HidInImage, a spin-out of the University of Ulster, secures additional backing for its watermarking technology.
HidInImage, a digital watermarking firm, has received additional funding to fuel further development.
The Northern Ireland-based company is commercialising research from the University of Ulster which ensures the security of data through hidden software messages.
HidInImage was the first company to receive backing from the £1m ($1.61m) Ulster Innovation Fund, part of the wider Northern Ireland Spin Outs (NISPO) Funds, a consortium of funds designed to stimulate spin-out growth and worth an accumulated £14m.
In the latest round, HidInImage secured an additional £125k from NISPO with a further undisclosed amount from a private investor.
Joan Condell, chief executive of HidInImage, explained the technology’s appeal: “HidInImage technology could be used in many different situations, such as authenticating identity to tighten security at airport checks-ins and other public access points; securing watermarking for forensic photographic and video evidence transmitting sensitive information like medical records securely; as a means of strengthening protection of copyright; or guaranteeing that images and videos have not been tampered with. The digital watermarks are embedded directly into the content of a digital image so, although the watermarks can’t be seen by the human eye, they can be recognised and read by enabled software and/or hardware for authenticating, tracking or monitoring purposes.
