In the light of the release of the new electronic identity (eID) cards as from November 2010, a group of selected IT companies will provide the cardholders with an IT-Security toolkit; it will contain a secure chip card reader, information about the use of the new eID and the electronic health cards, as well as assembled components made by the companies, such as access to web-based applications or antivirus software.

€24 million were granted from the German IT Investment Programme to a list of winning IT companies in order to provide the citizens by November 2010 with an IT-Security toolkit that will facilitate and ensure a secure use of the new eID card.

Welcoming the launch of the IT-Security toolkit, the Federal Government Commissioner for Information Technology and Secretary of State, Cornelia Rogall-Grothe said: "The grant award constitutes an initiative of the Federal Government towards achieving a greater security for citizens who use the electronic smart cards. I am delighted that the idea of the IT-Security toolkit has attracted so much interest. Thanks to the funding about 1.5 million IT-Security toolkits will be dispatched and at the same time the market will be provided with safe and cost-effective smart card readers."

Depending on the type of the IT company involved in the project, on the type of the information contained in the smart card reader and in any other components included in the kit, the IT-Security toolkit will be issued free of charge or at reduced prices.

The dispatch of the toolkit will start in November 2010 and will last until December 2011.

Further information:

• Official Press Release - Federal Agency of Information Technology (in German)
• Additional Information on the IT-Security Toolkit - Federal Agency of Information Technology (in German)
• New German electronic identity card project - Federal Ministry of Interior (in German)
• Related ePractice News Article - DE: New electronic identity cards by November 2010