Securics Licenses Biometrics Technology from CU
Securics to develop technology that will verify identity while protecting privacy
Colorado Springs, CO – The University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office (TTO) has executed
an exclusive license agreement with Securics Inc., a Colorado Springs-based startup company providing
technology-based security solutions. The license agreement covers a portfolio of patents and software
designed to improve the accuracy of biometric software, as well as the groundbreaking BiotopeTM technology
(described below). The technologies were developed by Dr. Terry Boult at the University of Colorado at
Colorado Springs; Securics has continued to develop the technology, partnering with UCCS on multiple Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants from the
National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Defense (DOD). The multiple patent-pending
biometric technologies licensed, along with Securics’ internal developments, have been shown to significantly
improve facial recognition algorithms, especially for long-distance and non-cooperative subjects. Securics has
been selected by the US military to develop a long distance, outdoor, facial recognition system which will
incorporate Securics technologies.
“Dr. Boult’s research in biometric security has uncovered the limitations of the technology,” says Kate
Tallman, Director of Technology Transfer for the University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado
Springs. “Securics will bring his ideas for privacy and security into the marketplace. We are pleased to see
this company launch and grow in Colorado Springs.”
Biometrics is the process of using unique, difficult-to-fake human physical or behavioral characteristics
to verify identity; fingerprinting is the earliest biometric technology. Other well-known biometric techniques
include retinal scanning and facial or voice recognition, while newer techniques use methods such as hand
geometry, iris recognition, keystroke dynamics, and facial thermogram. Biometrics is becoming increasingly
important in both military and civilian applications, ranging from surveillance to data security to point-of-sale
identity verification; however, current biometrics technologies are not foolproof, and stolen or forged biometric
data cannot be replaced.
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Securics’ BiotopeTM technology transforms biometric data into a secure token, which can then be
revoked and reissued in case of biometric identity theft. BiotopesTM have been developed for both fingerprint
and face biometrics, and have been shown to improve their accuracy while enhancing the privacy of the
users. The fingerprint BiotopeTM system has also been demonstrated with Java SmartCards, and has the
potential to solve some of the most fundamental issues in remote/web-based authentication. These devices
provide a crucial second layer of identity protection that must be in place before consumers will feel
comfortable relying on biometrics.
“Securics was formed to solve a significant problem in non-revocable biometrics: once biometrics are
compromised there is no canceling them — your privacy and security will forever be in question. Americans
should not have to trade privacy for security, and with Securics’ technology they can improve both,” states
Terry Boult, Securics founder and CEO.
About Securics
Securics combines its expertise in biometrics, imaging technologies, embedded systems, networking and
security to produce cutting-edge identification and verification systems. Securics has been selected by the US
military to develop a long distance, outdoor facial recognition system. Securics’ commercial sector efforts
focus on biometrics-based identification/verification technologies with built-in privacy protection. The
company’s patent pending technologies can be used to create Biotopes™, cryptographically secure revocable
identity tokens. These combine user and/or company “public key” data with biometric data to form an identity
token, which can be revoked if compromised. Biotopes protect today’s biometric systems from future
obsolescence. Founded in 2004, Securics is a privately held corporation headquartered in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. For additional information, visit www.securics.com.
About the Technology Transfer Office
The CU Technology Transfer Office pursues, protects, packages, and licenses to business the intellectual
property generated from research at CU. The TTO provides assistance to faculty, staff, and students, as well
as to businesses looking to license or invest in CU technology. For more information about technology
transfer at CU, visit www.cu.edu/techtransfer.
About the University of Colorado
The University of Colorado is a three-campus system with campuses in Boulder and Colorado Springs, and a
Denver and Health Sciences Center campus located in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical
Campus in Aurora. CU is a premier teaching and research university, ranked sixth among public institutions in
federal research expenditures by the National Science Foundation. Academic prestige is marked by CU’s four
Nobel laureates, seven Mac Arthur “genius” Fellows, 18 astronauts, 19 Rhodes Scholars and CU-Boulder’s
ranking of 11th best public university in the world by the Institute for Higher Education. For further information,
please visit http://www.CU.edu.