The tenth edition of the exhibition-conference SDW (Security Document World) saw numbers increase to a record high, with an expanded exhibition, the organisers Science Media Partners Ltd report.
Attendance grew by 6 per cent, with more than 1800 people from 74 nations participating in the three-day event. The venue saw government officials and industry figures exchanging ideas and knowledge, as well as catching up on the latest secure document products and services available.
The SDW 2016 Exhibition grew almost 20pc this year to include 130 exhibitors – exhibition space sold out more than six months before the show, prompting organisers to open a second exhibition floor to satisfy demand. This year’s exhibition also saw the introduction of free seminars; more in the June 2016 print issue of Professional Security magazine.
Meanwhile, in the SDW 2016 Conference rooms, the industry thought-leaders came together to share insights into how the secure document sector is addressing issues such as migration, the rising threat of terrorism, and ever more complex identity fraud in the wider world context.
SDW also hosted an ePassport interoperability testing event (SDW InterOp 2016) featuring document manufacturers, document verification system providers and test laboratories. More than 8,502 crossover tests were performed, with 98pc completed successfully. However, several important interoperability issues were identified which the industry can now address, say organisers.
Mark Lockie, SDW 2016 Event Director, said: “I’m delighted that SDW has become such a global hub for the secure document sector, where government and industry meet to discuss, source and forge solutions to some of the biggest issues facing our world today. From fraud and terrorism prevention to civil organisation, well-designed, integrated secure documents play a vital role.”
Preparations for SDW 2017 are already under way. Next year’s event will again be held in Westminster at the QEII Centre in London, on June 26 to 28, 2017. A call for speakers will go out in the autumn; and the conference programme will be available in spring 2017.
