1) Could you please introduce yourself and describe your company as well as the products/solutions that you will be presenting during TRUSTECH 2022?
I am Charles Mevaa. I am a PhD. graduate from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in Semiconductor physics and technology. I extended my academic background with a Certificate in Advanced General Management at HEC in Paris. Since September 2021, I have been appointed Vice President Identity Business Line in the Secure Components Strategic Business Unit of IN Groupe, a global expert in identity and secure digital services. Our group is at the leading edge of technology, helping states exercise their sovereignty, citizens protect their identity and businesses preserve their integrity.
IN Groupe has driven the creation of the Secure Components Business Unit, in order to provide governments, central banks and businesses all around the world with the highest security expertise.
SPS and SURYS are the two brands of IN Groupe within this Business Unit, which manufacture and sell secure electronic, optical and digital components for payment cards, identity documents, vehicle traceability and banknotes. Our Surys’ brand optical security features (DOVIDs’) is among the leaders for ID documents and especially for passports. More than 55 states have selected and have been using our DOVID solutions to secure their passports. Beyond our anti-counterfeiting solutions, we are also among worldwide leaders specialized in Inlays and modules for Dual Interface (DIF) banking cards powered by our SPS brand. Our electronic products are recognized to be extremely reliable, as they are based on our inductive coupling offer, a renowned reliable technology which offers many benefits to our customers and to the end users. For Trustech 2022, we plan to present our full portfolio of products and solutions for Identity and Payment, which includes our digital solution (PhotometrixTM) for Identity, alongside our eCover and datapage solutions. We shall also be exhibiting large DOVIDs for PC substrates and our unique printers, which have the capacity to personalize both paper and PC substrates.
2) In your opinion, what are the current trends that are providing opportunities for your company?
Actually, a number of trends are underlying our product roadmap. The market has been driven by the need of security and digitalization. The 1st global trend that has been deeply reshaping our daily life and therefore the business environment is digitalization. Indeed, within the identity environment, it means digital ID (electronic passports, electronic cards…) and Mobile ID. This trend has for example driven the decision of France to move to an electronic national ID card. Even if the electronic passport has emerged as being a mature market, there are still over 50 countries not yet using it, which leaves an opportunity for our electronic Covers to equip these states with our field proven technology. The 2nd trend is the growing adoption of Polycarbonate (PC), on both ID cards and passport data pages, which seems to be for many countries the obvious choice for future security identity and travel documents. These major changes let arise new expectations on the market and therefore innovations on our end:
- The need of large DOVIDs on PC cards or PC Datapage; it is a push initiated by SURYS, which opened the path to other competitors that are now following this trend.
- On passports, we have seen an evolving trend positioning a picture of the holder and the infants on the 3rd page.
- The decentralization of documents personalization which opens opportunities for our printers
- Eco friendly or green products
3) Why did you choose to participate at TRUSTECH 2022? Will you be presenting innovative/new products or solutions during TRUSTECH 2022?
We participate at Trustech every year. It is a historical event for our company that enables us to showcase our most recent innovations, meet key actors in the industry, and touch base with our clients and partners, while addressing the market with our latest insights on its evolution. For 2022, we are aiming at combining the expertise of the two brands SURYS and SPS, in order to offer an unprecedented portfolio of solutions to the identity market. The complementarity of several know-hows within the same Business Line will contribute to secure innovative ID documents. We shall, for example, be presenting innovative solutions for health insurance cards, based on our Photometrix technology that will be used in Togo by the National Health Insurance Institute (INAM). This is a first-time achievement in West Africa for us.
4) How is TRUSTECH 2022 important for growing your business?
The entire ecosystem attends Trustech and historically we have always had a presence at what we consider to be the top events. Trustech gives us the opportunity to be in contact with important actors, partners & clients and to participate in the ecosystem for payments and identity. What better location than in the capital as Trustech brings together many international actors in our industry, which are important for a growing market?
5) Where do you intend to grow your business in the future (countries or verticals)?
Our ambition is to become the leader in the markets we are addressing. Sovereignty and the need for local manufacturing and local content will drive our growth in Identity in order to respond to the evolving trends from different regions. In the meantime, we intend to remain the leading supplier of DOVIDs for passports, accompanying the transition to PC data pages, with the same level of excellence. From an ID card perspective, we are aiming at leveraging our level of deployment worldwide, by developing our antennas and module solutions. We have an unique and favourable position in the market with our secure components portfolio that is suitable for local integrators, governments, and printing houses and we will leverage this trusted position to achieve our objectives