STPay Topaz Bio biometric card receives CES 2022 award

STMicroelectronics, a Franco-Italian multinational specialising in electronic chips and a long-standing player in the semiconductor market, has been awarded a prize at CES 2022, the world's leading technology and innovation event. This prize was awarded to the STPay Topaz Bio card, which demonstrates the relevance of using biometrics to secure payment methods.

FACTS

• STPay-Topaz-Bio is presented as a comprehensive out-of-the-box payment solution. It combines the security of biometric cardholder authentication with the speed and convenience of contactless transactions.

• The solution has just received the CES 2022 Innovation Award for its ability to facilitate the creation of a biometric card system. It handles fingerprint enrolment, data management, powering and the card authentication process.

• For the users of the card, its use remains simple. Instead of entering a code, they simply place their finger on the dedicated fingerprint scanner on the card to validate a payment.

• Technically, the STPay-Topaz-Bio platform comprises an ST31N600 security element, a 40nm Arm SecurCore SC000 core and an STM32L443 image processing chip. The ST31N600 also hosts payment applications, a biometric template matching system and relies on energy recovery to power its system.

CHALLENGES

• Worldwide recognition: The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, has established itself as a leading event for technological innovation since its inception in 1967. Receiving an award at this show is a great recognition at the global level for players from different sectors.

• Democratising biometrics: By making the biometric system on cards more secure and convenient, STPay-Topaz-Bio solutions will help increase - or even remove - the current contactless limit on most bank cards.

• Going beyond payment solutions: According to its creator, the technological device can also be easily integrated into identity cards, access solutions and transport ticketing, for example. The teams are already studying the use of this technology in healthcare and access control. Authenticating users with a fingerprint can provide a more reliable and secure path to privacy.

MARKET PERSPECTIVE

• According to a study by ReportLinker, the global market for contactless biometric technology is expected to reach $18.6 billion by 2026, with the pandemic driving adoption as consumers seek to avoid contact with public equipment.