The Department of Homeland Security has awarded $397,292 to SecureKey Technologies and Factom to conduct phase one research and development activities focused on mitigating cases of fraud.
DHS said Monday that Toronto, Canada-based firm SecureKey received $200,000 to study the implementation of identity network capabilities in issuing and validating digital credentials as part of the Science and Technology Directorate’s Preventing Forgery and Counterfeiting of Certificates and Licenses effort.
SecureKey’s project, titled “Identity Documents Proofing, Presentation and Exchange systemâ€, involves using the company’s Verified.Me identity network offering to assist the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Transportation Security Administration’s operations.
In a separate release, DHS said it awarded $197,292 to Austin, Texas-based firm Factom for the “Applying Cross-Blockchain Technology to Help Prevent Forgeries or Counterfeiting of Certificates and Licenses†project. Factom will explore the use of blockchain concepts in verifying identities involved in the importation of items such as raw materials.
The other transaction agreements fall under S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program, which earmarks a maximum of $800,000 to participating companies to cover four phases of R&D work for homeland security applications.
