Daon to take on Japanese market

IRISH biometric security specialists Daon plan to take the Japanese market by storm after winning a crucial identity-processing contract from the US Department of Homeland Security.

Dublin-based Daon is emerging as the world leader in the burgeoning €400 million per-year biometric identity management software market. The business worldwide has mushroomed since the September 11 attacks in the US.

Governments and corporations are responding to global security threats using scanned fingerprints and iris recognition techniques for population- wide security programmes. Daon, owned by businessman Dermot Desmond, earlier this month secured the contract to supply the core software to the US Department of Homeland Security worker identification programme. The department is expected to formally announce the deal today.

Now, Daon chief operating officer Tony Murphy said the company wants to leverage this win to target key border control and identity projects in the Japanese marketplace.

Mr Murphy said seeing off stiff competition to win the contract from the US Department of Homeland Security gives the company incredible leverage to secure similar contracts in Japan and other markets worldwide.

“We are well placed with the right products and track record to work with our partners in Japan to win a very significant amount of new business,” he said. Mr Murphy would not discuss figures but it is estimated the market for security hardware and software in this sector is worth close to €4 billion, with the software component supplied by companies like Daon making up between 10% and 15% of this global spend.

Meanwhile, Cork firm LongHaul technology yesterday won a contract worth close to €0.5m from China Airlines for its LongRest system air cushions for 18 new aircraft. LongHaul managing director Morgan Connolly said he is delighted with the response by China Airlines to its products.