: “Proyectos de colaboración entre ciudades”

13.30-14:30 Tercera Mesa redonda: “Oportunidades del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo para el sector empresarial”.

Modera: Sr. D. Javier Cremades Presidente Club Malaga Valley e-27

- Sr. D. Carlos Moreira Director General WiseKey y OISTE .
- Sr. D. Jose A. Ondiviela Garcia Local & Regional Government Lead. Western Europe Public Sector Microsoft
- Unicaja: Pte de confirmar ponente
- Sr. D. Jose Blanco Arjona Director General Ingenia
- Sr. D. Francisco J. Sánchez Lopez, Bull
- Sr. D. Felipe Romera Lubias Director General Parque Tecnológico de Andalucia
- Sr. D. Selçuk Kiper Director General Synopsis Creative Services, Turquia
- Sr. D. Abel Linares Palacios Presidente Ejecutivo Oesía
- Sr. D. Raghu Kilambi Chief Financial Officer Myscreen

14:30-16:30 Almuerzo

16:30-18:00 Mesa de ciudades: “Lanzamiento del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo”
-Sr. D. Francisco de la Torre Prados, Alcalde Málaga.
-Sr. D. Dahman Derhem, Alcalde de Tánger.
-Sr. D. Hubert Julien Lafférrière, Vicepresidente de Lyon y Grand Lyon.
-Sra. Dña. Marta Vincenzi, Alcaldesa de Génova.
-Sr. D. Pierre Maudet, Teniente de Alcalde del Ayuntamiento de Ginebra.
-Sr. D. Ramón García Bragado, Teniente Alcalde de Ayuntamiento de Barcelona.
-Sr. D. Serge Godard, Alcalde del Ayuntamiento Clermont-Ferrand.

Modera: Sr. D. Alain Clerc, Secretario Ejecutivo del FSD

Video Carlos Moreira m-banking commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative

2008-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Clinton Global Initiative members came together in an effort that will bring Mobile Banking to millions of poor people in developing nations. Those participating in this Mega-Commitment:

* CGAP commits to fund pioneering m-banking initiatives, conduct market research, and convene regulators.
* Equity Bank commits to double the number of Kenyan citizens with mobile banking services.
* The GSMA Development Fund, with a grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commits extend mobile financial services to 20 million new customers living under $2 a day.
* MPower Ventures commits to enable money transfers on mobile phones through prepaid debit cards.
* Tostan commits to expand access to mobile banking services in rural West African communities.
* Western Union commits to develop strategic alliances to introduce or support mobile-based initiatives for underserved communities in more than fifteen countries.
* WISeKey commits to provide a secure platform for mobile payments and transactions.
* Wizzit Bank commits to scale its mobile banking initiative from South Africa to 13 additional countries.
* Women's World Banking will study how microfinance institutions can employ mobile services.

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

ABC.ES Málaga, hacia la excelencia tecnológica

2008-09-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Málaga, hacia la excelencia tecnológica

POR ALFREDO PASCUAL
FOTO JULIÁN DE DOMINGO

MADRID. Cuando, a principios de la década pasada, se puso en marcha el Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (PTA) muchos pusieron en duda su viabilidad. Demasiado ambicioso para un país que no apuesta firmemente por la I+D, demasiado lejano de los centros financieros (está en Málaga, una de las ciudades más meridionales de Europa), argumentaban sus detractores.

Pero, como dice el refranero chino, crisis y oportunidad son términos aledaños. La deficiente coyuntura nacional se suplió con un firme apoyo institucional y la latitud malagueña se presentó como garantía de clima agradable en todas las épocas del año. De este modo, casi veinte años después de su fundación, el PTA ocupa a 15.000 trabajadores cualificados repartidos en más de 500 empresas del sector tecnológico y de las energías renovables. Y acaban de dar la bienvenida a Oracle Corporation, otro ilustre vecino del Parque que es referente en el mercado de las bases de datos.

«El Parque es un completo éxito que ha conseguido todo lo proyectado al inicio», afirma orgulloso Francisco de la Torre, alcalde de Málaga. Tanto es así que se planea una ampliación del 70 por ciento en los próximos años. Detrás, un elevado objetivo que el regidor no duda en reconocer: «Queremos hacer de Málaga el espacio de referencia tecnológico de toda Europa». Tal y como explica el abogado Javier Cremades es el momento propicio para el abordaje, pues «la UE ha abierto un proceso de reflexión para identificar su Silicon Valley». Cremades es presidente del Club Málaga Valley e27, el «think-tank» sobre tecnología más relevante del espacio comunitario y principal motor del proyecto malagueño. Este club es «principalmente un proyecto de personas» que agrupa cien presidentes de compañías empeñadas en «proponer estrategias para alcanzar el liderazgo internacional desde Málaga».

Con todo, la carrera por alcanzar la capitalidad tecnológica de Europa está reñida. Regiones de rancia tradición técnica como Baviera, Lombardía o el área periférica de París son dura competencia para una Málaga que, a juicio de su alcalde, «parte muy bien posicionada». Naturalmente, una meta tan ambiciosa exige el respaldo de las más altas esferas políticas. Al respecto, Cremades celebra que se haya creado un Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación por primera vez en España: «Es muestra de que existe una voluntad política de invertir en I+D, una de nuestras asignaturas pendientes». Una medida más que necesaria si tenemos en cuenta que, año tras año, nuestro país cae por debajo de los veinte primeros puestos en los ránkings mundiales sobre competitividad tecnológica. «Nosotros aportamos nuestro granito de arena, pero no podemos hacerlo todo», comentan los responsables de un proyecto que nació con vocación local y cada vez apunta más alto.

Cooperación entre sectores

De la Torre y Cremades van juntos porque saben que la clave del éxito está en el compromiso de las instituciones con la iniciativa privada. Un modelo colaborativo que habrá de pasar la prueba del nueve el próximo mes de octubre, cuando se celebre la «Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo» en suelo malacitano. Allí se darán cita políticos y personalidades del mundo empresarial en busca de consensos para tratar temas relacionados con las tecnologías de la información y el desarrollo.

El programa del evento hace especial hincapié en reducir la distancia tecnológica entre países, lo que lleva a De la Torre a considerar la cita como «una apuesta por la solidaridad».Con el objeto de eliminar estas barreras se presentarán iniciativas como «Yo soy mediterráneo», una tarejeta desarrollada por la empresa Wisekey que permitirá a los ciudadanos del litoral mediterráneo que la posean acceder a una serie de servicios comunes.

Para Cremades la cumbre significará «una concentración de talento tecnológico única» que permitirá la reunión de alcaldes y directores de compañía, «dos activos potentísimos de cuya unión saldrá un espacio singular sin referencia en el mundo».

http://www.abc.es/20080925/tecnologia-tecnologia/malaga-hacia-excelencia-tecnologica-20080925.html

WISeKey anuncia el desarrollo de una nueva plataforma de pago móvil como nuevo compromiso para la Reunión Anual de la Iniciativa Mundial Clinton 2008

2008-09-26T11:58:00.001-07:00

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

NUEVA YORK y GINEBRA, September 26 /PRNewswire/ --

-- WISeKey anuncia el desarrollo de una nueva plataforma de pago móvil como nuevo compromiso para la Reunión Anual de la Iniciativa Mundial Clinton 2008

WISeKey ha anunciado hoy un nuevo compromiso centrado inicialmente en los cerca de 100 millones de personas de la región del Mediterráneo que siguen sin cuentas bancarias pero que se siguen conectando vía voz con sus teléfonos móviles. WISeKey proporcionará la tecnología pago por móvil de confianza, segura e interoperable necesaria para utilizar una Plataforma de Telecomunicaciones para Pago por Móvil en las áreas geográficas seleccionadas asociadas con las instituciones financieras, de telecomunicaciones y compañías tecnológicas de la región.

"Esperamos que el impacto de este compromiso consiga ampliarse para llegar a los 100 millones de personas sin facilidades repartidas en 25 países principalmente dentro de la región del Mediterráneo, incluyendo África, durante la primera fase. El despliegue de la plataforma en cooperación con las empresas de telecomunicaciones nos permitirá llegar a la base de la pirámide de consumidores que carecen de cuentas bancarias. Para conseguir este compromiso estamos cooperando principalmente con las empresas de telecomunicaciones que utilizan nuestra tecnología para adaptar la tecnología que permite utilizar los teléfonos móviles como una herramienta financiera", indicó Carlos Moreira, consejero delegado de WISeKey.

El pago por móvil emerge como un destacado enlace que podría ayudar a suministrar los servicios financieros más destacados para los miles de millones de usuarios de teléfonos móviles sin cuentas bancarias que hay en todo el mundo. Al proporcionar a las personas sin cuentas bancarias la utilización del teléfono móvil como instrumento de identificación y pago se consigue disponer de un elemento clave para este compromiso. Y lo que es más interesante, 1.000 millones de los 5.000 millones de propietarios de teléfonos móviles no disponen de acceso a los servicios financieros, a pesar de disponer de la posibilidad tecnológica para activar este servicio.

Con el fin de materializar este compromiso WISeKey se ha convertido en una proposición vital para la celebración de la Cumbre de las Ciudades Locales y Gobiernos del Mediterráneo, que se celebrará en Málaga (España) el día 3 de octubre, a la que el Presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero ha invitado a los líderes de la región del Mediterráneo y Europa. Para más información en torno a este compromiso visite la página web: http://www.wisekey.com

Como uno de los primeros pasos dentro de esta iniciativa, el actor Antonio Banderas se convertirá en el primer ciudadano del Mediterráneo dentro de uno de los proyectos más ambiciosos de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo: crear una comunidad online de 150 millones de ciudadanos. El proyecto "Yo soy mediterráneo" proporcionará acceso a todos los ciudadanos de la región desde su centro en Málaga hasta llegar a una amplia variedad de servicios de ciudadanos que desean promocionar la identidad y cultura comunes del milenio. Las ciudades de todo el Mediterráneo se podrán unir dentro de esta iniciativa y crear plataformas de servicios para ciudadanos que funcionen de forma conjunta en la región.

WISeKey espera replicar esta iniciativa en otras regiones del mundo culturalmente integradas.

Contacto:

Daniel Ybarra, vicepresidente de comunicaciones empresariales

Teléfono: +41-22-594-30-00

Email: dybarra@wisekey.com

Internet: http://www.wisekey.com

WIsekey among the Commitments announced by President Clinton:

2008-09-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

By the end of the day commitments had been announced in the four focus areas: Poverty Alleviation, Climate Change, Health and Education. Information on some of the commitments announced today, including to "Mega Commitments" in the area of poverty alleviation is attached.

Commitments announced by President Clinton:

AREVA and Duke Energy, two global energy leaders, committed to developing green biomass energy solutions for American electricity consumers, avoiding approximately 4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2014 and creating new green collar jobs in the United States.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation committed $8 million over 5 years to broaden the scope and reach of the Lance Armstrong Foundation from a national to an international foundation to support cancer survivors and make Cancer an international priority.

In collaboration with President Johnson Sirleaf and the Government of Liberia, Humanity United, the NoVo Foundation, the Daphne Foundation, Global Philanthropy Forum, McCall McBain Foundation, and Trust Africa committed $15 million over 1 year for the establishment of a new model for donor-investor-government partnership, supporting Liberia's reconstruction and development.

The Nike Foundation in partnership with the Government of Liberia and the World Bank committed $5 million over 3 years to improve economic opportunities for adolescent girls in post-conflict Liberia. The initial pilot project will smooth the path to productive employment for 1,500 adolescent girls and women.

PATH, Save the Children, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and BRAC committed $20 million over 5 years to reduce newborn mortality rates through the creation and distribution of "A Better Beginning for Babies Kit." This commitment is expected to reach at least 2 million newborns in the next 5 years and save approximately 123,000 lives.
Tulsi Tanti Holding Limited committed $5 billion total project value, with a $1.5 billion equity investment, to develop green power generating assets around the world, with a particular focus on investments in India and China. This commitment will develop over 3,500 Mega-Watts of Green Power Generating Assets, helping several countries meet the Kyoto protocol renewable energy targets.

The following organizations form the Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs-ANDE which will support entrepreneurs, and small and growing businesses in developing countries through financing, technical assistance and general support.
The Aspen Institute commits to incubating the new ANDE organization.

The Acumen Fund commits $1.5 million to setting standard metrics for social investment success.
Agora Partnerships commits $15 million to supporting enterprises in Central America and Southern Mexico.
Citi is a founding of ANDE and commits its core business to its goals
Endeavor commits $250,000 to sharing best-practices amongst entrepreneurs in the Middle East and Latin America.
The Grassroots Business Fund commits $50 million to expanding enterprises in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Proventus Partners commits $15 million to supporting entrepreneurship in Mexico, Colombia and Peru.
Root Capital commits $70 million to supporting agricultural producers in Latin America and East Africa.
Small Enterprise Assistance Funds commits $205 million to supporting women-led enterprises in Africa.
TechnoServe commits $12 million to providing institutional support to small and growing businesses in the developing world.
Ignia Fund and E&Co are also partners in this commitment.
Clinton Global Initiative members came together in an effort that will bring Mobile Banking to millions of poor people in developing nations. Those participating in this Mega-Commitment:
CGAP commits to fund pioneering m-banking initiatives, conduct market research, and convene regulators.
Equity Bank commits to double the number of Kenyan citizens with mobile banking services.
The GSMA Development Fund, with a grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commits extend mobile financial services to 20 million new customers living under $2 a day.
MPower Ventures commits to enable money transfers on mobile phones through prepaid debit cards.
Tostan commits to expand access to mobile banking services in rural West African communities.
Western Union commits to develop strategic alliances to introduce or support mobile-based initiatives for underserved communities in more than fifteen countries.
WISeKey commits to provide a secure platform for mobile payments and transactions.
Wizzit Bank commits to scale its mobile banking initiative from South Africa to 13 additional countries.
Women's World Banking will study how microfinance institutions can employ mobile services.

Progress reports were scheduled to include:

E+Co fulfilled its commitment to put in place the partnerships and funding to invest $190 million of services and capital in local energy businesses, bringing clean, modern energy to an additional 17 million people, and offsetting more than 15 million tons of carbon.

Global Partnership for Afghanistan has progressed towards its commitment of facilitating the development of successful small farm orchard and woodlot businesses to reduce poverty, provide sustainable livelihoods and enhance the environment in Afghanistan. 2,500,000 trees have been planted, helping revitalize the environment as well as increase family incomes.

Industrial Revelation, Inc., in partnership with the Government of Tanzania, The Clinton Foundation (CHAI), and TechnoSErve, has made progress towards its commitment to addressing malnutrition in Tanzania by increasing access to low-cost, high quality, ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) to children under the age of five who suffer from moderate to severe acute malnutrition.

International Rescue Committee fullfilled its commitment by launching the Water, Sanitation, Health and Education Projects in Sudan, providing water, adequate sanitation, basic health, and education (including health training) for communities in southern Sudan, northeastern Sudan, and western Sudan (Darfur).

Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers fulfilled their commitment to fund and support early-stage biomedical science-based companies with products that address the challenges of global emerging infectious disease. To date, KPCB has invested over $100 million in 9 companies developing products to treat and prevent influenza, hepatitis and MRSA.

Plaza Sésamo, the Spanish language version of Sesame Street, in partnership with the World Heart Federation, fulfilled its commitment to create the Healthy Habits for Life Initiative in Colombia, using media to teach pre-school children and their families in Colombia about healthy habits, including nutrition and exercise.

Transfair USA progressed towards its commitment of introducing and promoting Fair Trade certified flowers to the U.S.

Market ensuring that flower workers across the world can benefit from Fair Trade's unparalleled social and environmental standards, and earn premiums to invest in the development of their communities.

President Clinton Opens Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York

2008-09-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

President Clinton Opens Fourth Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York

September 24, 2008 | New York | Clinton Foundation | Press Releases

Former President Clinton unveils Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund with Former President Bush and announces international expansion of the Lance Armstrong Foundation

President Clinton opened the fourth Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting today, bringing together nearly 60 current and former heads of state, five Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and hundreds of international CEOs, non-profit leaders, and major philanthropists to collaborate to make positive change in the world.

"Everyone who has come to CGI's Annual Meeting or is following it online has the power to make a difference," said President Clinton. "The commitments you will make this year-both at the meeting and on our web-portal MyCommitment.org-come at a time of great uncertainty for the world. This makes our collective ability to touch the lives of others more important than ever. Working together, we can help make a safer and more sustainable future."

This morning President Clinton and former President George H. W. Bush came together to announce the creation of the Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund. The Fund is designed to help recovery efforts for people in Texas and Louisiana who were affected by the 2008 hurricane season. The former presidents have worked together in the past to raise money for recovery efforts after the 2004 Tsunami that affected Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina.

Among the commitments President Clinton announced in the opening session was the international expansion of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Foundation will convene international leaders and launch a global public awareness and grassroots campaign to make cancer an international priority.

"Cancer will claim 8 million lives around the world this year. Tragically, many of these deaths can be prevented" said Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, cycling champion and chairman and founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. "That is why I am using my return to professional sports to launch the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Awareness Campaign. It's an honor to be able to announce this campaign among the distinguished Clinton Global Initiative attendees and to appeal to them directly for support in this great endeavor."

Video of the ceremony with President Clinton and Carlos Moreira during the WISekey Mobile Payment Telco Platform announcement at the 2008 Clinton Glob

2008-09-26T04:07:00.002-07:00

WISeKey Announces the Development of a Mobile Payment Telco Platform as a new Commitment for the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.

2008-09-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

From Global Clinton Initiative 2008

WISeKey Announces the Development of a Mobile Payment Telco Platform as a new Commitment for the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.

NEW YORK and GENEVA, 25th September 2008, WISeKey today announced a new commitment with the initial focus to target over 100 million people in the Mediterranean region still unbanked but already connected via voice with their mobiles phones. WISeKey will provide the trusted, secure and interoperable m-payments technology required to operate a Mobile Payment Telco Platform in selected geographical areas in partnership with financial institutions, telecommunications and technology companies in the region.

"It is our hope that the impact of this commitment will extend to reach 100 million disadvantaged people in 25 countries primarily in the Mediterranean Region, including Africa during its first phase. Deploying the platform in cooperation with Telcos will enable us to reach the unbanked base of the pyramid consumers. For this commitment we are mainly cooperating with Telcos using our technology to adapt with technology that allows the mobile phone to be used as a financial tool," said Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey.

"M-Payments are emerging as an important link that could bring the most basic financial services to billions of unbanked cell phone users around the world. Bringing the unbanked into the formal economy and allowing them to use their mobile phone as identification and payment devices is a key element of this commitment. Interestingly, a full 1 billion of the 5 billion mobile phone owners have no access to financial services despite having the technological possibility of activating this service" said President Bill Clinton announcing the commitment.

In order to materialize this commitment, WISeKey has been a key proponent for the realization of the Summit of Local Mediterranean Cities and Governments to be held in Malaga, Spain on the 3rd of October, to which the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has invited leaders of the Mediterranean Region and Europe.

In order to materialize this commitment, WISeKey has been a key proponent for the realization of the Summit of Local Mediterranean Cities and Governments to be held in Malaga, Spain on the 3rd of October, to which the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has invited leaders of the Mediterranean Region and Europe. This initiative has been launched in complementarity with the European Commission initiative to create a Mediterranean Union.

As one of the first steps of this initiative, actor Antonio Banderas will be the First Mediterranean Citizen in one of the most ambitious projects of the Digital Mediterranean Space Summit: to create a community of 150 million citizens online. The "I am Mediterranean" Project will provide access to all citizens of the region from its hub in Malaga to a wide variety of citizen services with a view to promoting the millennial common identity and culture. Cities from all over the Mediterranean can join this initiative and establish citizen services platforms locally that are interoperable across the region.

WISeKey looks forward to replicating this initiative in other culturally integrated regions of the world.

Daniel Ybarra, VP Corporate Communications
dybarra@wisekey.com
+41225943000
www.wisekey.com

WISeKey commits to provide a secure platform for mobile payments and transactions at the Clinton Global Initiative

2008-09-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

WISekey part of the Clinton Global Initiative members that came together in an effort that will bring Mobile Banking to millions of poor people in developing nations. Those participating in this Mega-Commitment:

CGAP commits to fund pioneering m-banking initiatives, conduct market research, and convene regulators.
Equity Bank commits to double the number of Kenyan citizens with mobile banking services.
The GSMA Development Fund, with a grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commits extend mobile financial services to 20 million new customers living under $2 a day.
MPower Ventures commits to enable money transfers on mobile phones through prepaid debit cards.
Tostan commits to expand access to mobile banking services in rural West African communities.
Western Union commits to develop strategic alliances to introduce or support mobile-based initiatives for underserved communities in more than fifteen countries.
WISeKey commits to provide a secure platform for mobile payments and transactions.
Wizzit Bank commits to scale its mobile banking initiative from South Africa to 13 additional countries.
Women's World Banking will study how microfinance institutions can employ mobile services.

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/news/news-media/press-release-president-clinton-opens-fourth-annual-clinton-global-initiative-meeting-in-new-york

La ciudad aspira a ser la sede anual de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo

2008-09-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

La ciudad aspira a ser la sede anual de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo

Noticias EUROPAPRESS | 22/09/2008|17:51h

La ciudad de Málaga aspira a ser la sede anual de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo, según confirmó hoy el alcalde de la capital, Francisco de la Torre, durante la presentación de este evento que se celebrará este año entre el 3 y el 4 de octubre en el que "se recibirá la mayor concentración de talento de Europa para trata temas digitales", según apuntó el primer edil.

En el acto estuvieron presentes, además de De la Torre, el concejal de Nuevas Tecnologías, Francisco Salas; el presidente del Club Málaga Valley, Javier Cremades, y el presidente de la compañía Wisekey, Carlos Moreira; quien incidió en "el potencial" de la capital para aspirar a ser la ciudad tecnológica europea de referencia.

La Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo consta de tres bloques de actividad. El primero es la Cumbre de las ciudades y gobiernos locales del Mediterráneo, convocada por el Fondo de Solidaridad Digital, y cuya dinámica versará sobre 'Una financiación innovadora para el espacio digital mediterráneo'. Asimismo, durante la Cumbre, el alcalde de Málaga, Cremades, y Moreira, lanzarán el proyecto 'Yo Soy Mediterráneo'.

Al respecto, Moreira explicó que el proyecto 'Yo soy Mediterráneo' se establecerá gracias a la colaboración de los Gobiernos regionales y municipales, así como de las empresas tecnológicas líderes a la hora de debatir sobre el Espacio Digital Mediterráneo, consistente en una suite de servicios en línea que las ciudades mediterráneas integrarán ofreciendo un "alto nivel" de servicios a los ciudadanos mediante una plataforma a través de Málaga y del Parque Tecnológico (PTA).

El segundo bloque de actividades es la Semana Digital de Málaga, que consistirá en un ciclo de conferencias y talleres de trabajo organizado por diferentes entidades de la ciudad sobre cuestiones relacionas con el mundo digital. La Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga, la Cámara de Comercio, el Colegio de Abogados de Málaga, el Departamento de Derecho Privado Especial, y la Casa Natal de Picasso, han programado talleres y mesas redondas sobre cuestiones digitales.

Por ultimo, el evento terminará con la celebración de la V Reunión de Presidentes del Club Málaga Valley, que se celebrará el próximo 14 de octubre. Los presidentes que lo integran, serán invitados a rubricar la Declaración de Málaga, un llamamiento que los miembros de Gobiernos locales participantes en la Cumbre harán también al sector privado para que colaboren en la cuestión de la brecha digital.

La Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo pretende ser una cita internacional estable en el circuito de Davos, Villa d'Este y otros encuentros internacionales. Durante esos días se congregarán en Málaga mas de 300 responsables políticos, académicos y empresariales para discutir cuestiones relacionadas con el mundo digital, situando a la provincia como "el centro del debate más destacado en el ámbito de las nuevas tecnologías", apuntó De la Torre.

El evento, impulsado por el Club Málaga Valley, promoverá además, el papel esencial para el fortalecimiento de tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC) socio-económico y cultural, la cooperación y el desarrollo de la región. Así, se convertirá en una plataforma para optimizar relaciones comerciales, tecnológicas y culturales entre la Unión Europea, los países del Mediterráneo y Africa, y también punto de encuentro y un lugar para la investigación y el estudio.

EL PAPEL DE MALAGA

"Málaga ha logrado captar la atención del mundo al ser la sede de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo y dar un paso de gigante en sus aspiraciones de establecerse como capital tecnológica de Europa", declaró el presidente del Club Málaga Valley.

Del mismo modo, Cremades destacó "la importancia" de haber ubicado a la ciudad como epicentro del proyecto 'Yo soy Mediterráneo' del que desveló que el actor malagueño Antonio Banderas será una de las personalidades que lo lanzará a partir del 3 de octubre en el Palacio de Congresos.

ANTECEDENTES

En el 2007, el Club Málaga Valley presentó una iniciativa, a través de la compañía suiza Wisekey y el Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía de crear un centro tecnológico para el Mediterráneo. Esta iniciativa ya ha adquirido una nueva dimensión, centrándose en los objetivos establecidos por el presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, en la Unión Europea para el Mediterráneo (UPM).

Rodriguez Zapatero invitó a todos los dirigentes de Europa y del Mediterráneo a la Cumbre de Ciudades del Mediterráneo en Málaga, con el objetivo de promover un verdadero espacio digital Mediterráneo.

LA SEMANA DIGITAL

Entre los días 6 y 10 de octubre algunas instituciones de la ciudad organizarán diversas actividades para promover mayor cultura y sensibilidad ciudadana en temas digitales. Así, la Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga organizará, junto con la Cámara de Comercio, una mesa redonda bajo el título 'Nuevas oportunidades de negocio en la era digital'.

Por su parte el Colegio de Abogados de Málaga y el Departamento de Derecho Privado Especial han organizado un ciclo de conferencias sobre la incidencia de las nuevas tecnologías en las diferentes ramas del Derecho. La Fundación Casa Natal de Picasso ha previsto un taller para estudiantes de la Universidad y jóvenes bajo el nombre 'Picasso en la Red'.

V REUNION DE PRESIDENTES DEL CLUB MALAGA VALLEY

El día 14 de octubre tendrá lugar la V Reunión de Presidentes del Club Málaga Valley. El Club Málaga Valley es un 'think tank' integrado por empresarios de compañías multinacionales del entorno tecnológico para promover que el Sillicon Valley de Europa pueda radicarse en Málaga.

Desde su creación, en octubre de 2006 los presidentes de integran el Club se han reunido siempre en Málaga. En la próxima reunión intervendrán como ponentes principales el presidente de Repsol-YPF, Antonio Brufau; el secretario de Estado de Telecomunicaciones y Sociedad de la Información, Francisco Ros; la presidenta de IBM, Amparo Moraleda; el consejero delegado de Tele 5, Paolo Vasile; el presidente de UTECA, la asociación de Televisiones Privadas nacionales, Alejandro Echevarría; y el presidente del Grupo Bergé, Jaime Gorbeña.
Espacio - Digital - Mediterráneo

Málaga será la referencia tecnológica del Mediterráneo

2008-09-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

Málaga será la referencia tecnológica del Mediterráneo
S. Sánchez | Actualizado 23.09.2008 - 01:00

La apuesta de Málaga por convertirse en la principal referencia tecnológica y en materia de innovación de Europa sigue tomando forma. El alcalde de la ciudad, Francisco De la Torre, y el presidente del Club Málaga Valley, Javier Cremades, presentaron ayer la próxima celebración en la capital de la Costa del Sol de la Cumbre Digital del Mediterráneo, evento que se desarrollará entre los días 3 y 14 de octubre y que congregará a alrededor de 300 responsables políticos, académicos y empresariales de este espacio geográfico. A lo largo de estas casi dos semanas tendrán lugar la Cumbre de las Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo, la Semana Digital de Málaga y la quinta reunión de presidentes del Málaga Valley, que se producirá el 14 de octubre.

Durante el acto de ayer se contó con la presencia del presidente de la compañía Wisekey, Carlos Moreira, quien subrayó que esta iniciativa, que tiene vocación de convertirse en una cita anual, pretende situar a Málaga al nivel de referencia mundial que tiene la ciudad suiza de Davos en materia económica. "Sería una especie de Davos del Mediterráneo, para, posteriormente, convertirse en la Davos de lengua española", apuntó.

La cumbre acogerá, además, la puesta en funcionamiento de una iniciativa pionera, denominada Yo soy mediterráneo, con la que se busca crear una identidad común en materia tecnológica para los 150 millones de personas que residen en la zona mediterránea. La cumbre pretende promover el papel esencial para el fortalecimiento de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) socioeconómico y cultural, la cooperación y el desarrollo de la región como punto central de este espacio digital.

De otro lado, el alcalde volvió a referirse, tras ser preguntado por los periodistas, a la posibilidad de que Málaga organice en el futuro una Exposición Internacional sobre Tecnología. El regidor admitió que como alcalde quiere "lo mejor para la ciudad", aunque matizó que una actuación de este tipo "tiene que ser un proyecto de Estado para ser viable". "Es el propio Gobierno el que tiene que analizarlo y que se consiga su encaje dentro de una fecha razonable", apuntó. A ello añadió que iniciativas como la Cumbre Digital del Mediterráneo "ayudan" a cualquier acción de esa naturaleza.

http://media.grupojoly.com/imagen.php?imagen=//0000177500/0000177894.jpg&an=230

Antonio Banderas, primer ciudadano mediterráneo

2008-09-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Antonio Banderas, primer ciudadano mediterráneo
23.09.08 -

Es uno de los proyectos más ambiciosos de la Cumbre del Espacio Digital Mediterráneo: crear una red social para 150 millones de personas. El proyecto 'Yo soy mediterráneo' conectará desde Málaga a los ciudadanos de este área en una iniciativa pionera que permitirá intercambiar servicios a distintos niveles. «Todos los asistentes a Málaga saldrán de aquí con su identidad digital, y los alcaldes podrán establecerlas en sus respectivas ciudades», explicó Carlos Moreira, presidente de la firma Wisekey, que apuesta por un centro tecnológico para el Mediterráneo en Málaga. El primer ciudadano mediterráneo será Antonio Banderas, que recibirá su 'identidad' el 3 de octubre en Málaga.

http://www.diariosur.es/20080923/sociedad/antonio-banderas-primer-ciudadano-20080923.html

The Summit of Mediterranean Cities and Local Governments

2008-09-18T03:11:00.001-07:00

The Summit of Mediterranean Cities and Local Governments

15.09.2008

Dear friends and partners.

We are delighted to invite you to participate in the inaugural Mediterranean Cities and Local Government Summit taking place on 2 – 3 October 2008, at the Palacio de Congresos de Malaga.

In 2007, WISeKey presented the Euro-African Hub initiative within the framework of Malaga Valley's activities (read article http://www1.wisekey.com/news/080728-MediterraneanDigitalSpace.aspx).

This initiative has now taken on a new dimension, focusing on the objectives laid out by President of the Spanish government, Zapatero at the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) recently organized by President Sarkozy in Paris. Zapatero, invited European and Mediterranean leaders to the Mediterranean Cities Summit in Malaga, with the objective of promoting a truly Mediterranean digital space.

Along the same line, the efforts made by the Malaga City government, Fond de Solidarite Numerique (FSN), WISeKey, OISTE.org, Malaga Valley have culminated in the Mediterranean Cities and Local Governments Summit.

This Summit will advocate the essential role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for strengthening the socio-economic and cultural cooperation and development in the region with the objective making of Malaga the Hub for the Mediterranean Digital Space (EDM).

WISeKey and OISTE.ORG will support the government of Malaga become the new Euro-Mediterranean Hub (EDM), with the aim of optimizing economic-social-cultural relations between Europe and the Mediterranean Countries. This will be accomplished by using the infrastructure of the Technology Park of Malaga (PTA) and Malaga Valley and its unique geopolitical location. The EDM aims to be financed by private sector, the European Union (EU) and the Spanish government.

The Hub will become both a new generation-platform for optimizing commercial, technological and cultural links between the European Union and Africa, and also meeting-point and a place for research and study. The Hub is a natural step following the significant investments already deployed to convert Malaga into a leader of Euro-Mediterranean initiatives and become an incubator service repository for cities that do not yet have the means and skills to launch full applications establishing a local hybrid (installed in the city of reference).

Regional Governments, Municipalities and leading technological companies will have the opportunity to discuss and build together the EDM consisting of a suite of online services that Mediterranean cities represented by their mayors will be able to customize and integrate into their current government solutions with a single entry point – the "I am Mediterranean" citizen identity”, providing high-level services to citizens by using Malaga and its PTA (as a regional HUB) via a Citizen Service Platform.

We welcome to Malaga, leaders from the public and private sector that are eager to contribute to the development of the objectives of the EDM and become essential actors of the Mediterranean co-operation and the creation of a truly Mediterranean digital space.

Today, European Union leaders (France, Spain, Switzerland, and Bulgaria) and Majors from most Mediterranean cities (Malaga, Barcelona, Lyon, Geneva, Cairo, Genoa, Paris, Tanger, Tunes, Istanbul) and many others have already confirmed their presence to the Malaga event.

Please join us to make of this Summit the event of the Mediterranean region.

I hope that this proposal is of interest to you and look forward to hearing from you.

With warm regards,

Carlos Moreira
CEO & Founder
WISeKey SA

For information on how to participate at this event please send an email to Rosa Delgado at rdelgado@wisekey.com

Speakers at the Málaga Summit

Mr. Alain Madelin
Presidente del Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital.

Mr. Philippe Douste-Blazy
Secretario General Adjunto de la ONU,
Consejero especial del Secretario General, encargado de los recursos financieros innovadores.

Mr. Jean Pouly
Director Agencia Mundial de Solidaridad Digital.

Mr. Rolf H. Weber.
Universidad de Zurich.

Mr Houlin Zhao,
ITU Deputy-Secretary General

Mr. Carlos Moreira
Miembro Fundador del Málaga Valley

Mr. Francisco Salas Márquez.
Concejal Delegado Nuevas Tecnologías.
Ayuntamiento de Málaga.

Mr. Pierre Maudet.
Consejero Administrativo. Ayuntamiento de Ginebra.

Mr. Gilles Berhault.
Presidente de ACIDD

Mr. Ismail Serageldin.
Director de la Biblioteca de Alejandría.

Lanzamiento del espacio digital mediterráneo with the presence of :

Ciudad de Barcelona.
Mr. Jordi Hereu i Boher. Alcalde de Barcelona.

Ciudad de El Cairo
Mr. Abdel-Azim Monsi Wasir Abdallah. Gobernador de El Cairo

Ciudad de Estambul.
Mr. Kadir Topbas. Alcalde de Estambul.

Ciudad de Génova.
Mrs. Marta Vincenzi. Alcaldesa de Génova.

Ciudad de Lyón.
Mr. Gerard Colomb. Alcalde de Lyón, Presidente Eurocities.

Ciudad de Málaga.
Mr. Francisco de la Torre Prados, Alcalde de Málaga.

Ciudad de París.
Mr. Bertrand Delanoë. Alcalde de París. Presidente de CGLU.

Ciudad de Tánger.
Mr. Dahman Derhem. Alcalde de Tánger

Ciudad de Túnez.
Mr. Abbés Mohsen. Alcalde de Túnez, Presidente de la Federación Nacional de Ciudades Tunecinas.

I Am Mediterranean

2008-09-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

I'M Mediterranean project - LAUNCHING CEREMONY

Antonio Banderas, the Mayor of Malaga and Carlos Moreira, in the presence of all Mayors of Mediterranean Cities present at the Summit, will activate with their Smartcards of the "I am Mediterranean" Social Network, allowing millions of people from both sides of the Mediterranean sea to start interchanging information and services among them via the EDM.

http:// www.digitalmediterraneo.com
http://fsd.malaga.eu/opencms/opencms/fsd/in/default.html

Microsoft introduces "Zermatt," a new set of class libraries for the .NET Framework that simplifies identity management.

2008-08-15T05:54:00.001-07:00

A .NET Identity for Developers
Microsoft introduces "Zermatt," a new set of class libraries for the .NET Framework that simplifies identity management.

http://reddevnews.com/news/devnews/print.aspx?editorialsid=1102

by John K. Waters
August 2008

Microsoft has added a new set of class libraries to the .NET Framework that promises to simplify the way developers address identity management.

The latest tooling is intended to reduce .NET developers' needs to build custom identity plumbing into every new enterprise Web application and Web service. Code-named "Zermatt," Microsoft says the classes introduce a new dev model that factors the authentication and authorization piece out of connected apps.

ZermattZermatt is the latest pillar in Microsoft's identity-management framework, which also includes Windows CardSpace. The latter, a key component of .NET Framework 3.5, lets individuals manage their identities on the Web and across the enterprise. Microsoft released Zermatt -- which is code-named after the Swiss city near the Matterhorn -- for public beta last month.

Developers can use these class libriaries to implement "claims-based identity" in ASP.NET applications and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) environments. Zermatt can be used in any Web app or Web service that uses .NET Framework 3.5, and can also be used for cross-platform-Java, for example -- claims-aware apps that are based on standard Web services.

Claims-Based Applications
At the heart of Zermatt is the claims-based programming model, says Keith Brown, author of the official Microsoft white paper on Zermatt, which can be found here. Claims, in the context of Zermatt, are pieces of information about the user that the issuer of that information asserts are valid.

In a claims-aware application, the user presents their identity to the application as a set of claims issued by an external identity system. This external system is configured to give the application everything it needs to know about the user with each request made, along with cryptographic assurance that the ID data comes from a trusted source, says Brown, who is a developer and consultant with Pluralsight LLC, a training provider specializing in Microsoft .NET technologies.

The Zermatt-built, claims-based solutions free a developer from the need to connect to any particular enterprise directory to look up user ID details, Brown explains. Instead, the user requests arrive with all the ID details the application needs to do its job.

"Most developers are not security experts," Brown says. "And generally speaking, they don't like being given the job of authenticating, authorizing and personalizing experiences for users."

Along with the claims model, the Zermatt framework comes with a set of APIs for sorting out identity claims. It also provides developers with a consistent programming experience, Microsoft says, whether they choose to build their apps in ASP.NET or in WCF environments.

Brown gives Microsoft credit for its use of standard protocols in the framework: WS-Federation, WS-Trust and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).

"Zermatt tries to provide the claims-based programming model," Brown says. It determines how to program a claim by providing an interface that extends existing interfaces that ASP.NET programmers already know about, such as IIdentity and IPrincipal, Brown adds.

Carlos Moreira: «Málaga debe ser una referencia tecnológica en el Mediterráneo»

2008-08-12T02:28:00.000-07:00

VIVIR VERANO. TECNOLOGÍA
Carlos Moreira: «Málaga debe ser una referencia tecnológica en el Mediterráneo»
Hace algunos años abandonó España en busca de fortuna en el corazón de Europa. En Suiza creó Wisekey, la empresa elegida por Microsoft para encriptar sus datos. Ahora ha puesto sus ojos en la ciudad

TEXTO: A. J. LÓPEZ
Vota 1 votoOpina Ver comentarios (0) Imprimir Enviar Rectificar
Cerrar Envía la noticia
Rellena los siguientes campos para enviar esta información a otras personas.

EMPRENDEDOR. El andaluz Carlos Moreira ha creado una empresa líder en el mercado mundial de la seguridad en Internet. / F. G. ARCHIVOPARECE la síntesis viviente de la cordialidad andaluza, la ambición norteamericana y la exquisitez suiza. Carlos Moreira (La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz, 1958) creó en 1999 Wisekey, una empresa de seguridad informática que le ha llevado al Olimpo tecnológico. Ha trabajado para la ONU en varios proyectos, Microsoft aplica su sistema en la encriptación de datos, Hombre del Año en Suiza el pasado 2007 y, ahora, a través del Club Málaga Valley, prepara un proyecto en la ciudad.

¿Me presenta, de manera informal, a Wisekey?

Wisekey es una empresa mundial de seguridad en Internet que yo creé en el año 99 y que está especializada en dar la seguridad necesaria a Internet para que podamos hacer transacciones más serias de las que normalmente se hacen. Todo el tema de pagos, enviar dinero, trámites del ciudadano con el Gobierno o con el banco o temas de salud, todas estas interacciones se hacen con tecnología que Wisekey pone a disposición. Nosotros somos la contrapartida europea de lo que Verising es en Estados Unidos.

¿Cómo convencería a un escéptico de que la Red es segura para mover su dinero o sus datos?

La mejor forma de convencerlo es hacer con ellos todo el proceso de criptaje, porque el problema que hay en la seguridad es que las instituciones públicas y privadas compran 'paquetes' donde ha están embalados procesos que no controlan; sin embargo, en Wisekey los llevamos hasta el nivel cero del proceso, le damos al cliente total control sobre su infraestructura y creamos juntos los niveles de seguridad que ellos crean necesarios.

Una de las empresas que maneja más datos en Internet es Google. ¿Hasta qué punto es bueno que una sola compañía controle tanta información de los usuarios?

No es nada bueno que una sola empresa controle tantos datos. De hecho, en un artículo digo que Google sabe demasiado de nosotros y por supuesto que eso no es bueno. De hecho, Wisekey es el antídoto contra Google, porque hoy en día el proceso al que se está llegando es que los perfiles de los usuarios que Google obtiene a través de los motores de búsqueda cada vez están más afinados. Google está sacando cada vez más información y en ese perfil usted está siendo vendido a las empresas publicitarias sin su consentimiento. En el modelo de Wisekey la identidad de la persona está encriptada y el anonimato está garantizado y ella decide si quiere o no recibir publicidad.

Repite a menudo que en el futuro el poder estará en las ciudades y no en los países, ¿qué requisitos deben tener las urbes que aspiren a ese protagonismo?

Las ciudades se están convirtiendo en multinacionales y el alcalde es el CIO (primer ejecutivo) de esta empresa. Las ciudades empiezan a competir entre ellas porque quieren captar las élites culturales y tecnológicas para que su patrimonio no sea solamente cultural o turístico o infraestructural sino también un patrimonio del conocimiento. En este proceso de creación de valor la ciudad se constituye como un ecosistema; por ejemplo, Ginebra es una ciudad con un ecosistema de bancos y de organismos internacionales que han favorecido la aparición de empresas como Wisekey, en otras ciudades como Málaga, con el PTA y la dinámica empresarial, van a surgir empresas que van a estar condicionadas a esta ciudad y estas ciudades van a intercambiar información y servicios y van a crear nuevos nodos, como ocurre en Internet, que van a permitir la creación de valores nuevos. En esa dinámica de creación de valor, la ciudad se posiciona mejor que el país. Y luego está la responsabilidad social de la ciudad en relación con las ciudades más pobres. Es el modelo que queremos desarrollar en Málaga dentro de este 'hub' del Mediterráneo para que Málaga pueda a través de su posicionamiento sociopolíticos y geográfico dar su apoyo a otras regiones de la cuenca mediterránea para que tengan también acceso al conocimiento. Málaga debe ser una referencia tecnológica en el Mediterráneo. Que en los próximos diez o quince años, que la gente cuando piense en Málaga piense en una ciudad moderna que invierte en el conocimiento.

Tradición portuaria

¿En qué consistiría en proyecto de Wisekey en Málaga?

El papel sería el que Málaga tiene una tradición de puerto histórica, de entrada al mercado con África y en ese sentido el papel sigue siendo igual, sólo que hoy los puertos son tecnológicos. En Málaga estamos desarrollado dos iniciativas, una es la de traernos un 'eurohub', un 'hub' es el servidor de varios terminales que en Málaga estará la infraestructura pesada con el PTA que no existe en otras ciudades del Mediterráneo, sobre todo a las que vamos a tratar de ayudar. Málaga hará un servicio de servidores. Los servicios pesados a los componentes de estas ciudad van a tener un componente local que va a ser ligera, instalada en esas ciudades, y un componente regional que necesita una inversión más pesada y que va a estar a disposición de Málaga. Entonces Málaga va a proponer servicios a esas ciudades para que las administraciones de esas ciudades puedan usar servicios tecnológicos sin necesidad de hacer inversiones masivas en una primera fase.

¿Y después de esta primera fase?

Luego, una vez que estas ciudades empiecen a avanzar va a convertirse en los 'hubs' de sus propias regiones. El desarrollo se hará a través de un modelo regional. Málaga será el modelo de desarrollo digital de las ciudades.

¿Y qué papel ha jugado el Club Málaga Valley?

El Club Málaga Valley ha creado un proceso que permite a personas de regiones diferentes encontrar un punto común donde haya una fusión de conocimiento y eso implica que personas como yo, que cuando fui invitado al Málaga Valley no tenía una idea concreta de cómo ayudar a Málaga, ven que Málaga tenía muchísimas cosas que yo desconocía y que permitían lanzar proyectos como éste. El acierto que ha tenido el Málaga Valley es que en lugar de hacerlo puramente tecnológico, también hay arquitectos, artistas, personas que vienen de áreas que podrían no tener una interacción con la tecnología, pero que si se aplican a un concepto como el entorno digital del Mediterráneo tiene todo su valor, porque ellos traen sus ideas y se adaptan al entorno tecnológico.

2008-07-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

To view this content in Flash, you must have version 8 or greater and Javascript must be enabled.

To download the last Flash player click here

Adoptez cette vidéo

Myscreen and WISeKey Partner to Offer Secure Mobile Advertising and Transaction Platform

2008-07-30T10:05:00.001-07:00

Myscreen and WISeKey Partner to Offer Secure Mobile Advertising and Transaction Platform
Wednesday July 30, 2:00 am ET

TORONTO, Canada and GENEVA, Switzerland, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- WISeKey and MyScreen today announced their partnership on integrating WISeKey electronic identity technologies with MyScreen's unique patent-pending mobile advertising technology platform, defining a new standard in the delivery of high-quality, personalized and secure advertisements, offers and transaction capability to mobile phones.

MyScreen subscribers can use this joint MyScreen-WISeKey privacy enhancing solution to securely opt-in to receive advertisements, credits, coupons and transaction offers.

"Our collaboration with WISeKey will result in a range of exciting and innovative technologies that protect the identity and security of our subscribers, while providing them with unique benefits and offers", said Raghu Kilambi, Chief Financial Officer and Director of MyScreen.

The WISeKey solution uses digital identities to enhance access security, secure communications, and enable trusted transactions, making them safer, more accessible, and friendly for end users. The digital certified identities reduce identity fraud and offer the same ease and security in the mobile world as in the physical world.

"This collaboration with MyScreen has the potential to become a de-facto standard for secure mobile advertising and mobile transactions", said Carlos Moreira, Chairman and CEO of WISeKey.

OISTE et WISeKey lancent un HUB à Malaga pour l'Espace numérique méditerranéen

2008-07-29T01:53:00.000-07:00

28/07/2008 06:00 par PR NewsWire
GENÈVE, July 28 En 2007, WISeKey a présenté un projet pour la création d'un Hub euro-africain dans le cadre des activités du Malaga Valley (http://www1.wisekey.com/news/071022MalagaHub.aspx). Celui-ci acquiert aujourd'hui une nouvelle

GENÈVE, July 28 En 2007, WISeKey a présenté un projet pour la création d'un Hub euro-africain dans le cadre des activités du Malaga Valley (http://www1.wisekey.com/news/071022MalagaHub.aspx). Celui-ci acquiert aujourd'hui une nouvelle dimension et se concentre sur les objectifs énoncés par le Président Zapatero lors de l'Union pour la Méditerranée (UPM), organisée récemment à Paris par M. Sarkozy.

Ce projet a été soumis à des organisations de prestige telles que le CERN, l'UE, le FEM, l'Union internationale des télécommunications et le Fonds mondial de solidarité numérique (FSN). Parallèlement, les efforts entrepris par le maire de Malaga, WISeKey, OISTE.org et le Malaga Valley ont abouti au Sommet des villes et des gouvernements locaux de la Méditerranée proposé par la mairie et le FSN. Le Sommet se tiendra à Malaga les 2 et 3 octobre 2008.

À Paris, le Président du gouvernement espagnol a plaidé pour le renforcement de la coopération socioéconomique et culturelle de la région et a souligné le rôle fondamental des nouvelles technologies de l'information. M. Zapatero a invité les leaders européens et méditerranéens au Sommet des villes méditerranéennes de Malaga afin de promouvoir un véritable espace numérique méditerranéen.

Nous sommes fiers de contribuer à cette initiative ambitieuse dont le but est que Malaga devienne une référence européenne dans le domaine des nouvelles technologies et de la société de l'information. Ce Sommet constituera un nouveau pas vers la coopération multilatérale méditerranéenne en octobre prochain , a souligné Francisco de la Torre, maire de Malaga.

Ce projet permettra d'améliorer et d'encourager les mécanismes innovateurs de financement en matière de solidarité numérique dans l'espace méditerranéen , a ajouté Alain Clerc, secrétaire général du FSN.

Il s'agit d'une excellente initiative pour faire de Malaga la capitale technologique de la Méditerranée , a renchéri Javier Cremades, président du club Malaga Valley.

La coopération entre la mairie, Malaga Valley, le FSN, le parc technologique d'Andalousie, les villes méditerranéennes et le gouvernement espagnol représente une chance sans précédent pour faire de Malaga le Hub de l'EDM , a affirmé Carlos Moreira, président fondateur et PDG de WISeKey.

Contact :
Daniel Ybarra
Tél. : +41-22-594-30-00
E-Mail : dybarra@wisekey.com

Carlos Moreira, el español que creó Wisekey

2008-07-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

EMPRESAS
Carlos Moreira, el español que creó Wisekey
La empresa de seguridad digital suiza, dirigida por el español Carlos Moreira, rompe el dominio de Estados Unidos en las transacciones electrónicas - Wisekey añade contenidos al DNI electrónico
MIQUEL ALBEROLA

Hombre del Año 2007 para L'Agefi, la publicación financiera y tecnológica suiza, Carlos Moreira (La Línea de la Concepción, 1958), ha hecho de Wisekey una de las empresas de seguridad digital más potentes del mundo. La suya es la historia de un español que emigró y que regresa.

Hombre del Año 2007 para L'Agefi, la publicación financiera y tecnológica suiza, Carlos Moreira (La Línea de la Concepción, 1958), ha hecho de Wisekey una de las empresas de seguridad digital más potentes del mundo. La suya es la historia de un español que emigró y que regresa. Con sangre portuguesa, andaluza y catalana, se fue a Suiza para estudiar hostelería en Lausana, pero al acabar Ciencias Económicas entró en la ONU y fue durante años su director de tecnología.

Moreira creó en 1999 Wisekey (World Internet Security Key, cuyo acrónimo significa también 'llave de sabiduría'), una empresa tecnológica y geopolítica para que los países controlasen su infraestructura de seguridad. Hasta los años noventa, el dominio de este sistema de seguridad era exclusivamente norteamericano y las raíces criptográficas utilizadas para emitir llaves estaban asimismo controladas por grandes empresas norteamericanas. Su trabajo en la ONU había sido ayudar a los países a no tener demasiada dependencia de esa tecnología que se iba a convertir en la clave de todas las transacciones por Internet (votar, pagar impuestos, hacer transferencias financieras...).

Moreira pensaba que esa tecnología tenía que democratizarse para dar a los países la capacidad de gestionar lo que les correspondía sin depender de esas empresas norteamericanas, y el tiempo le dio la razón en la medida que los proyectos de documento de identidad nacional, los de pasaporte biométrico, los de control de accesos dependen de este modelo de raíces.

Neutralidad asegurada

Wisekey, implantada en una ciudad como Ginebra, que ya gestionaba bien el secreto bancario, ha extrapolado esos mismos valores a Internet, según Moreira. "Le estamos dando una neutralidad que Internet no tenía hasta ahora a través de Wisekey", apunta.

Apenas tres meses después del lanzamiento del proyecto, Wisekey ya era empresa que le daba el sistema de certificación al Organismo Internacional de Telecomunicaciones, que es el organismo de estandarización de la identificación y el que controla los sistemas de telefonía GSM, UMTS o 3G.

En 2000 la empresa inició un proyecto pionero de votaciones electrónicas para distintos gobiernos y para la Corte Internacional de Justicia. "Mi idea era demostrar que la tecnología de Wisekey era lo suficientemente robusta para hacer de Internet un medio viable y seguro", afirma.

En 2003, Microsoft seleccionó Wisekey como la empresa más innovadora en Europa. Moreira creó una solución Wisekey en Windows, que en el fondo daba a Microsoft la seguridad y la confianza que los usuarios no le querían dar porque se cayó con el proyecto Password.net. "Quizá confías en la seguridad que Microsoft te pueda dar como sistema de información, pero no necesariamente la confianza para guardar tus llaves criptográficas y tus identidades", explica.

Moreira detectó ahí que el mercado de la seguridad y el de la confianza eran diferentes, pero había muy pocas empresas en el ámbito de la confianza electrónica. Entonces especializó Wisekey en eso.

Junto a Microsoft ha realizado una gran carrera seleccionada como el lead banner de identificación digital. Su tecnología se encuentra tanto en el sistema operativo Vista como en el próximo Windows. Microsoft, instalado en el 98% de los servidores del mundo, le aportó la masificación de la tecnología. "La activación de Wisekey se hace muy rápidamente a través de Internet, y si tienes una plataforma Windows puedes empezar a emitir identidades sin necesidad de añadir más software", matiza.

Wisekey añade contenidos al DNI electrónico que van más allá de las transacciones administrativas, por lo que desarrolló un sistema federador de identidades para agrupar en una sola tarjeta distintas tareas, un modelo que ha permitido a Wisekey colocarse como empresa global de identificación. En cada país se controla las bases de datos locales, en vez de crear una base de datos de millones de personas en Suiza para gestionar identidades.

"Nosotros creamos raíces nacionales que ponen sus identidades en el mercado a través de los acuerdos con los gobiernos, pero si ese país intenta intercambiar pasa por Wisekey, que es una especie de GSM que a través del roaming te permite salir de un país a otro". La primera fase de la empresa fue gubernamental sobre todo, gobiernos que querían crear raíces criptográficas. Las participaciones de los gobiernos han sido a tres niveles. En el estándar X509, todos los gobiernos del mundo son usuarios de Wisekey. En la fase tecnológica, cuando el gobierno posee el estándar, son 12 países los clientes.

Moreira contrató en España a Víctor Canivell, el director general de Safelayer, empresa que ha hecho el DNI electrónico con Indra. La firma busca acuerdos con otras compañías que ya tengan penetración en el mercado en cada país, como Brasilinvest.

En España, empezó en Bilbao a través de un grupo metalúrgico que estaba diversificando su inversión. Además, está en conversaciones con la empresa Simauria, dirigida por David Iribas, el responsable de la red física y el área de software libre de la Campus Party, para introducirse en Valencia, ciudad que considera idónea para ser el hub tecnológico del Mediterráneo.

La identidad es personal

En España afronta algunos proyectos interesantes como en Cataluña, con la certificación del Colegio de Médicos de Girona y el Portal del Ciudadano de Bilbao y Vizcaya, así como contactos con Telefónica para la identidad de móviles.

Sin embargo, Moreira considera que el potencial de Wisekey no está en que los gobiernos adopten su sistema, sino en el uso generalizado de una identidad digital. El modelo de Wisekey es que "la identidad de la persona es controlada por la persona. Ni siquiera por el gobierno, que tiene un acceso político a la identidad, pero la identidad de una persona es un derecho humano. Primero yo soy Carlos y luego soy español, suizo o francés, y no es mi gobierno el que debe controlar el hecho de que yo sea Carlos", afirma. A su juicio, Wisekey está haciendo en la identidad lo que Google hizo en la búsqueda: "Estamos revolucionando el control de la identidad. Eso revoluciona todo el proceso y ahí está el potencial de creación".

El candado del Alinghi
Para entrar en los mercados de masificación, Wisekey apunta hacia la telefonía móvil y el deporte como vectores de crecimiento para el futuro.

En ese sentido, llegó a un acuerdo con el suizo Ernesto Bertarelli para ocuparse de la seguridad del Alinghi durante la celebración de la Copa del América en Valencia.

El reto cubrió todos los frentes de Wisekey: identificación para acceder a la base, cifrar los mensajes para que el otro desafío no te los lea, firmar digitalmente los planos de las velas y de los barcos, comunicación entre la base y la fábrica...

"Todo ese ecosistema era muy favorable para mostrar el potencial y la diversificación de la tecnología Wisekey y decidimos entrar como patrocinadores de una forma muy representativa a través de la tarjeta Alinghi, con la que puedes entrar en el sitio web de Alinghi y haces una transacción electrónica a un área cifrada en la base o en la Escuela Politécnica de Lausana. Así, los miembros de la sociedad Alinghi tienen un servicio de alta calidad y seguridad a través de un Internet abierto", explica Moreira.

The Mediterranean economy Club Med

2008-07-24T13:28:00.001-07:00

The Mediterranean economy
Club Med

Jul 10th 2008
From The Economist print edition
The Mediterranean, north and south, is forming a single economic unit: Europe should make it a powerful one

UNDER imperial Rome, the roads in cold, wet Britannia were no straighter than those in sweltering north Africa. The same sestertius could buy a lampful of oil. Across the southern Mediterranean and northern Europe alike, Latin was the lingua franca—1,500 years before anyone had coined the term. Under the Treaty of Rome, however, the European Union has behaved as if the Med were a frontier, rather than an organising principle. As often as not, it has turned its back on the crescent that stretches from Morocco to Turkey, as a cradle of instability and terrorism. Sometimes the southern Med’s main export has seemed to be boatloads of illegal immigrants.

This weekend at a summit in Paris France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, wants to heal the rift. Some 40 heads of state and government from the EU and the southern and eastern Mediterranean will meet to create a new club, called the Union for the Mediterranean. Despite Mr Sarkozy’s bombast, Club Med will have a modest start: the French propose a secretariat, which they will jointly head with Egypt, and money to help finance ventures on solar energy, anti-terrorism and the inevitable cultural exchanges.

Beyond the platitudes and projects lies the germ of a brilliant idea. Something is stirring around the Med as globalisation takes root. Growth and investment have leapt. There is a new openness to trade and foreign money. The members of Club Med no longer need to glower across the table at each other. Instead, there is the prospect of the youth and vigour of the southern Mediterranean combining with a rich, ageing north. Despite the recent surge, the southern Med still takes less than 10% of all the FDI from the EU. This offers a tantalising prospect—though one reason why Club Med matters is that it is fraught with dangers.
Dido’s cement

The EU has looked south before, in an initiative called the Barcelona Process, which dates back 13 years and failed to live up to its promises. Hopes are higher today, however, because the politicians gathering in Paris are following a path that is increasingly well trodden by business (see article). FDI in the countries along the Mediterranean shore, from Morocco to Turkey, has grown six times since the turn of the century, to $59 billion in 2006—ahead of Latin America’s Mercosur ($25 billion) and not far short of China ($69 billion). At the same time, the growth in the region’s GDP is running at 4.4% a year—slow by China’s standards, admittedly, but it has been accelerating as Europe has slowed.

Although Turkey, Israel and Egypt still dominate, most of the region has shared in this prosperity. Oil and gas are partly to thank, but investment is spread among financial services, telecoms, retailing and construction. Look at the car factory Renault and Nissan are planning in Morocco. Or the new container port outside Tangiers that will soon be bigger than Long Beach, on America’s west coast. Much of the money comes from Europe, as did the €8.8 billion ($12.9 billion) France’s Lafarge invested in Egyptian cement. But Americans are making aerospace parts; Arabs are spending petrodollars on property and construction; Brazilians are investing in fertilisers and textiles; Indians in IT and pharmaceuticals.

There is strength in such diversity, and there needs to be. The resurgent Med has a lot still to overcome. With exceptions, notably Israel, the region is plagued by poor infrastructure, an ill-educated workforce and unemployment. Unlike eastern Europe, which built trading links under communism, the Med countries barely trade with each other, so they lose the benefits of specialisation. And then there is the politics. The Europeans are right to look askance at the looming crisis of succession in Egypt, beleaguered Israel, unborn Palestine, divided Lebanon, fundamentalist Islam in Morocco, bombs in Algeria, Muammar Qaddafi’s bizarre Libyan autocracy, the risk that the Turkish courts declare the ruling party unconstitutional. That unfinished list is already depressingly long.

The EU is not free of troubles either. Those who favour Turkey’s membership of the EU fear that Club Med is designed to fob it off with second-class citizenship. At first Mr Sarkozy schemed to include only the EU countries with a Mediterranean coast—a ploy to create a French-dominated counterbalance to the apparently German-dominated east. After a vicious row with Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, Mr Sarkozy agreed to include the entire EU. That was right, if only because Germany pays much of the EU’s bills.

Sunday’s summit matters, because it is a step towards healing such wounds—and because it sets the tone. Will the Mediterranean union seize the moment, or will it be strangled by southern politics and European squabbles?
Mare nostrums

The first test is whether Mr Sarkozy is willing to see Club Med as more than a scheme to burnish French glory. If he wants the new union to thrive, he will have to accept that it is for everyone’s benefit, and let business do its work. This means a free-trade area that opens the EU to goods and services from the south—including the farm produce that France is making a fuss over in the world trade talks.

The second is for the EU to use its patronage to boost spending on infrastructure, promote trade in the region and clean up politics. One lesson from eastern Europe is that, with incentives, countries will start to sort themselves out. For the Mediterranean, those incentives should include access to funds and markets. The logic of enlargement is that it could even include the faint possibility of membership of the EU itself (if the union were to admit non-Europeans). But none of that will count for much unless the southern Med chooses prosperity.

The world sometimes writes off Europe as the old continent, well past the vigour of youth and doomed to gentle decline; at the same time it condemns many of the teeming economies of the southern Med as chaotic backwaters. Old and young can make a powerful combination. The creation of the Union for the Mediterranean is hardly the rebirth of imperial Rome, but it may just be the start of something exciting.

OISTE and Malaga Valley Group today signed an agreement to use WISeKey’s Common Global Root and scalable PKI hierarchy to establish a Euro-African Hub

2008-07-16T06:15:00.001-07:00

OISTE and Malaga Valley Group today signed an agreement to use WISeKey’s Common Global Root and scalable PKI hierarchy to establish a Euro-African Hub

OISTE will help the government of Malaga become the new Euro-African Hub, with the aim of optimizing economic-social-cultural relations between Europe and Africa. This will be accomplished using the infrastructure of the Technology Park of Malaga and Malaga Valley and its unique geopolitical location. The project will be financed by the private sector, the European Union (EU) and the Spanish government.

Spain is eager to increase support to its continental neighbour, and the establishment of a Euro-African Hub is a logical and essential step. The Hub will become both a super-platform for optimizing commercial, technological and cultural links between the European Union and Africa, and also meeting-point and a place for research and study. Its location in Malaga is the work of the International Organization for the Security of Electronic Transactions (OISTE), the provincial government and the local business sector. The Hub is a natural step following the significant investments already deployed to convert Malaga into a leader of Euro-African initiatives. The provincial government of Malaga, with the help of Madrid and Brussels, has the firm objective to instantiate this new Hub as one of the major superhighways of Information Technology and Worldwide Communications (ICT).

To make the most of the potential of this project, the signatories intend to transform Malaga with this important technological Hub, which includes Internet technologies, and the new generation of mobile technologies, to provide sustainable electronic solutions, where security barriers and trust related to the use of public networks can be discussed. The identification of requirements for security services and the cost effective and the profitable aspect of this platform will ensure the provision of highly innovative services.

The Euro-African Hub will operate in a first phase from Geneva, in the highly protected buildings of WISeKey. The subsequent transfer to Malaga will take place once the on-site infrastructure is fully operational. This innovative system will combine multiple physical and electronic security systems utilizing PKI solutions within a “zero risk” secure environment, thanks to the extensive use of VPN (private data network) systems.

The global growth of the Internet is leading the world of business in unimaginable directions. Maintaining data privacy and confidentiality is a huge cost for companies, and the greater the geographic scope, the more complex and expensive are its communications.

"This initiative is an evolution of the agreement signed during the TELECOM'99 ITU in Geneva in November 1999, based on a partnership between WISeKey and the ITU to establish certification authorities in developing countries. Thanks to OISTE and WISeKey, 198 member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) understand the need for a global PKI structure under a shared common ROOT as it has been developed for OISTE and operated by WISeKey," said Philippe Doubre, president of OISTE, (http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/e-strategy/ecdc/ra/introduction.html)"

"WISeKey is currently mobilizing the public and private sectors in the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to support the deployment of NETeID, a comprehensive system of electronic payment through Internet-based digital identification. It is hoped that the Hub of Malaga Valley can also join this ambitious project," said Carlos Moreira.

"The creation of a Euro-African Hub will give a clear and effective answer to all cooperation activities between African and European countries. Technology will allow us to build that sort of bridges that will contribute to the development of Africa by bringing knowledge to people, and thus by an initiative leaded also by Civil Society, where the Asociacion de Usuarios de Internet (AUI) is proud of being a protagonist in this project," affirmed Miguel Perez Subias, President of AUI and promoter of the HUB during the Malaga Valley meeting.

Reunión en París para ultimar la Cumbre de Ciudades del Mediterráneo

2008-07-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Reunión en París para ultimar la Cumbre de Ciudades del Mediterráneo

Las gestiones del Club Málaga Valley empiezan a dar sus frutos. El colectivo impulsado por el Ayuntamiento de Málaga ya está trabajando en propuestas que tienen como objetivo atajar la brecha digital, por ejemplo, hacer de Málaga un centro de conexión tecnológica entre Europa y África. Se le denomina 'hub tecnológico', y permitirá aprovechar la posición geoestratégica para establecer en Málaga un nodo o hub de comunicaciones e intercambio de proyectos entre Europa, África e incluso Iberoamérica.

Un paso más será la Cumbre de Málaga de Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo, propuesta por el Ayuntamiento en el seno del Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital y que tendrá lugar el próximo mes de octubre en la capital malagueña.

El alcalde de la ciudad, Francisco de la Torre, viaja hoy a París para participar en una reunión preparatoria de este encuentro que, bajo el lema de 'Una financiación innovadora para el espacio digital mediterráneo', tiene como acercar las ciudades del Mediterráneo al Fondo Mundial de Solidaridad Digital. Se hará con un congreso en el que se pretende conseguir la colaboración de ciudades y empresas a fin de colaborar en la financiación y desarrollo de proyectos que permitan disminuir la brecha digital.

Microsoft Corp. e WISeKey ganham projeto Citizen Services Platform (CSP) de governo eletrônico no valor de EUR 17,4 milhões

2008-07-14T13:16:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Corp. e WISeKey ganham projeto Citizen Services Platform (CSP) de governo eletrônico no valor de EUR 17,4 milhões

BN003644 10 de julho de 2008 22:07 HORALOCAL

GENEBRA e HOUSTON, 10 de julho /PRNewswire/ -- A Microsoft Corp.
e a WISeKey anunciaram hoje que foram escolhidas pelo Governo Regional
de Biscaia para fornecerem uma e-Government Citizen Services Platform
(Plataforma de Serviços para os Cidadãos de Governo Eletrônico)
abrangente. Este projeto de EUR 17,4 milhões inclui uma avançada
federação de identidades que permite o estabelecimento de portais
personalizados dos cidadãos adaptados às necessidades e interesses de
cada cidadão em um ambiente Web 2.0 real.
Segundo o Sr. José Luis Bilbao, representante-geral de Biscaia,
Espanha, "O BiscayTIK permitirá que os nossos cidadãos se beneficiem
de serviços avançados que empurram a nossa região para o século 21 na
vanguarda do desenvolvimento social e econômico, com a ajuda de
parceiras de primeira classe tais como a Microsoft e WISeKey,
totalmente dedicadas em se unir a nós no desenvolvimento do nosso
centro de tecnologia de classe mundial".
"A Microsoft reconheceu há muito tempo a responsabilidade de
proporcionar acesso à tecnologia de várias formas que ajudam as
pessoas a realizar todo o seu potencial", disse Michel Van der Bel,
vice-presidente do Setor Público da Microsoft International. "Estamos
trabalhando estreitamente com parceiras como a WISeKey e governos de
todo o mundo para promovermos as questões de política de tecnologia e
para fornecermos soluções de tecnologia que atendam as necessidades
de TI específicas de governos, educadores e organizações sem fins
lucrativos".
"A longa experiência da WISeKey garantindo serviços de governo
eletrônico e a sua inigualável Trust Platform (Plataforma de
Confiança) e capacidade de portabilidade de identidade são fatores
importantes para a implementação de CSPs em todo o mundo", disse
Carlos Moreira, fundador e CEO da WISeKey. A WISeKey possui um grande
centro de desenvolvimento em Biscaia, recruta experts locais e usará
este local como um centro líder de excelência.
Parte da solução a ser fornecida pela WISeKey é um sistema de
validação semântica de próxima geração que alavanca as
funcionalidades Web 2.0 e as interações Web 3.0.

Artigo completo no http://www.wisekey.com/csp/biscaytik.htm

Microsoft Corp und WISeKey erhalten Zuschlag über 17,4 Mio. EUR E-Government Citizen Services Platform (CSP) Projekt =

2008-07-14T13:13:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Corp und WISeKey erhalten Zuschlag über 17,4 Mio. EUR E-Government Citizen Services Platform (CSP) Projekt

Genf, Schweiz, und Houston, USA (ots) -

Microsoft Corp. und WISeKey ließen heute verlautbaren, dass sie
von der Regionalregierung der spanischen Provinz Bizcaia den
Zuschlag für die Bereitstellung einer umfassenden E-Government
Citizen Services Platform für besseren Bürgerservice erhalten
haben. Das Projekt mit einem Budget von 17,4 Mio. EUR beinhaltet
eine führende hochmoderne Identity Federation (eine Architektur,
durch die Unternehmen und Einrichtungen mit Hilfe von digitalen
Identitäten Informationen untereinander austauschen und sicheren
Zugriff auf die jeweiligen Partnersysteme gewähren), welche die
Errichtung maßgeschneiderter Bürgerportale ermöglicht, die auf die
Bedürfnisse und Interessen jedes Bürgers in einer realen
Web-2.0-Umgebung ausgerichtet sind.

José Luis Bilbao, Generalabgeordneter für die Provinz Bizkaia,
Spanien, dazu: "BiscayTIK wird unsere Bürger in die Lage versetzen,
von führenden, hochmodernen Dienstleistungen zu profitieren, die
unsere Region an vorderster Front der sozialen und ökonomischen
Entwicklung ins 21. Jahrhundert führen. Dabei greifen wir auf die
Unterstützung von erstklassigen Partnern wie Microsoft und WISeKey
zurück, die sich bei der Entwicklung unseres weltweit erstrangigen
Technologiezentrums voll für uns engagieren."

Microsoft hat seit langem die Verantwortung erkannt, Zugriff auf
Technologien in einer Weise zu ermöglichen, die Menschen hilft, ihr
volles Potenzial zu entfalten," erklärte Michel Van der Bel, Vice
President des Bereichs Public Sector von Microsoft International.
"Zusammen mit Partnern wie WISeKey arbeiten wir eng mit Behörden
weltweit an der Lösung technologiestrategischer Probleme zusammen
und stellen technische Lösungen bereit, die die IT-Bedürfnisse von
Behörden, Bildungseinrichtungen und gemeinnützigen Einrichtungen
erfüllen.

"WISeKeys langzeitige Erfahrung bei der Bereitstellung von E-
Government-Diensten und der einzigartigen Trust Platform und ID-
Portability-Kapazitäten des Unternehmens sind eine wichtige
Voraussetzung für die Einführung der CSP rund um den Globus," so
Carlos Moreira, Gründer und CEO von WISeKey. WISeKey verfügt über
ein großes Entwicklungszentrum in Bizkaia, stellt lokale Experten
ein und nutzt diesen Standort als ein führendes Kompetenzzentrum.

Im Rahmen der von WISeKey bereitzustellenden Lösung ist ein
semantisches Validierungssystem einer neuen Generation vorgesehen,
das Web-2.0-Funktionen und Web-3.0-Interaktionen einsetzt.

Microsoft Corp et WISeKey remportent un projet de plate-forme de services d'administration en ligne destinés aux citoyens d'une valeur de 17,4 million

2008-07-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Corp et WISeKey remportent un projet de plate-forme de services d'administration en ligne destinés aux citoyens d'une valeur de 17,4 million
lun 14 jui, 7h35

GENEVE et HOUSTON, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT - actualité) et WISeKey ont annoncé aujourd'hui qu'ils ont été retenus par le gouvernement régional de Biscaye pour la fourniture d'une plate-forme complète de services d'administration en ligne destinés aux citoyens. Ce projet d'une valeur de 17,4 millions d'euros prévoit un système de pointe de gestion et de fédération des identités qui permettra la création de portails adaptés aux besoins et aux intérêts de chaque citoyen dans un environnement réel Web 2.0.
Selon José Luis Bilbao, député général de Biscaye, Espagne, <>.

Microsoft a longtemps reconnu la nécessité de permettre aux citoyens d'accéder aux technologies de façon à ce qu'ils puissent exploiter pleinement leur potentiel>>, a déclaré Michel Van der Bel, vice-président du secteur public chez Microsoft International. <>

<>, a déclaré Carlos Moreira, fondateur et PDG de WISeKey. WISeKey dispose d'un important centre de développement à Biscaye, pour lequel il recrute des spécialistes locaux, et utilise cet endroit comme centre d'excellence de pointe.

La solution fournie par WISeKey consistera en partie en un système de validation sémantique de nouvelle génération qui exploitera les fonctionnalités Web 2.0 et les interactions Web 3.0.

L'article peut être consulté dans son intégralité sur le site: http://www.wisekey.com/csp/biscaytik.htm

Zapatero presenta oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede de la Unión por el Mediterráneo

2008-07-14T07:28:00.001-07:00

Zapatero presenta oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede de la Unión por el Mediterráneo

Foto: Reuters Ampliar
Noticias relacionadas
Cumbre.- Zapatero presenta oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede de la Unión por el Mediterráneo
Zapatero presenta oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede de la Unión por el Mediterráneo
Crónica Cumbre.- La Unión por el Mediterráneo nace con la esperanza de lograr un espacio de paz en O. Próximo
Zapatero se entrevistará París con Olmert, Mubarak, El Asad y Kaczynski al margen de la cumbre euromediterránea
Zapatero se entrevista hoy en París con Olmert, Mubarak, El Asad y Kaczynski con motivo de la Cumbre euromediterránea
Selección realizada automáticamente por Colbenson

PARIS, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, presentó oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede para albergar el secretariado de la Unión por el Mediterráneo. Lo hizo brevemente al término de su discurso ante los 43 jefes de Estado y de Gobierno que participaron en la conferencia de París, en el que destacó que "si desde un país se quiere que la iniciativa de Unión por el Mediterráneo sea un éxito es España".

Zapatero subrayó que "la paz es el objetivo" y que "se requiere más valentía para hacer la paz que para hacer la guerra". "Es la asignatura política en el Mediterráneo. Israel tiene derecho a vivir en paz y seguridad y Palestina también y hay que incorporar a Siria y Líbano", agregó en un discurso a puerta cerrada que fue difundido por Moncloa.

El presidente del Gobierno aseguró que la Unión por el Mediterráneo supone dar un "nuevo impulso" al Proceso de Barcelona, cuyo "mayor patrimonio" acumulado desde que se creó en 1995 es el "esfuerzo común de entendimiento por encima de todas las dificultades objetivas que existen en la región", especialmente las derivadas del conflicto árabe-israelí.

Por ello, celebró la iniciativa de la Unión por el Mediterráneo lanzada por el presidente francés, Nicolas Sarkozy, y respaldó que se base en proyectos concretos como la descontaminación del mar, el plan solar mediterráneo o la Iniciativa de Desarrollo Empresarial lanzada por España e Italia.

Pero dijo que es la educación la "piedra angular" sobre la que deben sustentarse el resto de proyectos y destacó que el objetivo debe ser mejorar el acceso, asegurar la finalización de los estudios por parte de los jóvenes del Mediterráneo y reforzar la formación profesional para ajustarla a las necesidades del mercado laboral.

Zapatero resaltó que, pese a los avances en la escolarización primaria universal durante los últimos años, las tasas de analfabetismo todavía rozan el 30%-40% de la población adulta en varios países.

"Invertir en capital humano es invertir en el futuro de nuestras sociedades, en su desarrollo económico, político y social. Es invertir en la capacidad productiva de nuestras economías y en la mejora de la productividad, en la igualdad de oportunidades entre mujeres y hombres, en el respeto a los derechos humanos y en la consolidación de la democracia", indicó el presidente del Gobierno.

También pidió que se hagan esfuerzos para favorecer la plena incorporación de las niñas y jóvenes al sistema educativo, desde primaria hasta la educación superior, ya que "la promoción de la mujer es uno de los mayores potenciales que tiene cualquier sociedad para fomentar su desarrollo económico y modernización social".

Finalmente, abogó por reforzar la cooperación en el ámbito cultural fomentando el respeto y el reconocimiento de las distintas creencias, tradiciones y costumbres. En este contexto, destacó el papel fundamental de las nuevas tecnologías e invitó a los líderes euromediterráneos a la cumbre de Ciudades y Gobiernos Locales del Mediterráneo que se celebrará en Málaga los días 2 y 3 de octubre "con el objetivo de impulsar un verdadero espacio digital mediterráneo".

Zapatero presenta oficialmente la candidatura de Barcelona como sede de la Unión por el Mediterráneo

2008-07-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

WISeKey, Microsoft et la Fondation OISTE travaillent en collaboration à la réduction de la nouvelle fracture d'identification numérique en créant 20 m

2008-07-12T06:09:00.001-07:00

WISeKey, Microsoft et la Fondation OISTE travaillent en collaboration à la réduction de la nouvelle fracture d'identification numérique en créant 20 millions d'identités numériques pour le SMSI

Dans le cadre de son soutien au Sommet mondial sur la société de l'information (SMSI) et en collaboration avec Microsoft et la Fondation OISTE, WISeKey va fournir une infrastructure d'identification numérique conçue pour un réseau de 20 000 autorités de certification. Chacune de ces autorités de certification réparties dans 189 pays pourra distribuer un minimum de 1 000 identités numériques et chacune de ces identités sera conforme au WISeKey-OISTE Trust Model ou modèle de confiance WISeKey-OISTE, ce qui, en fait, crée une communauté internationale d'identité numérique de 20 millions d'utilisateurs.

Parmi les organisations inscrites au SMSI, WISeKey sélectionnera celles qui pourront participer à ce programme et leur fournira une boîte noire CertifyID avec laquelle elles pourront attribuer des identités numériques (eID) à leurs clients et membres participant au SMSI.

En ce sens, M. Carlos Moreira, président de WISeKey déclare : << L'objectif de l'identité numérique est de restaurer l'aisance et la sécurité qu'avaient autrefois les transactions humaines quand les affaires se concluaient face à face. Dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, constitué de réseaux, nous traitons souvent des affaires délicates et des transactions personnelles à de longues distances sans nous rencontrer ni même nous parler. Des identités numériques sont nécessaires pour que, dans le monde entier, nous puissions assurer la participation de tous et exclure les exclusions. >>

Jan Muehlfeit, vice-président du secteur public pour l'Europe, le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique de Microsoft Corporation d'ajouter : << La sécurité de l'information et l'extension des flux de travail afin d'y inclure les citoyens et les entreprises sont des composantes clés de << l'e-gouvernement >>. Nous faisons confiance à des partenaires tels que WISeKey pour assurer que des solutions basées sur les technologies de Microsoft mettent en valeur les besoins uniques du secteur public. >>

M. Nitin Desai, conseiller spécial du Secrétaire général des Nations-Unies pour le SMSI, quant à lui, affirme : << Le projet d'identification numérique esquissé par la Fondation OISTE sur la base des technologies de WISeKey permettra aux gouvernements qui participent au SMSI de comprendre qu'en matière d'identification numérique, il s'agit non seulement de dispositifs technologiques et électroniques, mais aussi d'utiliser des technologies de sécurité, de législation, d'informations et de communications pour améliorer la livraison, la qualité et l'accessibilité de services publics conçus pour répondre aux besoins des citoyens et des consommateurs. Cela impliquera des manières nouvelles et radicalement différentes d'agir, ainsi qu'une accélération du processus de réduction de la fracture numérique. >>

M. Carlo Lamprecht, Conseiller d'État, Ministre de l'Économie, du Travail et des Affaires étrangères, État de Genève en Suisse, ajoute : << Le travail accompli par WISeKey et ses partenaires en matière d'identification numérique aura des implications profondes sur le fonctionnement d'Internet à l'avenir. Genève, en tant que berceau du Worl Wide Web et siège social de WISeKey est l'endroit idéal pour la poursuite de ces discussions lors du Forum mondial de Genève sur la sécurité, un événement visant à prolonger les efforts de WISeKey en ce domaine. Ce forum, prévu pour 2006, se propose d'être le point de convergence mondial des problèmes et des solutions relatifs à la sécurité. >>

Pour l'article complet, consultez http://www.wisekey.com/wsis/digitalid.htm

Contact : Daniel Ybarra Email : daniel@wisekey.ch Tél. : +41-22-929-57-57

WISeKey SA

Microsoft Corp. y WISeKey ganan proyecto de Plataforma de Servicios al Ciudadano (CSP) de gobierno electrónico por 17,4 m

2008-07-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

GINEBRA y HOUSTON, 10 de julio /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. y WISeKey anunciaron hoy que fueron seleccionadas por el gobierno regional de Vizcaya para proporcionar una Plataforma de Servicios al Ciudadano (CPS por sus siglas en inglés) integral de gobierno electrónico. Este proyecto de 17,4 millones de euros incluye una federación de identidades de avanzada que permite establecer portales personalizados del ciudadano adaptados a las necesidades e intereses particulares de cada uno en un ambiente real Web 2.0.

Según el Sr. José Luis Bilbao, delegado general de Vizcaya, España, "BiscayTIK permitirá que nuestros ciudadanos se beneficien de los servicios de avanzada que impulsan nuestra región hacia el siglo XXI a la vanguardia del desarrollo socioeconómico, con el apoyo de socios de primera clase como Microsoft y WISeKey, totalmente comprometidos a unirse a nosotros en el desarrollo de nuestro centro de tecnología de clase mundial".

Microsoft reconoció desde hace largo tiempo la responsabilidad de facilitar acceso a tecnología en maneras que las personas puedan alcanzar su máximo potencial", dice Michel Van der Bel, vicepresidente del sector público de Microsoft International. "Estamos trabajando estrechamente con socios como WISeKey y gobiernos de todo el mundo para promover las cuestiones de políticas de tecnología y para ofrecer soluciones de tecnología que aborden las necesidades de tecnología de información exclusivas de los gobiernos, educadores y organizaciones no lucrativas".

"La vasta experiencia de WISeKey en garantizar servicios de gobierno electrónico y su capacidad única de portabilidad de identificación y plataforma confiable son un elemento de gran valor para la implementación de las CSPs en todo el mundo", dijo Carlos Moreira, fundador y CEO de WISeKey. WISeKey tiene un centro de desarrollo principal en Vizcaya y recluta expertos locales y utilizará este local como un centro de excelencia líder.

Parte de la solución que suministrará WISeKey es un sistema de validación semántica de próxima generación que aprovecha las funcionalidades Web 2.0 e interacciones Web 3.0.

Para acceder el artículo completo visite, http://www.wisekey.com/csp/biscaytik.htm

Contacto: Daniel Ybarra Tel.: +41-22-594-30-00 E-Mail: info@wisekey.com
WISeKey SA

CONTACTO: Daniel Ybarra, WISeKey SA, +41-22-594-30-00, info@wisekey.com

Sitio Web: http://www.wisekey.com/
http://www.wisekey.com/csp/biscaytik.htm

Microsoft Corp and WISeKey win €17.4 million e-Government Citizen Services Platform (CSP) project

2008-07-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Corp. and WISekey today announced at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) that they were selected by the Regional Government of Biscay for the delivery of a comprehensive e-Government Citizen Services Platform Geneva

Geneva and Houston 10th July 2008 - Microsoft Corp. and WISeKey today announced their partnership to deploy the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia (DFB) e-government project based on the new Citizen Services Platform (CSP) developed by Microsoft with the support of WISeKey that will make it easier for governments to interact with citizens, streamline processes and, as a result, save time and taxpayer budgets. This announcement was made back-to-back with the award today to Microsoft of the full Biscay e-government “BiscayTIK” project.

WISeKey is proud to announce its key identity management contribution to the “BiscayTIK” project signed today. This €17.4 million project includes a leading edge identity federation that enables the establishment of private citizen portals adapted to the needs and the interests of each citizen in a real WEB 2.0 environment, where the citizen will have the control over the portal contents on an identity basis. This advanced WISeKey service is tightly integrated with Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 platform and allows secure and private access to the full scope of the DFB city-halls’ on-line services. This unique combination establishes a world reference for a community of over one million citizens and one hundred town halls and can be easily replicated in many other e-government scenarios and therefore contribute to the further advancement of the e-government promise.

According to Mr. José Luis Bilbao, Deputy General of Bizkaia, “BiscayTIK shall allow our citizens to benefit from leading edge services that propel our region into the 21st century at the forefront of social and economic development. And this will be accomplished with support of first class partners such as Microsoft and WISekey, fully committed to joining us in developing our world class technology centre”.

Microsoft has long recognized the responsibility to enable access to technology in ways that help people realize their full potential,” Michel Van der Bel Vice President Public Sector of Microsoft International said. “We are working closely with partners like WISekey with governments around the world on progressing technology policy issues and providing technology solutions that address the unique IT needs of governments, educators and non-profit organization.

WISeKey long experience in securing e-Government services and its unique Trust Platform and ID Portability standard is a major asset for a global deployment of the CSP among Governments around the world said Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey.

From London to Stockholm, from Porto, Portugal, to Aalter, Belgium, governments of all sizes are communicating with citizens in a variety of new and innovative ways. Even with the diverse needs of these cities, many of their government agencies deliver a common set of services to citizens. A culmination of partnerships, programs and projects conducted with governments over several years, the CSP has been developed to answer the needs seen across diverse government offices and help deliver the best of these services across different regions worldwide.

CSP is a comprehensive solution designed to help local governments worldwide to serve citizens and businesses to meet their needs for communication applications, search, citizen portal, interactive forms, geographical information systems (GIS), intranet portal, Web space, citizen contact center, citizen relationship management, case management, as well as document and record management. Microsoft has engaged leading partners like WISeKey to integrate their technology with the CSP for security, and with existing technology platforms used by local and regional governments.

Part of the solution to be delivered by WISeKey is a new generation semantic validation system which leverages the Web 2.0 functionalities and goes further by taking Citizen services into Web 3.0 interactions. Essentially, citizens will be able to access and transact through citizen services online with different logon mechanisms. Depending on the logon mechanism used, the Citizen portal will be adapted automatically to the functionalities allowed by the logon mechanism used. For example, with a high security electronic identity card, a citizen would be able to undertake the most complex citizen transactions whilst the use of a simple login/password mechanism would limit the functionalities available to the Citizen. This also enables the Citizen to decide how far they wish to have their citizen services enabled online.

WISeKey is a Swiss company with strong focus on PKI, ID management and public services. WISeKey was selected in 2007 by the World Economic Forum as one of the 100 New Champions during the first-ever meeting of the New Champions in Dalian China. The Community of New Champions is composed of rapidly growing companies that have both the aspirations and ability to successfully expand outside their domestic markets.

What a Final EURO 2008

2008-07-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

The rating for the European soccer championship, which concluded Sunday with Spain beating Germany, serves notice that U.S. television viewers prefer international soccer to America’s own Major League Soccer matches.

Nationally, the Spain-Germany match on ABC-TV had a 2.3 rating, or 3.8 million viewers, which was almost equal to the 2.5 the Fox regional package of baseball games did the day before, with two high-profile big-market interleague games between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees and New York Mets.

The rating for Spain-Germany was 155% better than the MLS match that preceded it, Los Angeles at D.C. United (0.9 rating).

The ratings average for all of the European Cup matches on ESPN and ESPN2 this year was triple the average rating for the MLS on ESPN last season (0.6 to 0.2).

Carlos Place in London

2008-07-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

This an interesting Place in London near the financial district.

WISekey was invited by Microsoft to participate at the 4th EU SME Day and European Investor Summit 2008

2008-06-16T03:09:00.000-07:00

Photo: Mr. Ján Figel' - EU Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and Mr. Jean-Philippe Courtois - President, Microsoft International visiting the WISekey Stand at the Microsofts European Investor Summit 2008.

WISekey demonstrated during the event an innovative marketing and advertising tool within the mobile communication industry using WISekey Strong Identification, establishing both a permission and incentive-based marketing model that allows mobile subscribers to be compensated for allowing targeted advertisements to appear on their cell phone or mobile device in the form of images, SMS and video. This years summit was oriented to topics such as Innovation Clusters, Monetizing the Innovation in the Online space, turning Research into Revenue and Hot Sectors. The Summit also featured a number of the Microsoft start-ups across Europe developing exciting applications and services on Microsoft platform.

ETHICS IN ADVERTISING

2008-05-24T03:16:00.001-07:00

ETHICS IN ADVERTISING

I

INTRODUCTION

1. The importance of advertising is "steadily on the increase in modern society."1 That observation, made by this Pontifical Council a quarter century ago as part of an overview of the state of communications, is even more true now.

Just as the media of social communication themselves have enormous influence everywhere, so advertising, using media as its vehicle, is a pervasive, powerful force shaping attitudes and behavior in today's world.

Especially since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has frequently addressed the question of the media and their role and responsibilities.2 She has sought to do so in a fundamentally positive manner, viewing the media as "gifts of God" which, in accordance with his providential design, bring people together and "help them to cooperate with his plan for their salvation."3

In doing so, the Church stresses the responsibility of media to contribute to the authentic, integral development of persons and to foster the well being of society. "The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice and solidarity."4

It is in this spirit that the Church enters into dialogue with communicators. At the same time, she also calls attention to moral principles and norms relevant to social communications, as to other forms of human endeavor, while criticizing policies and practices that offend against these standards.

Here and there in the growing body of literature arising from the Church's consideration of media, the subject of advertising is discussed.5 Now, prompted by the increasing importance of advertising and by requests for a more extensive treatment, we turn again to this topic.

We wish to call attention to positive contributions that advertising can and does make; to note ethical and moral problems that advertising can and does raise; to point to moral principles that apply to this field; and, finally, to suggest certain steps for the consideration of those professionally involved in advertising, as well as for others in the private sector, including the churches, and for public officials.

Our reason for addressing these matters is simple. In today's society, advertising has a profound impact on how people understand life, the world and themselves, especially in regard to their values and their ways of choosing and behaving. These are matters about which the Church is and must be deeply and sincerely concerned.

2. The field of advertising is extremely broad and diverse. In general terms, of course, an advertisement is simply a public notice meant to convey information and invite patronage or some other response. As that suggests, advertising has two basic purposes: to inform and to persuade, and — while these purposes are distinguishable — both very often are simultaneously present.

Advertising is not the same as marketing (the complex of commercial functions involved in transferring goods from producers and consumers) or public relations (the systematic effort to create a favorable public impression or ?image' of some person, group, or entity). In many cases, though, it is a technique or instrument employed by one or both of these.

Advertising can be very simple — a local, even ?neighborhood,' phenomenon — or it can be very complex, involving sophisticated research and multimedia campaigns that span the globe. It differs according to its intended audience, so that, for example, advertising aimed at children raises some technical and moral issues significantly different from those raised by advertising aimed at competent adults.

Not only are many different media and techniques employed in advertising; advertising itself is of several different kinds: commercial advertising for products and services; public service advertising on behalf of various institutions, programs, and causes; and — a phenomenon of growing importance today — political advertising in the interests of parties and candidates. Making allowance for the differences among the different kinds and methods of advertising, we intend what follows to be applicable to them all.

3. We disagree with the assertion that advertising simply mirrors the attitudes and values of the surrounding culture. No doubt advertising, like the media of social communications in general, does act as a mirror. But, also like media in general, it is a mirror that helps shape the reality it reflects, and sometimes it presents a distorted image of reality.

Advertisers are selective about the values and attitudes to be fostered and encouraged, promoting some while ignoring others. This selectivity gives the lie to the notion that advertising does no more than reflect the surrounding culture. For example, the absence from advertising of certain racial and ethnic groups in some multi-racial or multi-ethnic societies can help to create problems of image and identity, especially among those neglected, and the almost inevitable impression in commercial advertising that an abundance of possessions leads to happiness and fulfillment can be both misleading and frustrating.

Advertising also has an indirect but powerful impact on society through its influence on media. Many publications and broadcasting operations depend on advertising revenue for survival. This often is true of religious media as well as commercial media. For their part, advertisers naturally seek to reach audiences; and the media, striving to deliver audiences to advertisers, must shape their content so to attract audiences of the size and demographic composition sought. This economic dependency of media and the power it confers upon advertisers carries with it serious responsibilities for both.

II

THE BENEFITS OF ADVERTISING

4. Enormous human and material resources are devoted to advertising. Advertising is everywhere in today's world, so that, as Pope Paul VI remarked, "No one now can escape the influence of advertising."6 Even people who are not themselves exposed to particular forms of advertising confront a society, a culture — other people — affected for good or ill by advertising messages and techniques of every sort.

Some critics view this state of affairs in unrelievedly negative terms. They condemn advertising as a waste of time, talent and money — an essentially parasitic activity. In this view, not only does advertising have no value of its own, but its influence is entirely harmful and corrupting for individuals and society.

We do not agree. There is truth to the criticisms, and we shall make criticisms of our own. But advertising also has significant potential for good, and sometimes it is realized. Here are some of the ways that happens.

a) Economic Benefits of Advertising

5. Advertising can play an important role in the process by which an economic system guided by moral norms and responsive to the common good contributes to human development. It is a necessary part of the functioning of modern market economies, which today either exist or are emerging in many parts of the world and which — provided they conform to moral standards based upon integral human development and the common good — currently seem to be "the most efficient instrument for utilizing resources and effectively responding to needs" of a socio-economic kind.7

In such a system, advertising can be a useful tool for sustaining honest and ethically responsible competition that contributes to economic growth in the service of authentic human development. "The Church looks with favor on the growth of man's productive capacity, and also on the ever widening network of relationships and exchanges between persons and social groups....[F]rom this point of view she encourages advertising, which can become a wholesome and efficacious instrument for reciprocal help among men."8

Advertising does this, among other ways, by informing people about the availability of rationally desirable new products and services and improvements in existing ones, helping them to make informed, prudent consumer decisions, contributing to efficiency and the lowering of prices, and stimulating economic progress through the expansion of business and trade. All of this can contribute to the creation of new jobs, higher incomes and a more decent and humane way of life for all. It also helps pay for publications, programming and productions — including those of the Church — that bring information, entertainment and inspiration to people around the world.

b) Benefits of Political Advertising

6. "The Church values the democratic system inasmuch as it ensures the participation of citizens in making political choices, guarantees to the governed the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate."9

Political advertising can make a contribution to democracy analogous to its contribution to economic well being in a market system guided by moral norms. As free and responsible media in a democratic system help to counteract tendencies toward the monopolization of power on the part of oligarchies and special interests, so political advertising can make its contribution by informing people about the ideas and policy proposals of parties and candidates, including new candidates not previously known to the public.

c) Cultural Benefits of Advertising

7. Because of the impact advertising has on media that depend on it for revenue, advertisers have an opportunity to exert a positive influence on decisions about media content. This they do by supporting material of excellent intellectual, aesthetic and moral quality presented with the public interest in view, and particularly by encouraging and making possible media presentations which are oriented to minorities whose needs might otherwise go unserved.

Moreover, advertising can itself contribute to the betterment of society by uplifting and inspiring people and motivating them to act in ways that benefit themselves and others. Advertising can brighten lives simply by being witty, tasteful and entertaining. Some advertisements are instances of popular art, with a vivacity and elan all their own.

d) Moral and Religious Benefits of Advertising

8. In many cases, too, benevolent social institutions, including those of a religious nature, use advertising to communicate their messages — messages of faith, of patriotism, of tolerance, compassion and neighborly service, of charity toward the needy, messages concerning health and education, constructive and helpful messages that educate and motivate people in a variety of beneficial ways.

For the Church, involvement in media-related activities, including advertising, is today a necessary part of a comprehensive pastoral strategy.10 This includes both the Church's own media — Catholic press and publishing, television and radio broadcasting, film and audiovisual production, and the rest — and also her participation in secular media. The media "can and should be instruments in the Church's program of re-evangelization and new evangelization in the contemporary world."11 While much remains to be done, many positive efforts of this kind already are underway. With reference to advertising itself, Pope Paul VI once said that it is desirable that Catholic institutions "follow with constant attention the development of the modern techniques of advertising and... know how to make opportune use of them in order to spread the Gospel message in a manner which answers the expectations and needs of contemporary man."12

III

THE HARM DONE BY ADVERTISING

9. There is nothing intrinsically good or intrinsically evil about advertising. It is a tool, an instrument: it can be used well, and it can be used badly. If it can have, and sometimes does have, beneficial results such as those just described, it also can, and often does, have a negative, harmful impact on individuals and society.

Communio et Progressio contains this summary statement of the problem: "If harmful or utterly useless goods are touted to the public, if false assertions are made about goods for sale, if less than admirable human tendencies are exploited, those responsible for such advertising harm society and forfeit their good name and credibility. More than this, unremitting pressure to buy articles of luxury can arouse false wants that hurt both individuals and families by making them ignore what they really need. And those forms of advertising which, without shame, exploit the sexual instincts simply to make money or which seek to penetrate into the subconscious recesses of the mind in a way that threatens the freedom of the individual ... must be shunned."13

a) Economic Harms of Advertising

10. Advertising can betray its role as a source of information by misrepresentation and by withholding relevant facts. Sometimes, too, the information function of media can be subverted by advertisers' pressure upon publications or programs not to treat of questions that might prove embarrassing or inconvenient.

More often, though, advertising is used not simply to inform but to persuade and motivate — to convince people to act in certain ways: buy certain products or services, patronize certain institutions, and the like. This is where particular abuses can occur.

The practice of "brand"-related advertising can raise serious problems. Often there are only negligible differences among similar products of different brands, and advertising may attempt to move people to act on the basis of irrational motives ("brand loyalty," status, fashion, "sex appeal," etc.) instead of presenting differences in product quality and price as bases for rational choice.

Advertising also can be, and often is, a tool of the "phenomenon of consumerism," as Pope John Paul II delineated it when he said: "It is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed toward ?having' rather than ?being', and which wants to have more, not in order to be more but in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself."14 Sometimes advertisers speak of it as part of their task to "create" needs for products and services — that is, to cause people to feel and act upon cravings for items and services they do not need. "If ... a direct appeal is made to his instincts — while ignoring in various ways the reality of the person as intelligent and free — then consumer attitudes and life-styles can be created which are objectively improper and often damaging to his physical and spiritual health."15

This is a serious abuse, an affront to human dignity and the common good when it occurs in affluent societies. But the abuse is still more grave when consumerist attitudes and values are transmitted by communications media and advertising to developing countries, where they exacerbate socio-economic problems and harm the poor. "It is true that a judicious use of advertising can stimulate developing countries to improve their standard of living. But serious harm can be done them if advertising and commercial pressure become so irresponsible that communities seeking to rise from poverty to a reasonable standard of living are persuaded to seek this progress by satisfying wants that have been artificially created. The result of this is that they waste their resources and neglect their real needs, and genuine development falls behind."16

Similarly, the task of countries attempting to develop types of market economies that serve human needs and interests after decades under centralized, state-controlled systems is made more difficult by advertising that promotes consumerist attitudes and values offensive to human dignity and the common good. The problem is particularly acute when, as often happens, the dignity and welfare of society's poorer and weaker members are at stake. It is necessary always to bear in mind that there are "goods which by their very nature cannot and must not be bought or sold" and to avoid "an ?idolatry' of the market" that, aided and abetted by advertising, ignores this crucial fact.17

b) Harms of Political Advertising

11. Political advertising can support and assist the working of the democratic process, but it also can obstruct it. This happens when, for example, the costs of advertising limit political competition to wealthy candidates or groups, or require that office-seekers compromise their integrity and independence by over-dependence on special interests for funds.

Such obstruction of the democratic process also happens when, instead of being a vehicle for honest expositions of candidates' views and records, political advertising seeks to distort the views and records of opponents and unjustly attacks their reputations. It happens when advertising appeals more to people's emotions and base instincts — to selfishness, bias and hostility toward others, to racial and ethnic prejudice and the like — rather than to a reasoned sense of justice and the good of all.

c) Cultural Harms of Advertising

12. Advertising also can have a corrupting influence upon culture and cultural values. We have spoken of the economic harm that can be done to developing nations by advertising that fosters consumerism and destructive patterns of consumption. Consider also the cultural injury done to these nations and their peoples by advertising whose content and methods, reflecting those prevalent in the first world, are at war with sound traditional values in indigenous cultures. Today this kind of "domination and manipulation" via media rightly is "a concern of developing nations in relation to developed ones," as well as a "concern of minorities within particular nations."18

The indirect but powerful influence exerted by advertising upon the media of social communications that depend on revenues from this source points to another sort of cultural concern. In the competition to attract ever larger audiences and deliver them to advertisers, communicators can find themselves tempted — in fact pressured, subtly or not so subtly — to set aside high artistic and moral standards and lapse into superficiality, tawdriness and moral squalor.

Communicators also can find themselves tempted to ignore the educational and social needs of certain segments of the audience — the very young, the very old, the poor — who do not match the demographic patterns (age, education, income, habits of buying and consuming, etc.) of the kinds of audiences advertisers want to reach. In this way the tone and indeed the level of moral responsibility of the communications media in general are lowered.

All too often, advertising contributes to the invidious stereotyping of particular groups that places them at a disadvantage in relation to others. This often is true of the way advertising treats women; and the exploitation of women, both in and by advertising, is a frequent, deplorable abuse. "How often are they treated not as persons with an inviolable dignity but as objects whose purpose is to satisfy others' appetite for pleasure or for power? How often is the role of woman as wife and mother undervalued or even ridiculed? How often is the role of women in business or professional life depicted as a masculine caricature, a denial of the specific gifts of feminine insight, compassion, and understanding, which so greatly contribute to the ?civilization of love'?"19

d) Moral and Religious Harms of Advertising

13. Advertising can be tasteful and in conformity with high moral standards, and occasionally even morally uplifting, but it also can be vulgar and morally degrading. Frequently it deliberately appeals to such motives as envy, status seeking and lust. Today, too, some advertisers consciously seek to shock and titillate by exploiting content of a morbid, perverse, pornographic nature.

What this Pontifical Council said several years ago about pornography and violence in the media is no less true of certain forms of advertising:

"As reflections of the dark side of human nature marred by sin, pornography and the exaltation of violence are age-old realities of the human condition. In the past quarter century, however, they have taken on new dimensions and have become serious social problems. At a time of widespread and unfortunate confusion about moral norms, the communications media have made pornography and violence accessible to a vastly expanded audience, including young people and even children, and a problem which at one time was confined mainly to wealthy countries has now begun, via the communications media, to corrupt moral values in developing nations."20

We note, too, certain special problems relating to advertising that treats of religion or pertains to specific issues with a moral dimension.

In cases of the first sort, commercial advertisers sometimes include religious themes or use religious images or personages to sell products. It is possible to do this in tasteful, acceptable ways, but the practice is obnoxious and offensive when it involves exploiting religion or treating it flippantly.

In cases of the second sort, advertising sometimes is used to promote products and inculcate attitudes and forms of behavior contrary to moral norms. That is the case, for instance, with the advertising of contraceptives, abortifacients and products harmful to health, and with government-sponsored advertising campaigns for artificial birth control, so-called "safe sex", and similar practices.

IV

SOME ETHICAL AND MORAL PRINCIPLES

14. The Second Vatican Council declared: "If the media are to be correctly employed, it is essential that all who use them know the principles of the moral order and apply them faithfully in this domain."21 The moral order to which this refers is the order of the law of human nature, binding upon all because it is "written on their hearts" (Rom. 2:15) and embodies the imperatives of authentic human fulfillment.

For Christians, moreover, the law of human nature has a deeper dimension, a richer meaning. "Christ is the ?Beginning' who, having taken on human nature, definitively illumines it in its constitutive elements and in its dynamism of charity towards God and neighbor."22 Here we comprehend the deepest significance of human freedom: that it makes possible an authentic moral response, in light of Jesus Christ, to the call "to form our conscience, to make it the object of a continuous conversion to what is true and to what is good."23

In this context, the media of social communications have two options, and only two. Either they help human persons to grow in their understanding and practice of what is true and good, or they are destructive forces in conflict with human well being. That is entirely true of advertising.

Against this background, then, we point to this fundamental principle for people engaged in advertising: advertisers — that is, those who commission, prepare or disseminate advertising — are morally responsible for what they seek to move people to do; and this is a responsibility also shared by publishers, broadcasting executives, and others in the communications world, as well as by those who give commercial or political endorsements, to the extent that they are involved in the advertising process.

If an instance of advertising seeks to move people to choose and act rationally in morally good ways that are of true benefit to themselves and others, persons involved in it do what is morally good; if it seeks to move people to do evil deeds that are self-destructive and destructive of authentic community, they do evil.

This applies also to the means and the techniques of advertising: it is morally wrong to use manipulative, exploitative, corrupt and corrupting methods of persuasion and motivation. In this regard, we note special problems associated with so-called indirect advertising that attempts to move people to act in certain ways — for example, purchase particular products — without their being fully aware that they are being swayed. The techniques involved here include showing certain products or forms of behavior in superficially glamorous settings associated with superficially glamorous people; in extreme cases, it may even involve the use of subliminal messages.

Within this very general framework, we can identify several moral principles that are particularly relevant to advertising. We shall speak briefly of three: truthfulness, the dignity of the human person, and social responsibility.

a) Truthfulness in Advertising

15. Even today, some advertising is simply and deliberately untrue. Generally speaking, though, the problem of truth in advertising is somewhat more subtle: it is not that advertising says what is overtly false, but that it can distort the truth by implying things that are not so or withholding relevant facts. As Pope John Paul II points out, on both the individual and social levels, truth and freedom are inseparable; without truth as the basis, starting point and criterion of discernment, judgment, choice and action, there can be no authentic exercise of freedom.24 The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Second Vatican Council, insists that the content of communication be "true and — within the limits set by justice and charity — complete"; the content should, moreover, be communicated "honestly and properly."25

To be sure, advertising, like other forms of expression, has its own conventions and forms of stylization, and these must be taken into account when discussing truthfulness. People take for granted some rhetorical and symbolic exaggeration in advertising; within the limits of recognized and accepted practice, this can be allowable.

But it is a fundamental principle that advertising may not deliberately seek to deceive, whether it does that by what it says, by what it implies, or by what it fails to say. "The proper exercise of the right to information demands that the content of what is communicated be true and, within the limits set by justice and charity, complete. ... Included here is the obligation to avoid any manipulation of truth for any reason."26

b) The Dignity of the Human Person

16. There is an "imperative requirement" that advertising "respect the human person, his rightduty to make a responsible choice, his interior freedom; all these goods would be violated if man's lower inclinations were to be exploited, or his capacity to reflect and decide compromised."27

These abuses are not merely hypothetical possibilities but realities in much advertising today. Advertising can violate the dignity of the human person both through its content — what is advertised, the manner in which it is advertised — and through the impact it seeks to make upon its audience. We have spoken already of such things as appeals to lust, vanity, envy and greed, and of techniques that manipulate and exploit human weakness. In such circumstances, advertisements readily become "vehicles of a deformed outlook on life, on the family, on religion and on morality — an outlook that does not respect the true dignity and destiny of the human person."28

This problem is especially acute where particularly vulnerable groups or classes of persons are concerned: children and young people, the elderly, the poor, the culturally disadvantaged.

Much advertising directed at children apparently tries to exploit their credulity and suggestibility, in the hope that they will put pressure on their parents to buy products of no real benefit to them. Advertising like this offends against the dignity and rights of both children and parents; it intrudes upon the parent-child relationship and seeks to manipulate it to its own base ends. Also, some of the comparatively little advertising directed specifically to the elderly or culturally disadvantaged seems designed to play upon their fears so as to persuade them to allocate some of their limited resources to goods or services of dubious value.

c) Advertising and Social Responsibility

17. Social responsibility is such a broad concept that we can note here only a few of the many issues and concerns relevant under this heading to the question of advertising.

The ecological issue is one. Advertising that fosters a lavish life style which wastes resources and despoils the environment offends against important ecological concerns. "In his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and grow, man consumes the resources of the earth and his own life in an excessive and disordered way. ... Man thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth, subjecting it without restraint to his will, as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray."29

As this suggests, something more fundamental is at issue here: authentic and integral human development. Advertising that reduces human progress to acquiring material goods and cultivating a lavish life style expresses a false, destructive vision of the human person harmful to individuals and society alike.

When people fail to practice "a rigorous respect for the moral, cultural and spiritual requirements, based on the dignity of the person and on the proper identity of each community, beginning with the family and religious societies," then even material abundance and the conveniences that technology makes available "will prove unsatisfying and in the end contemptible."30 Advertisers, like people engaged in other forms of social communication, have a serious duty to express and foster an authentic vision of human development in its material, cultural and spiritual dimensions.31 Communication that meets this standard is, among other things, a true expression of solidarity. Indeed, the two things — communication and solidarity — are inseparable, because, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, solidarity is "a consequence of genuine and right communication and the free circulation of ideas that further knowledge and respect for others."32

V

CONCLUSION: SOME STEPS TO TAKE

18. The indispensable guarantors of ethically correct behavior by the advertising industry are the well formed and responsible consciences of advertising professionals themselves: consciences sensitive to their duty not merely to serve the interests of those who commission and finance their work but also to respect and uphold the rights and interests of their audiences and to serve the common good.

Many women and men professionally engaged in advertising do have sensitive consciences, high ethical standards and a strong sense of responsibility. But even for them external pressures — from the clients who commission their work as well as from the competitive internal dynamics of their profession — can create powerful inducements to unethical behavior. That underlines the need for external structures and systems to support and encourage responsible practice in advertising and to discourage the irresponsible.

19. Voluntary ethical codes are one such source of support. These already exist in a number of places. Welcome as they are, though, they are only as effective as the willingness of advertisers to comply strictly with them. "It is up to the directors and managers of the media which carry advertising to make known to the public, to subscribe to and to apply the codes of professional ethics which already have been opportunely established so as to have the cooperation of the public in making these codes still better and in enforcing their observance."33

We emphasize the importance of public involvement. Representatives of the public should participate in the formulation, application and periodic updating of ethical codes. The public representatives should include ethicists and church people, as well as representatives of consumer groups. Individuals do well to organize themselves into such groups in order to protect their interests in relation to commercial interests.

20. Public authorities also have a role to play. On the one hand, government should not seek to control and dictate policy to the advertising industry, any more than to other sectors of the communications media. On the other hand, the regulation of advertising content and practice, already existing in many places, can and should extend beyond banning false advertising, narrowly defined. "By promulgating laws and overseeing their application, public authorities should ensure that ?public morality and social progress are not gravely endangered' through misuse of the media."34

For example, government regulations should address such questions as the quantity of advertising, especially in broadcast media, as well as the content of advertising directed at groups particularly vulnerable to exploitation, such as children and old people. Political advertising also seems an appropriate area for regulation: how much may be spent, how and from whom may money for advertising be raised, etc.

21. The media of news and information should make it a point to keep the public informed about the world of advertising. Considering advertising's social impact, it is appropriate that media regularly review and critique the performance of advertisers, just as they do other groups whose activities have a significant influence on society.

22. Besides using media to evangelize, the Church for her part needs to grasp the full implications of the observation by Pope John Paul: that media comprise a central part of that great modern "Areopagus" where ideas are shared and attitudes and values are formed. This points to a "deeper reality" than simply using media to spread the Gospel message, important as that is. "It is also necessary to integrate that message into the ?new culture' created by modern communications" with its "new ways of communicating... new languages, new techniques and a new psychology."35

In light of this insight, it is important that media education be part of pastoral planning and a variety of pastoral and educational programs carried on by the Church, including Catholic schools. This includes education regarding the role of advertising in today's world and its relevance to the work of the Church. Such education should seek to prepare people to be informed and alert in their approach to advertising as to other forms of communication. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, "the means of social communication. ... can give rise to a certain passivity among users, making them less than vigilant consumers of what is said or shown. Users should practice moderation and discipline in their approach to the mass media."36

23. In the final analysis, however, where freedom of speech and communication exists, it is largely up to advertisers themselves to ensure ethically responsible practices in their profession. Besides avoiding abuses, advertisers should also undertake to repair the harm sometimes done by advertising, insofar as that is possible: for example, by publishing corrective notices, compensating injured parties, increasing the quantity of public service advertising, and the like. This question of ?reparations' is a matter of legitimate involvement not only by industry self-regulatory bodies and public interest groups, but also by public authorities.

Where unethical practices have become widespread and entrenched, conscientious advertisers may be called upon to make significant personal sacrifices to correct them. But people who want to do what is morally right must always be ready to suffer loss and personal injury rather than to do what is wrong. This is a duty for Christians, followers of Christ, certainly; but not only for them. "In this witness to the absoluteness of the moral good Christians are not alone: they are supported by the moral sense present in peoples and by the great religious and sapiential traditions of East and West."37

We do not wish, and certainly we do not expect, to see advertising eliminated from the contemporary world. Advertising is an important element in today's society, especially in the functioning of a market economy, which is becoming more and more widespread.

Moreover, for the reasons and in the ways sketched here, we believe advertising can, and often does, play a constructive role in economic growth, in the exchange of information and ideas, and in the fostering of solidarity among individuals and groups. Yet it also can do, and often does, grave harm to individuals and to the common good.

0In light of these reflections, therefore, we call upon advertising professionals and upon all those involved in the process of commissioning and disseminating advertising to eliminate its socially harmful aspects and observe high ethical standards in regard to truthfulness, human dignity and social responsibility. In this way, they will make a special and significant contribution to human progress and to the common good.

Vatican City, February 22, 1997, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle.

+ John P. Foley
President

+ Pierfranco Pastore
Secretary

Semantic Web: Making sense and cents of the web

2008-05-24T03:08:00.000-07:00

Semantic Web: Making sense and cents of the web

It should be noted that matching advertisements to web pages and, indirectly with the interests of the reader, is an exercise in semantics. The broker's system tries to distill the essence of the meaning of a web page with some keywords. The advertising system, as an e-commerce process, depends on the correctness of the matching. Readers will not respond to advertisements unrelated to their interests and advertisers will not pay the broker for no clicks. As web pages gain more machine readable meaning, via approaches such as the Semantic Web, this process can be refined and further automated.

The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. It is a collaborative effort led by W3C with participation from a large number of researchers and industrial partners. It is based on the Resource Description Framework (RDF), which integrates a variety of applications using XML for syntax and URIs for naming.

"The Semantic Web is an extension of the current web in which information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation." -- Tim Berners-Lee, James Hendler, Ora Lassila, The Semantic Web, Scientific American, May 2001

From: Semantic Web, W3C, 2005, URL: http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/

Small web publishers, such as the author, are likely to be entering content and laying it out manually. The advertising broker needs to provide a web based interface for the advertiser and the publishers to create their advertisements and place them. Large web sites may have data entered and positioned automatically and may be dynamically created from a database. These require the creation and placement to be more automated and can use Web Services.

Social networks advertising becomes scalable

2008-05-24T03:07:00.001-07:00

Social networks advertising becomes scalable

2007 was arguably the year of the social network, but advertising was partly held back due to the lack of standards recognised across the plethora of different social networking sites. In 2008, marketers will place greater emphasis on how to monetise such sites. Facebook’s recent launch of its Beacon platform will set the standard for social network advertising and allow it to become scalable.

According to eMarketer, US social networking ad-spending next year is set to grow by 70% to $1.6 billion. However, social networks advertising presents potential risks for traditional media portals, including AOL, MSN and Yahoo!.

We will also see growth in social media advertising coming from niche markets targeted at users with specific demographics or lifestyles. Keyword: 'targeted'.

Fear of recession will shift advertising budgets to online media

2008-05-24T03:06:00.003-07:00

Fear of recession will shift advertising budgets to online media

Opinion is divided over the outlook for a US recession in 2008, with some economists claiming that the US already undergoing recession (although the crucial two-consecutive-quarters-of-negative-growth criterion has not yet been met). Analysts predict that overall, we will see slower spending in advertising using traditional media and a shift towards the online space.

Others predict that the fear of recession will weaken business models based on consumer advertising. If a serious downturn or recession really starts to bite hard, ROI from online marketing may insulate it from reduced spending at a macro level.

We believe that efficient web businesses are less likely to suffer in such an environment, though talk of a recession remains 'talk', at this stage, and is by no means a certainty.

Behavioural targeting will become more widespread - and something which is expected

2008-05-24T03:06:00.001-07:00

Behavioural targeting will become more widespread - and something which is expected

Behavioural targeting is expected to increase ten-fold over the next five years, according to eMarketer. Behavioural targeting allows marketers to offer more personalised customer experiences, whilst consumers gain from more relevant advertising and content as they have been targeted based on their online footprint (e.g. what sites they have visited).

Last year saw the formation of an alliance enabling large publishers to share behavioural information on their users, facilitated by Revenue Science. There was also the launch of Wunderloop Connect, a self-service ad exchange for behavioural-based online advertising. This should be the year that it becomes something that advertisers and publishers want to embrace automatically, or expect as part of their ad serving technology, rather than still needing to be convinced that this is a no-brainer.

We will be looking out for more case studies and research to show how effectively behavioural targeting works.

Video gains ground as a popular advertising medium

2008-05-24T03:05:00.003-07:00

Video gains ground as a popular advertising medium

Video advertising is expected to show significant growth in 2008, but marketers will face challenges with regards to targeting the right consumers.

In terms of ad formats, Google’s overlay InVideo ad format in expected to dominate, as it offers marketers better click-through rates through a greater consumer engagement. Overlay video formats are also less intrusive for consumers than other formats, such as pre-roll.

Mobile web expected to explode in 2008

2008-05-24T03:05:00.001-07:00

Mobile web expected to explode in 2008

It's the year of mobile marketing ... again! Wow! The mobile web is already hugely popular in Asia and there is at least now good reason to believe that this could catch on here too.

The release of Apple’s iPhone in 2007 helped mobile to gain ground in the US and gives users an interface that looks like the internet. Mobile web allows for location-specific, highly personalised advertising campaigns, and recent technology improvements have made it easier for marketers to provide relevant information. That said, we remain bearish on the prospects for mobile advertising (as opposed to marketing).

Apple’s partnership with Google and Yahoo to enable ad-supported programming indicates that these companies are likely to become major mobile portals in 2008, alongside the traditional mobile operators.