From the end of 2016, the FIDO (fast identity online) technology rapidly has become widespread, supporting an increasing number of means of authentication including IC cards, in addition to fingerprint and iris recognition, the most secured means of identity recognition at the time. Against this backdrop, a team of researchers at ETRI has successfully developed FIDO 2.0, the next-generation version of FIDO, the most representative security technology for fintech services.

This technology can now be applied to platforms other than smartphones and enables biometrics in a Windows environment. For instance, users who browse online shopping malls on their desktop computers can complete authentication through recognition of their fingerprint and iris. As smartphones serve as an authentication device, users can simply tag their fingerprint to their device, which will complete authentication for an online shopping mall browsed on their laptop or a PC through Bluetooth communication.

The existing technology inevitably causes inconvenience to users in order to strengthen security. However, the technology developed by ETRI is situation-cognition technology that multi-directionally monitors the information of a user's face, key input, motion, and location through the smartphone sensor and analyzes such information based on machine learning techniques to verify the user's identity. Even if a third party peeps at the user's password and uses it, the device will distinguish the person from the legitimate user by recognizing the difference of the face data and key input pattern.

The standardization of the FIDO 2.0 technology is being completed through the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and the FIDO Alliance. In 2018, with full-fledged commercialization of this global standard technology, the user will be able to take advantage of more convenient means of authentication involving fingerprint, iris, and face recognition for web browsers and operating systems, instead of less secure and easily forgettable passwords. In step with this trend, ETRI is planning technology transfer and business development in time for the technology's commercialization.

The FIDO technology is expected to be applied to an increasing number of industrial areas that require an advanced level of identity authentication in the years to come. Connected to various services such as IoT and O2O, the technology will enable FIDO-supporting smartphones to control IoT devices in smart homes and start smart cars, thereby guaranteeing mutual trust between offline devices and users.

The enthusiasm for startup businesses continues even amidst the economic slowdown. In particular, the growth of the ICT industry has further expanded the room for emerging ideas, thereby supporting the current trend. It is true, however, that startups with novel ideas and strong determination still face various risk factors.

ETRI recently published a book introducing the startup process and trials and errors of its researchers. Entitled Dream Big and Rule the Future, this storytelling book provides interviews with 13 CEOs who worked at ETRI as researchers.

HURA, Babyplus, MetaRPAS, and all other companies introduced in the book participated in the preliminary startup support program offered by ETRI and were founded within the past two years. The book describes the background and motives behind the companies' foundation, the business items, the process of preparing startups, troubleshooting cases after foundation, and the CEOs' entrepreneurship. This publication is anticipated to provide both practical information and motivation to the general public, as well as to researchers who dream of starting their own business.

Since 2011 when the program for supporting open innovative startups was introduced, ETRI has supported the foundation of a total of 39 technological venture businesses and made a significant achievement of commercialization. As the preliminary startup support program, originally targeting ETRI's employees only, became open to the outside community from 2014, startup opportunities are now available to all members of the public who aspire to start businesses with the technologies developed by ETRI.

To continue leading technology startup, ETRI is currently operating programs for open innovative startups, foundation of research companies, and management of startup workshops. For the purpose of creating jobs and increasing revenues for small and medium-sized businesses in the ICT field, the institution also supports e-family companies, technology commercialization, research workforce in the field, and additional research and development for commercialization.