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  • CarMen at the EAB & CITeR Biometrics Workshop at IDIAP

    CarMen at the EAB & CITeR Biometrics Workshop at IDIAP

    Representatives of the CarMen project, led by coordinator Yncréa, took part in the EAB & CITeR Biometrics Workshop, hosted by Idiap Research Institute – a key partner in the CarMen project.

    The workshop brought together leading experts to discuss cutting-edge topics such as presentation, morphing & deepfake attack detection, biometric template security, foundation models for biometrics and biometrics in the context of the EU AI Act.

    CarMen contributed to discussions on secure, privacy-preserving biometric technologies for border management and digital identity, engaging with researchers, industry experts, and policymakers from Europe and the US.

    This event strengthened collaboration among project partners, increased CarMen’s international visibility, and supported alignment with European research, security, and policy priorities.

  • CarMen at the RISE FR–UK Initiative 3 Conference

    CarMen at the RISE FR–UK Initiative 3 Conference

    Representatives from Yncréa, the coordinator of the CarMen project, participated in the RISE FR-UK Initiative Conference, held on 3 November 2025 at the Royal Society in London. The event was organised by the French Embassy in London within the framework of the RISE FR–UK (Research and Innovation Excellence in Science for Europe – France -UK) initiative, which aims to identify and highlight outstanding European projects built on strong Franco-British cooperation.

    The conference brought together scientific diplomats, researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to discuss the current state and future prospects of UK-France scientific collaboration within the European research landscape. Particular attention was given to strategic research priorities, mobility and inter-university cooperation, and the role of collaborative research in addressing major European challenges, including security, sustainability, and digital transformation.

    Within this high-level forum, CarMen was positioned as a relevant example of European research cooperation, addressing complex cross-border challenges through interdisciplinary and international collaboration. As a Horizon Europe project focused on advanced biometric border control and digital identity, CarMen aligns closely with the RISE initiative’s objective of strengthening scientific excellence through cooperation between European research communities.

    Discussions during the conference highlighted the importance of trust, long-term collaboration, and shared research agendas as foundational principles for successful international scientific cooperation. The event also showcased several ongoing Franco-British collaborative projects across different scientific domains, illustrating the diversity and strategic value of bilateral research partnerships within Europe.

    Participation in the RISE FR-UK Initiative Conference represents an important scientific and policy-oriented dissemination activity for the CarMen project. Through the active involvement of its coordinator, Yncréa, the project contributed to broader reflections on the governance, values, and practical implementation of international scientific collaboration, reinforcing CarMen’s visibility within European research and innovation networks. This engagement further supports CarMen’s mission to develop secure, ethical, and operationally relevant biometric solutions, while remaining aligned with European research priorities and fostering dialogue between science, policy, and society.

  • CarMen Project Presented at Darmstadt Biometrics Week 2025

    CarMen Project Presented at Darmstadt Biometrics Week 2025

    Representatives of the project partners Yncréa, coordinator of the CarMen project, and Hochschule Darmstadt (University of Applied Sciences H-DA) participated in Darmstadt Biometrics Week 2025, where they presented the CarMen project to the international biometrics research and innovation community.

    The event was organised by the European Association for Biometrics (EAB) and hosted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research in Darmstadt, Germany, from 22 to 24 September 2025. Darmstadt Biometrics Week is one of Europe’s key annual gatherings dedicated to biometric innovation, digital identity, and identity management, bringing together experts from academia, industry, public authorities, and policy institutions.

    During the event, the CarMen project was presented as part of the EAB Research Projects Conference (EAB-RPC), the largest European forum focused on EU-funded research in biometrics and identity management. The conference provided an important platform for sharing research progress, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening collaboration among projects funded under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, as well as national research initiatives.

    CarMen’s participation contributed to discussions on the responsible use of biometric technologies, with a particular focus on border management applications, digital identity systems, and secure, privacy-preserving solutions. Engagement with the research and practitioner community supported the project’s dissemination objectives by increasing visibility, fostering cross-sectoral dialogue, and aligning research outcomes with European policy and operational needs.

    Participation in Darmstadt Biometrics Week 2025 represents a key scientific and professional dissemination activity for the CarMen project, reinforcing its position within the European biometrics research landscape and supporting future collaboration, knowledge exchange, and long-term impact.

  • CarMen at EAB-RPC 2024 – Advancing European Biometric Research

    CarMen at EAB-RPC 2024 – Advancing European Biometric Research

    Representatives of Yncréa, the coordinator of the CarMen project, participated in EAB-RPC 2024 – EAB Research Projects Conference, organised by the European Association for Biometrics (EAB), with contributions from the Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) and the support of DG HOME of the European Commission, Fraunhofer IGD, and Halmstad University.

    Now in its 11th edition, the EAB Research Projects Conference has established itself as the largest European event dedicated to EU-funded research in biometrics and identity management. Over the years, EAB-RPC has become a key forum for the scientific and professional community, enabling participants to present cutting-edge research, exchange knowledge, build strategic networks, and explore opportunities for future European project collaborations. The 2024 edition brought together researchers, industry representatives, and public authorities, with more than 70 participants from across Europe.

    Through Yncréa’s participation, the CarMen project was positioned within the broader European research landscape, actively contributing to discussions on biometric technologies, identity management, and secure border control.

    Participation in EAB-RPC 2024 represents an important scientific dissemination activity for CarMen. It strengthens the project’s visibility within the biometrics research community and fosters connections that support its long-term impact and alignment with European security research priorities.

  • Introducing the CARMEN Project First Brochure!

    Introducing the CARMEN Project First Brochure!

    We are excited to present the first official brochure of the CARMEN project, designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the project’s goals, objectives, and its innovative approach to border crossings.

    What’s inside the CARMEN Project Brochure?

    It provides information on:

    • A new approach to border control for a mobile, digital Europe
    • From static checks to “Biometrics on the Move”
    • How CarMen works
    • Security, ethics, and trust by design
    • From research to real-world deployment
    • Project objectives
    • Impact for EU
    • CarMen consortium.

    This brochure provides an invaluable resource for all those involved in border control, and serves as a guide to how the CARMEN project will shape the future of border crossings.

    Get your copy today!

    Stay tuned for more updates and feel free to reach out to us for more information on how to get involved with the CARMEN project.

  • From Vision to Practice: CarMen Advances with First Experimental Tests

    From Vision to Practice: CarMen Advances with First Experimental Tests

    As the new year begins, the CarMen project continues its steady transition from concept to real-world validation. After establishing the technological and ethical foundations out, the consortium has reached an important milestone: the successful completion of its first experimental testing activities. These initial tests mark a key step toward CarMen’s vision of non-stop biometric border control operating under real operational conditions.

    Their objective was to move beyond controlled laboratory environments and assess how CarMen’s biometric technologies perform in realistic border-crossing scenarios, where travellers are often in motion, environmental conditions are unpredictable, and the time available for identity verification is limited.

    In line with the project’s ambition to enable “biometrics on the move,” three complementary experimental scenarios were implemented. These included pre-authentication of stationary travellers before border crossing, biometric identification of pedestrians moving continuously through corridors, and on-board verification of passengers inside buses or coaches. Each scenario reflects concrete operational practices at external EU borders and allowed the technologies to be tested under challenging conditions such as movement, variable lighting, changing camera angles, and partial occlusions.

    The results of these first tests contribute directly to improving the robustness and reliability of biometric algorithms, validating the combined use of RGB and near-infrared imaging, and advancing image processing techniques for identification on the move. At the same time, the activities strongly reflect the objectives set out in the CarMen project proposal, particularly the ambition to enable seamless, non-stop biometric verification for pedestrians and vehicles without requiring travellers to stop or present physical documents.

    Beyond technical performance, the experiments also support a broader reflection on the ethical, legal, and societal aspects of biometric border control. In line with the project’s design, all testing activities are carried out with a strong focus on data protection, privacy, and compliance with GDPR and European legal frameworks, reinforcing CarMen’s commitment to trustworthy and socially acceptable solutions.

    As the project moves into its next phases of development and pilot demonstrations, these first experimental tests represent a decisive step from vision to implementation. CarMen continues to transform research ambitions into practical solutions that support smoother travel, enhanced border security, and a more sustainable future for European mobility.

  • iDAKTO joins CarMen to shape the future of border crossings

    iDAKTO joins CarMen to shape the future of border crossings

    iDAKTO is proud to announce its participation in the CarMen project, dedicated to making border crossings smoother, faster and more secure through biometrics on the move and Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs). By joining forces with 15 partners across six countries, we are helping shape the future of trusted digital identity in travel.

    Tackling a growing challenge for Europe

    The number of people crossing Schengen borders has been rising steadily for over a decade, driven above all by leisure travel. Building bigger airports, ports or land crossings is not only costly but also unsustainable, while longer queues would hurt the economy and frustrate both travellers and border guards. What Europe needs is a new way of crossing borders; faster, smoother, and still fully secure.

    CarMen: biometrics on the move

    This is the ambition behind CarMen, an EU-funded project that brings together 15 partners across six countries, including ISEN YNCREA (FR), the Home Office (UK), the French Ministry of Interior (FR), Center for Security Studies/KEMEA (GR), Hochschule Darmstadt (DE), CLR Labs (FR), Idiap Research Institute (CH), Thales (FR), Notitia (HR), CIVIPOL (FR) and Brittany Ferries (FR). CarMen will explore how to make border checks work in real life with biometrics on the move; from pedestrians to cars, coaches and trucks. It will also demonstrate the benefits of Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) and integrate behaviour analysis to detect anomalies, ensuring that speed never comes at the expense of trust.

    iDAKTO’s contribution: Enabling DTCs with iDCluster®

    At iDAKTO, we are contributing as technology provider with our iDCluster® platform at the core of this effort. Fully aligned with international standards such as OpenID4VCI/OpenID4VP and ISO/IEC 18013-7, iDCluster® enables secure provisioning of DTCs into mobile applications and ensures trusted data exchanges at scale. Built on a micro-services architecture and deployable on private or public clouds, it combines flexibility with security by design, while guaranteeing GDPR compliance and giving users control over their personal data.

    Impact for the industry and travellers

    The impact is twofold. For the industry, CarMen offers a scalable, interoperable path to handle ever-growing traveller flows without costly infrastructure expansion, while reinforcing fraud protection. For users, it means shorter waits, a document-free journey, and the reassurance that privacy and consent are respected at every step.

    Towards seamless and trusted travel

    Set to run until 2027, with final trials at the port of Le Havre, CarMen will bring this new generation of border management into practice, demonstrating that smoother crossings and stronger security can go hand in hand. By joining the project, iDAKTO is making trusted digital identity the key enabler of tomorrow’s travel experience.

  • CarMen Project Showcased at EU Flagship Event on Biometrics and Security

    CarMen Project Showcased at EU Flagship Event on Biometrics and Security

    We are pleased to share that the CarMen project was successfully featured at the high-level event “Biometrics in Action for Border Management & Fight Against Crime and Terrorism”, co-organised by the European Association for Biometrics (EAB) and the European Commission’s CERIS (Community for European Research and Innovation for Security), on 23–24 September 2025 in Darmstadt, Germany, as a part of Darmstadt Biometrics Week.

    As an EU-funded initiative, CarMen was invited to present its latest results and innovations, reflecting its growing impact and relevance in the fields of biometrics, digital identity, and security technologies. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and technology developers to explore the opportunities and challenges of applying biometric technologies in border management, crime prevention, and counterterrorism.

    During the event, the CarMen team delivered a dedicated presentation outlining the project’s objectives, key achievements, and innovative solutions developed to support secure and ethical biometric systems. In addition, a hands-on demonstration of the project’s tools and applications was featured in the exhibition area, drawing attention from stakeholders across Europe’s security and innovation communities.

    Participation in this event offered a valuable opportunity to:
    • Showcase the project’s contributions to European security research.
    • Engage with end-users, fellow researchers, and policy stakeholders.
    • Help shape the future direction of biometric technologies and digital identity solutions in Europe.

    We thank the EAB and DG HOME for the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue, and we look forward to continuing collaboration across the EU research and innovation landscape.

  • Towards seamless and secure borders: CarMen and BorderForce join forces for the future of border management

    Towards seamless and secure borders: CarMen and BorderForce join forces for the future of border management

    In an age where global mobility must meet high security standards, two innovative EU-funded projects CarMen and BorderForce are coming together to shape the future of European border management.  In a recent joint event „Towards seamless and secure borders: Joint synergies of CarMen & BorderForce projects in border management,” held on July 30th 2025, both consortia explored how their complementary approaches can strengthen border security while safeguarding fundamental rights.

    At the heart of both CarMen and BorderForce lies a common mission: enhancing border control systems without compromising privacy, legal compliance, and ethical standards. CarMen is redefining identity verification through next-generation biometric authentication “on the move”, enabling non-stop border crossings and seamless traveler experiences. BorderForce delivers real-time situational awareness, deploying self-sufficient, transportable command and control stations that are configurable and extendable for various border scenarios. Together, these projects form two halves of a holistic approach: CarMen brings the intelligence, BorderForce delivers the oversight.

    A recent strategic meeting between the CarMen and BorderForce consortia provided a valuable platform to explore synergies and deepen collaboration in the realm of border security and innovation.

    CarMen presented its focus on biometric identity management and non-intrusive, real-time traveler verification, while BorderForce highlighted its expertise in surveillance, data fusion, operational command, and immersive training.

    The two consortia identified shared objectives, including a commitment to enhancing automation and operational efficiency, developing resilient and interoperable systems, and maintaining the highest levels of ethical and legal compliance.

    Looking ahead, both groups discussed key technical challenges, risk management strategies, and the importance of open dialogue and ongoing cooperation. With field trials, conferences, and joint workshops on the horizon, CarMen and BorderForce are dedicated to continued engagement, ensuring that Europe’s borders are not only secure, but also smart, adaptive, and humane.

  • Weekly CarMen project meetings: The Key to Effective Collaboration and Successful Implementation

    Weekly CarMen project meetings: The Key to Effective Collaboration and Successful Implementation

    In large international projects like CarMen, success doesn’t happen by chance, it’s built through strong, consistent collaboration. That’s why the CarMen consortium, bringing together partners from 15 countries, holds weekly coordination meetings to ensure close teamwork, transparency, and aligned progress.

    Each meeting is structured around the project’s Work Packages, following the timeline and responsibilities outlined in the original proposal. Weekly sessions typically include updates on ongoing tasks and deliverables, partner-led presentations on Work Package progress, open floor for troubleshooting and mutual support as well as clear definition of next steps and action points.

    Meetings conclude with constructive exchanges, reinforcing the strong team spirit that defines the CarMen project. This regular rhythm of exchange plays a key role in achieving the project’s ambitious goals.

    The CarMen consortium is not just managing tasks, but builds a shared vision, one week at a time and it believes that fostering a culture of open dialogue, shared responsibility, and mutual learning is essential for real impact. Regular meetings have become a powerful tool for ensuring smooth implementation, timely delivery, and collective ownership of outcomes.

    Together, the CarMen partners are shaping the future of smarter, safer, and more sustainable border crossing, step by step, week by week.