MCS’ first project was to develop the ICOS chip operating system for the world’s first e-passport for the Immigration Department of Malaysia which culminated in the launch of the biometric passport in March 1998.

MCS achieved another world’s first – a multi-application chip operating system SMOS purpose-designed for trusted ID applications – for the Government Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC) delivered on July 2001.

In the years after the 9/11 incident, the e-Passport was identified as an important tool to curb terrorism and it saw much development by international security-related organisations. As a pioneer, MCS participated in its standardisation led by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and published as Document 9303 Machine Readable Travel Document (MRTD) standard.

Drawing on customer requirements and industry developments, MCS designed a unique card operating system called Multi-application Operating System (MOS) that combines an ISO7816 standard-based file system that meets various e-ID and e-passport specifications, with a Global Platform card manager to ensure proper management of multiple application providers on a single smartcard.

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MCS leveraged on MOS to design our BioCheck biometric-system-on-card product which incorporates a fingerprint sensor on the card itself.

To use the BioCheck smartcard, the cardholder must first authenticate himself through a matching fingerprint scan. In other words, another layer of security can be added to ID applications on smartcard, providing users with greater control over accessibility to personal data stored on the smartcard.

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Being conscientious of the need to reduce the carbon footprint of smartcards and to produce greener products, MCS explored revolutionary technology and processes in their design and manufacture.

Graphene is a carbon-based material that is one atom-thick with excellent electrical conductivity and strength. A prototype of the MCS e-passport with Graphene Antenna and MOS was showcased in the Mobile World Congress 2018 exhibition by the Italian research institute Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), our technology partner.

In 2019, MCS successfully developed the Paper Inlay solution where the IC module and antenna are assembled on paper substrate which makes it extremely compatible with e-passport bookmaking process.

MCS developed the UniVisa electronic visa sticker that complies with ICAO Document 9303 Part 7 — Machine Readable Visas specifications. It stores the bearer’s primary biodata including any biometric data such as face, iris and fingerprints.

Another solution based on the paper inlay technology is an Electronic Seal which could be affixed to paper documents like birth certificates, university diplomas, work permits and so forth. As for the electronics, the smart RFID chip and its antenna are assembled on paper, designed like a seal or stamp, which is then laminated on to the security paper.

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 The Secure Multi-Applications Code (SMAC) is based on the widely-used QR Code standard. However, unlike typical QR Code that sends the Viewer to a website only, the SMAC identifies the person or entity that it is attached to. Furthermore, depending on who is inspecting the SMAC, the Viewer will be connected to various online resources and services according to permissions determined by the SMAC owner, issuer, service provider and/or other stakeholders.

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In collaboration with technology leaders, MCS taps into novel biometrics solutions to address customers’ demand for privacy, mobile-friendly applications, and touch-free public access devices. Our solutions integrate the latest technologies, including:

• Facial biohash zero-knowledge authentication
• Touch-free fingerprint imaging
• Finger vein biometrics

► IDEX Biometrics expands in Southeast Asia with MCS (May 2023)

► The Secure Multi-Applications Code (SMAC) proof-of-concept is available now (March 2022)

► MOS Achieves Common Criteria EAL4+ Certification (8 April 2019)

► Video of UniVisa Electronic Visa (3 Feb 2019)

► Video of UniVisa e-Visa Enrolment and Inspection Demo (3 Feb 2019)