About IRIS

The EPSRC IRIS Network

The IRIS (Integrating Research and Industrial Biometrics Strategies) network consists of a founding group of partners which draw together expertise from six academic institutions working in the field of biometrics and the IAFB (Intellect Association for Biometrics) which represents a range of industrial organisations in the UK and beyond. The aim of the network is to bring together key academic researchers from the biometrics field and to develop and strengthen the interface with the industrial base in order to optimise the delivery of biometrics-based solutions both within the UK and as part of the global expansion of biometrics-based products and services.

The IRIS network aims to create and support opportunities for the academic research base and the UK industrial community in biometrics to explore, develop and consolidate collaborative working. As part of this mission IRIS is committed to enhancing communication and making available shared resources for the direct benefit of the biometrics community.

The IRIS network aims to be open to all who can contribute to and benefit from its success.

The IRIS network is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Aims

Biometrics technologies offer security through automated person authentication and recognition and are seen as important components in the overall approach to crime fighting, security and safety. Biometric-based identification is a research field which has been developing rapidly in recent years both in the UK and internationally. However, examples can still be found where a gap exists between technological capabilities and the actual performance of real biometrics systems. This gap can only be bridged by focused research and cooperation between all sectors of the biometrics field.

The IRIS network aims to develop and implement a strategy to unify the disparate drivers of biometrics activity and help to optimise the delivery of biometrics-based solutions in a way that will benefit all the relevant sectors. The key is to create and support opportunities for the academic research base and the UK industrial community to explore, develop and consolidate collaborative working. This involves five elements:

• Developing a better understanding of the capabilities and interests of all parties
• Identifying a realistic common agenda for research and development which has the support of all parties
• Developing and supporting activities which will stimulate positive outcomes in relation to these objectives
• Developing a better means of communication between the relevant parties
• Developing shared resources for the direct benefit of the biometrics community