Open Tech Calendar

Guest of Honour: Dr Simon Rice, Group Manager (Technology), Information Commissioner’s Office

Coming at a time of rapid expansion in the use of biometrics across a growing number of sectors, this seminar will assess some of the key challenges and opportunities for developing, regulating and implementing new forms of biometric technologies.

It follows Government’s recent response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report into current and future uses of biometric data and technologies, which announced that the Government will publish two separate but aligned Forensic and Biometric strategies by the end of 2015.

At this early stage it is expected planned sessions will focus on how government, businesses and academia can raise awareness of biometric technologies and their possible benefits, as well as examining public concerns and related issues of openness in the collection and use biometrics. Delegates will also discuss regulatory challenges, including how current data protection legislation might need to adapt to innovation in this area.

Further sessions will look at opportunities for the UK to take a lead in an increasingly competitive global biometrics sector, looking at funding for cutting edge research, and ways government and others can support more biometrics start-ups, and provide the necessary facilities and other resources for them to thrive.

We are delighted that Dr Simon Rice, Group Manager (Technology), Information Commissioner's Office; Dr Peter Armstrong, Technical Director, Identity, CESG and Andrew Tyrer, Head of Enabling Technologies, Innovate UK have agreed to deliver keynote addresses at this seminar.

Professor Louise Amoore, Department of Geography, Durham University; Simon Cole, Chief Constable, Leicestershire Police; Paul Coombes, Head of Commercial, Argus Global; Martin George, Senior Director, FotoNation; Dr Sam De Silva, Partner and Head of IT & Outsourcing Group, Penningtons Manches; Pippa King, Campaigner and Author, Biometrics in Schools blog; Professor Douwe Korff, Emeritus Professor of Information Law, London Metropolitan University; Professor Mark Nixon, Professor in Computer Vision, University of Southampton; Wayne Smith, Head of Information Services, Birmingham Airport and Dr Peter Waggett, Emerging Technology Program Director, IBM and Chair, Biometrics Committee, British Standards Institute have also agreed to speak.

Admiral the Rt Hon Lord West of Spithead, former Parliamentary Under‐Secretary of State for Security and Counter‐terrorism has kindly agreed to chair part of this seminar.