RFID European Union Public Hearings ...

EU starts public hearings on RFID technology, hoping to spark debate abd understand issues. ...

... "The European Commission last year established an RFID inter-service group to co-ordinate the gathering, analysis and internal dissemination of information concerning RFID technology and its uses. Building on this, the Commission has started today to launch a wide public debate on the opportunities and challenges associated with RFID. To exploit the economic potential of RFID, privacy and consumer concerns associated with the use of RFID tags need to be handled constructively, with the assent of all stakeholders. Furthermore, to enable RFID to deliver on its potential for growth and jobs, Europe needs to agree on common technical standards, to ensure RFID interoperability across borders, and also on a common radio spectrum band for RFIDs to use. The public debate on RFID launched by the Commission today will rely on a series of workshops to build consensus on key issues associated with the use of RFID. These workshops will address RFID applications, end-user issues, interoperability and standards, and frequency spectrum requirements. They will take place in Brussels between March and June 2006 and their conclusions will assist the European Commission in drafting a working document on RFID. This document will be published in September in an online consultation. Additional feedback obtained will then be analysed and integrated in a Commission Communication on RFID, to be adopted before the end of the year. This feedback could lead to amendments of the e-privacy-Directive which is up for review this year. The Communication will also address the need for other legislative measures for RFID, such as decisions on allocation of spectrum. " ...

RFID European Union Public Hearings: Via EUROPA: Commission launches public consultation on radio frequency ID tags ...

RFID Multiple Authentication Factor ...

Encentuate offers multiple methods of authentication through identity form factors such as RFID tags, smart cards, and USB tokens ...

... "Each organization is different, and each situation provides a unique access security challenge, said Peng T. Ong, founder and chairman of Encentuate. What sets Encentuate TCI apart from other solutions is our ability to seamlessly integrate with a number of authentication technologies, from RFID to USB tokens. As a result, we can eliminate an organization’s dependence on weak passwords and ensure secure access to computer systems using a variety of authentication factors. The authentication opportunities are practically limitless and we work with each organization to determine the solution, which is most effective for their requirements. Encentuate TCI’s ability to integrate with a variety of authentication factors provides enterprises a seamless path to strong digital identity without introducing additional complexity, cost or overwhelming deployments.

Encentuate TCI gives organizations a choice of authentication solutions, each of which greatly improves security. With a simple swipe of an RFID badge or a fingerprint scan organizations can strengthen access to computer systems while allowing the staff to quickly access the information they need to be productive on their jobs. " ...

RFID Multiple Authentication Factor: Via Encentuate: Encentuate TCI Delivers Multiple Authentication Factor Support: Company's technology integrates with a variety of multi-function authentication solutions, including RFID, biometrics and USB tokens ...

RFID Company Gives Back to Community ...

Neology, an RFID company, gives back to its local community through job creation. ...

... "As many as 30% of Endeavor's entrepreneurs don't reinvest in their communities, but Martinez, 41, who left school at 13 and later founded Neology, a Mexico-based radio-frequency identification (RFID) company, gives back. Neology, which has grown into a $20 million exporter from $300,000 in four years, has created hundreds of jobs locally and in San Diego. " ...

RFID Company Gives Back to Community: Via Time: Better Than Charity ...

RFID Application and Education ...

RFID Application and Education: Ohio Governor Bob Taft - News Release

... "Development Research Corporation (Kettering, Montgomery County) received more than $2.3 million to establish the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Application and Education Center (REAC). The REAC will serve as a source for RFID solutions for both end customers as well as suppliers. RFID tags, which consist of silicon chips and an antenna that can transmit data to a wireless receiver, could one day be used to track everything from soda cans to cereal boxes. Unlike bar codes, which need to be scanned manually and read individually, radio ID tags do not require line of sight for reading and hundreds of tags can be read per second. The project expects to achieve annual sales of $10 million and create 100 new jobs within 3 to 5 years. Collaborators on this project include Alien Technology Corp., Sinclair Community College, Miami Valley Venture Funds, Development Project Inc., NCIC Capital Fund and Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. " ...

RFID Job: Operations Director

Operations Director (Designate): Freshinfo | Jobs & services

... "A committed approach to process innovation and improvements to reduce cost. Adept at P&L management, IT systems and RFID developments. " ...

Ohio RFID Application Education ...

Newsroom | Ohio Department of Development

... "Development Research Corporation (Kettering, Montgomery County) received more than $2.3 million to establish the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Application and Education Center (REAC). The REAC will serve as a source for RFID solutions for both end customers as well as suppliers. RFID tags, which consist of silicon chips and an antenna that can transmit data to a wireless receiver, could one day be used to track everything from soda cans to cereal boxes. Unlike bar codes, which need to be scanned manually and read individually, radio ID tags do not require line of sight for reading and hundreds of tags can be read per second. The project expects to achieve annual sales of $10 million and create 100 new jobs within 3 to 5 years. Collaborators on this project include Alien Technology Corp., Sinclair Community College, Miami Valley Venture Funds, Development Project Inc., NCIC Capital Fund and Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. " ...

RFID Company Adds Depth in Financial Management Leadership ...

RFID Company Adds Depth in Financial Management: Alien Technology Expands Management Team with Addition of Chief ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... with exceptional opportunity and an early leadership position in the rapidly growing markets for RFID, and look ...

... Alien Technology(R) today announced the addition to the company's management team of Ronald K. Shelton in the role of Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for the finance, legal, human resources and information technology functions at Alien. Shelton brings to the company extensive experience as a public company CFO with expertise in the many aspects of financial management and administration important to Alien's next stage of growth. ...

Alien Technology Corporation is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) products for global customers in government, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and other industries. Using its patented manufacturing process, Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA(R)), Alien(R) manufactures EPC tags in very high-volumes and at low cost. The company also provides RFID readers for a variety of applications including supply chain management, logistics, and anti-counterfeiting, to improve inventory management and reduce operating costs. Alien is an active member of EPCglobal.

More information on financial management depth at RFID companies ...

Manager - RFID - Strategy and Operations Job: supply chain, mergers & acquisitions, financial management, program leadership ... Our depth of experience allows us to ... Consulting LLP, in our RFID practice, will ...

SkyeTek Expands Executive Team and Board of Directors: "These appointments bring the depth of technology ... the top players in the RFID world. ... 14 years of entrepreneurial financial management experience predominately ...

Blackstone Technology, Inc.: startup RFID companies such as Gentag, Inc, and combined with IT infrastructure experience, provides Blackstone with superior financial management depth for ...

Healthcare RFID Solutions: ClearCount Medical Solutions Receives Just Under $300,000 in Pre ...

From Yahoo News (press release) ... "We provide a simple and intuitive system using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to provide instantaneous counts. ...

... ClearCount has a patented process and technology to tackle the current cumbersome method of tracking surgical sponges and instruments throughout a surgical procedure. At present, perioperative nurses spend 30-45 minutes manually counting surgical sponges and instruments before, during and after each typical surgery. When manual counts do not match up, hospitals are forced to X-ray the patient, leading to more than a million X-rays annually. Even with this last line of defense, thousands of cases of retained foreign bodies still occur. ...

Innovation Works is a state-sponsored organization working to seed technology companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania and grow them to the point of being self-sustaining. Innovation Works provides risk capital, business expertise, and other resources to high-potential companies with the greatest likelihood for regional economic impact. The combination of Innovation Work's early-stage investments and the hands-on guidance of an experienced business team helps companies commercialize their innovative technologies, gain critical early customers, develop strategies to maximize their competitive edge, and form relationships with other investors and advisors who can help these companies attract additional capital and grow.

The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse is a public/private partnership, founded by the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, UPMC Health System, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its regional foundation community. Together with private industry and advanced research and healthcare capabilities of our institutional partners, PLSG invests in and supports the growth of regional life sciences companies in the areas of: bioinformatics; bionanotechnology; diagnostics; medical devices; medical robotics; therapeutics; and tools and services.

Idea Foundry, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), was founded in 2002 to fill Southwestern Pennsylvania's major business gap between innovative "ideas" and sustainable technology start-up businesses, in turn creating jobs. Idea Foundry bridges the significant gap between idea generation and a fundable start-up by providing the intellectual and financial capital necessary to support innovators. Idea Foundry is a collective of private foundations, government entities and universities.

RFID SST Smart and Secure Tradelanes Initiative ...

From CONGRESSMAN BOB MENENDEZ, Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, 108TH CONGRESS ...

... "In the wake of September 11th, the need for secured ports has become more evident. Our ports in New Jersey serve not only as a center for global trade, but as an economic engine for our region, providing over 229,000 jobs and $25 billion in commerce, said Menendez. This is why I am proud to join in today's announcement of the Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative. It is a major step toward protecting our homeland from the threat of unsecured cargo entering our ports. SST is an initiative to improve container security, utilizing a collection of interoperable technologies, ranging from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) electronic seals and readers, GPS tracking systems, sensor and biometric technologies and gamma-ray image scanners - all seamlessly linked to software through the Universal Data Appliance Protocol (UDAP). Initially funded and driven by the world's largest port operators, SST is closely coordinated with the U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative (CSI), Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Security Agency's (TSA) maritime security initiatives, such as Operation Safe Commerce. " ...

Through a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Bob Menendez, who represents New Jersey's 13th Congressional District along the Hudson River and overlooking the Statue of Liberty, has made a stellar and rapid rise to the highest levels of influence in the U.S. House, and the highest levels of prominence in American political life. Today, Bob Menendez is the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, elected by his colleagues on November 14, 2002.

RFID Industry: From the NORTH DAKOTA ROUNDUP

From Grand Forks Herald, ND ... "Many estimate the value of the RFID industry at over $1 billion this year, with tenfold growth expected in the next decade," Dorgan said. ...

... Officials are hoping "smart tags" will bring thousands of jobs to North Dakota. About 170 business, academic and industry leaders discussed the technology, called radio frequency identification, at a session sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. ...

RFID Software: How ABAP programmers can survive outsourcing

From Search SAP ... Cranky ABAP programmers watching their jobs shipped may want to jump on the radio frequency identification (RFID) bandwagon, or look toward new corporate ...

RFID Career: Job Opportunities in Radio Frequency Identification Technology...

There are many jobs available in RFID technology today. Here are some sample RFID job descriptions for review to understand the requirements for RFID positions in the marketplace today...

RFID Consultant This position will support sales in the required activities for an RFID Transaction, and also to aid in the implementation of RFID. Must have pre-sales experience, knowledge and experience working with RFID solutions (on the software side), experience in system design, experience with New Technologies and Programming Languages like Java or C++, process experience with WMS and/or in Supply Chain software industry, and have a degree in Engineering or Computer Science. Will support international sales campaigns...

RFID Technical Support Engineer Support Engineer needed for sales office. The individual will provide extensive technical support for customers, OEM’s, and sales personnel with respect to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) products and solutions. Will perform and provide field testing and support of RFID implementations; provide RFID product evaluation support; interface with customer to provide technical services, assist customers with product integration; manage customer requests for quotations and specification; provide RFID product and tools training for customers and sales personnel; Assist sales and marketing personnel in feasibility assessments; BSEE; experience with RFID – supporting, installing, and problem solving...

Manager, RFID Certification and Standards Position is responsible for all aspects of Certification programs for companies within the RFID Partner Program. Includes gathering certification requirements from staff, design and develop detailed requirements, execute and maintain daily activities for the program. Ability to work across multiple standards (e.g. EAN, UCC, EPCglobal, RosettaNet) and industries (CPG, technology, govt, etc.). Experience in developing and understanding business requirements and translating into technical and/or detailed test plans. Experience with radio frequency identification (RFID) and software solutions within Supply Chain Management that support more efficient supply chain management. Understand EDI, XML, electronic commerce, automated RFID product identification and scanning...

Oracle edges further into RFID territory

From Computerworld Australia, Mar 31, 2004 ... Computerworld Oracle edges further into RFID territory Wednesday 31st March 2004 LATEST SECTIONS JOBS ABOUT COMPUTERWORLD

RFID Technology: Executive Predicts US Innovation Will Prevail over ...

From Miami Herald, FL ... Plus there are new sets of technology, such as RFID (radio frequency identification), which are spawning a new class of applications, a new class of jobs that ...

More RFID News...

Using Maine RFID Technology to Strengthen Food Safety By U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe

Its clinical name is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – but we know it by its more common name, "mad cow disease." The discovery of the disease in a Holstein cow at a farm in Washington state caused concern among consumers, and major panic among producers, as more than 40 nations banned American beef from their stores, and cattle prices tumbled.

But the case has also illustrated a major shortcoming in our food safety system. Since the disease was believed to be transmitted to the infected cow in its feed, and symptoms take years to appear, officials needed to track down other cattle in that Holstein’s herd, cattle that would have been likely to eat the same feed – and may have been exposed to the disease.

Even now, though, federal agencies have not located all 81 cows in that herd. Even though officials reassure us that the risk to humans is minimal in this case, there is no question that by improving our ability to track livestock, we can enhance the security of our animals, our farms, and our food supply – and a company from the town of Raymond, Maine, could lead the way.

EmbedTech Industries is a small business with a unique specialty. The entrepreneurs there have developed a way to securely and inexpensively encase radio frequency identification (RFID) chips in plastic. The chips are then secure, protected from damage or sabotage, and readable with a scanner similar to a barcode reader. The technology has a vast number of possibilities, but its potential use to track livestock is in some ways, most intriguing. The concept is simple – by attaching an RFID-embedded ear tag to a calf, you create a system that can measure much more than just who owns an animal. The RFID chips are computer chips, a portable, recordable and scannable medium on which to record not just ownership, but full histories, such as vaccinations, growth measurements, and other critical information.

The promise this technology holds is why I have joined a bipartisan group of senators as a co-sponsor of the Animal Health Protection Act, which would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to use technology like that developed by EmbedTech to electronically track the nation’s livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture already has the authority to implement a livestock tracking system – but it has lacked the funding and the technology. The bill provides $25 million to establish the system, technology that would have made tracking the 81 head of cattle in the current BSE case faster and more accurate, and could accomplish much more.

Our bill could be just the beginning. Since its introduction, President Bush has announced the inclusion of $60 million in the fiscal 2005 budget to fund a national cattle identification system, along with increased surveillance, and research and development into mad cow disease. By strengthening our ability to track and identify livestock, we can inspire confidence in our farm communities, protecting the farmers, as well as the farms. In Maine, that means 395 dairy farms and more than 2,000 jobs.

And those are just the jobs we have now. RFID chips are tiny, but their economic promise is immense for Maine. As a state, we are positioned to capture a share of this high-tech growth industry through companies like EmbedTech, as well as chipmakers, label makers and more. In short, we could create a winning environment for Maine farmers, consumers and workers. The electronic animal identification system could provide an affordable means of protecting the nation’s food supply, inspiring confidence in consumers and potentially, creating a growth manufacturing sector in the Maine economy.

BYRON DORGAN: ALIEN TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT SHOWS COMPANY’S COMMITMENT TO NORTH DAKOTA, “IMMENSE POTENTIAL” FOR ITS RFID PRODUCTS

Company is poised to be the leader in RFID tag manufacture

(FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said that the announcement by Alien Technology - that it will hire local workers and begin operations at a leased facility in Fargo six months earlier than planned – shows that “the immense potential in the manufacture of Alien’s high-technology products right here in North Dakota is very real.” He also said that the company’s decision to delay the construction of a flagship plant at the NDSU Technology Park by six to twelve months seems to be a reasonable business decision that will allow it to better match its production capacity with market demand for “smart tags,” or tiny RFID (radio frequency identification) transmitters.

The company plans to hire up to 30 employees in late spring or early summer and start assembling and testing RFID tags.

Dorgan, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was instrumental in bringing the California-based company to North Dakota, creating a research partnership with it and North Dakota State University (NDSU), getting federal contracts for the firm, and encouraging it to build a manufacturing facility in Fargo.

“Alien Technology has shown it is willing to invest in North Dakota’s future, and the early start to its operations is a great sign of how much potential exists for the high-tech products they manufacture. For North Dakota, this means the economic growth and additional new jobs we’ve been expecting will arrive even sooner than predicted,” Dorgan said. “At the same time, the delay in the construction of Alien’s permanent facility seems a reasonable move, which does nothing to dim this company’s bright future in North Dakota. It will allow the company to grow at the right pace to meet the demand for its products, and that makes sense.”

The tags have vast potential applications in the areas of inventory control, agricultural management, security and more. In recent months, Wal-Mart, Target, European retail giant Tesco, and the Department of Defense have announced plans to require their suppliers to adopt RFID technology. The technology will eventually replace the bar codes now ubiquitous on consumer products.

Worked today to put together information on RFID jobs for RFIDa website visitors. A fair amount of jobs are developing in sales for RFID. Not a tidal wave yet, but it looks promising. Also, signed up for Technorati today after reading excellent article on WebProNews on the future of search technology - "In a recent interview with Microsoft's Robert Scoble"... Excellent insights by Robert and good reporting by Andy Beal...