A European Forum of academics and businessmen, which will develop and promote the use of biometric technologies, will be formally set up in Dublin today, writes Jamie Smyth, Technology reporter.

Biometrics are automated methods of recognising a person from physiological characteristics, such as fingerprints, iris scanning or voice patterns.

The agency, which is being funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government, will analyse and develop standards for biometrics, which have become popular since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

The Government recently supported plans developed by the European Commission to insert biometric chips into citizens' passports to increase security. It is also piloting several biometric programmes, and has already introduced hand geometry entry scans in at least one Irish prison.

The Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, will formally launch the establishment of the forum later today at a conference at MediaLab Europe.

The European Biometric Forum is likely to have its headquarters at the Digital Hub in Dublin, where it will set up a centre of biometrics excellence to showcase real-life applications of biometrics. Special expert groups at the forum will work on a range of issues such as standards, certification, applications, education, legal and privacy, and finally social and environmental.

The Government is hoping that as host of the European Biometric Forum, it will be able to attract foreign direct investment from companies with an expertise in the technologies.

Already, several young Irish software firms have taken a lead in developing biometric technologies, including the Dublin-based firms Daon and VoiceVault.

Daon, which is being funded by the entrepreneur Mr Dermot Desmond, already supplies biometric security software to London City airport. It is also mulling over a bid for a tender to supply its system to 10 British airports, said Mr Martin Walsh, director of Daon, and chair of the European Biometrics Forum.

"The forum will be very strategic for Ireland and people should be proud of it," he says. "Our job will be to ensure the type of biometric standards that are developed are the right ones."

The European Commission has said its aim in setting up the forum is to develop a secure, socially acceptable and ethical use of biometrics in Europe. In support of this aim, the forum will carry out and support research over the years, part of which will be developing a roadmap for the European biometrics industry until 2010.