“New P@ss” Project Investigates New Security Technologies for Modern Electronic Travel Documents and Mobile Applications

Neubiberg, Germany – September 24, 2012 – Infineon Technologies (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) and NXP Semiconductors Germany GmbH (NXP), both manufacturers of security ICs, as well as the specialist for secure chip card systems Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), are investigating how future generations of electronic identification documents can be made more secure and efficient. The three companies form the German consortium of the “New P@ss” research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), in which a total of 15 companies from five EU countries are taking part.

Nanoelectronics and information technology are focus areas supported by BMBF within the New P@ss research project. The objective is to create data structures and new security chip architectures for modern electronic identification documents. In the future, these should facilitate the secure administration of electronic data in such documents, including the updating of personal details as well as the storage of additional information such as arrival and departure data.

Another focus area of the research in the NewP@ss project is the secure use of digital ID documents in mobile applications for smart phones and tablet computers. The research will consider open architectures such as Android, but also Windows Phone and iOS. The objective is to test new mechanisms for secure eGovernment transactions, for example on the basis of a standardized security platform (Trusted Execution Environments). The primary focus is on contactless communication with a Secure Element, the mobile authentication of the user, as well as secure and confidential input and output and storage of user data.

The New P@ss research project is part of the European EUREKA cluster CATRENE. It began on May 1, 2012 and is expected to end in April 2015. The total volume of the project is about Euro 30 million. Half of this amount will be provided by the business and industry partners, and the other half will be funded by the national governments. The German share amounts to about Euro 8.7 million. The BMBF has funded about Euro 4 million and is one of the most important sponsors in the area of the German government’s high-tech strategy in the IKT 2020 support program.

All of the 27 EU countries with around 500 million inhabitants currently issue biometric travel documents. Seventeen European countries are already using electronic identification cards. Since 2006, a total of more than 400 million electronic travel documents have been distributed in 108 countries worldwide. Other European countries have announced that that they, too, intend to introduce electronic ID cards that adhere to international standards.

About Giesecke & Devrient

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a leading international technology provider head-quartered in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1852, the Group has a workforce of around 10,500 employees and generated sales exceeding EUR 1.64 billion in fiscal 2011. 58 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 32 countries ensure customer proximity worldwide. Over 150 countries place their trust in G&D solutions when producing and processing their banknotes. The company primarily supplies central and commercial banks, cash-in-transit companies, and security printers with innovative technologies that render the cash cycle efficient and secure. G&D bank and SIM cards are used all over the world to make payments and telephone calls. As an end-to-end provider of smartcard and mobile security solutions, the Group develops and distributes hard-ware, software, and services to a client base that includes banks, mobile network operators, transportation companies, business enterprises, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Governments and public authorities turn to G&D for passport, ID card, and border control systems, ensuring reliable identity verification right around the globe. For more information, please visit: www.gi-de.com

About NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading RF, Analog, Power Management, Interface, Security and Digital Processing expertise. These innovations are used in a wide range of automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, industrial, mobile, consumer and computing applications. A global semiconductor company with operations in more than 25 countries, NXP posted revenue of $4.2 billion in 2011. Additional information can be found by visiting www.nxp.com.

Press contacts

Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
Daniela Gaigl, Press Office
Tel: +49 89 4119-1622
Email: Daniela.Gaigl@gi-de.com

NXP Semiconductors Germany GmbH
Michael Maader, Press Office
Tel: +49 40 5613-3371
Email: michael.maader@nxp.com

Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, mobility, and security. In the 2011 fiscal year (ending September 30), the company reported sales of Euro 4.0 billion with close to 26,000 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.