The School of Engineering and Digital Arts at the University of Kent has been awarded a 2.5m euros grant from the European Commission for a research network to address mobile device security to deliver biometrics.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Integrated Training Network (ITN) grant, which will begin in January 2017, is being led by Kent’s Deputy Head of Engineering and Digital Arts, Dr Richard Guest.
It will involve four other universities across Europe: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain), Roma Tre University (Italy), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany) and Warsaw University of Technology (Poland). Researchers will also be working with European-wide industry partners including IBM , Nubo Solutions, ElevenPaths, Skalli, NASK, GenKey and Namirial .
This research will look at how biometrics (authentication of users through physiological or behaviour characteristics such as fingerprint, face or device interaction), can ensure a balance of convenience and security on mobile devices.
Kent points out that in 2015, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee recognised the need to develop a strategic approach to the use of biometrics due to its fast-changing nature; and that although it provides an opportunity for better identity verification, this must be balanced against safeguarding the rights of the individual from unnecessary intrusion or data misuse.
Pictured; street graffiti, Brixton, south London.
