Mobai Wins Norwegian Research Council Grant for User-Controlled Biometrics

Published Date : 10/16/2025 

Facial biometrics company Mobai has received a significant grant from the Research Council of Norway to develop secure credential binding methods in digital wallets, focusing on user-controlled shareable biometrics. 

Facial biometrics company Mobai has won a 12.3 million Norwegian kroner (US$1.2 million) grant from the Research Council of Norway (Norges forskningsråd) to research new methods for secure credential binding in digital wallets. The project is focused on user-controlled shareable biometrics and is conducted in collaboration with advertising software firm Simula, the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), and Partisia, an identity solutions company specializing in multi-party computation (MPC).

The project aims to address challenges in cross-border identification and ID fraud. According to Mobai's LinkedIn post, the project will explore new methods for secure credential binding in digital wallets while ensuring compliance with GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, and the EU AI Act. Beyond the technical aspects, the project will provide legal and ethical insights that can shape future guidelines for responsible biometric data use, contributing to UN SDG 16.9: Legal Identity for All.

Mobai was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Norwegian Biometrics Laboratory at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Last year, the company secured 30 million Norwegian kroner (roughly US$2.8 million) in an oversubscribed seed financing round from investors such as TD Veen investment firm, former Google and Twitter executive Patrick Pichette, and Oslo consultancy Protonic Partners.

In 2021, Mobai announced €2.8 million in funding for a project to strengthen face biometrics systems' security for Norway's banking industry. The company's offerings include biometric face verification, liveness detection, injection attack detection, deepfake detection, and morphing attack detection. Mobai is one of the deepfake protection software vendors profiled in the '2025 Deepfake Detection Market Report & Buyer’s Guide,' compiled by Biometric Update with Goode Intelligence.

The project's collaboration with Simula, KU Leuven, and Partisia underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in advancing biometric technology. Simula's expertise in advertising software, KU Leuven's academic research capabilities, and Partisia's focus on multi-party computation will collectively contribute to the development of innovative and secure biometric solutions.

By focusing on user-controlled shareable biometrics, Mobai aims to empower individuals to manage their biometric data more effectively, ensuring privacy and security in an increasingly digital world. The project's alignment with GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, and the EU AI Act highlights the company's commitment to compliance and responsible data use.

The grant from the Research Council of Norway is a significant milestone for Mobai, providing the necessary resources to drive forward cutting-edge research and development in the biometric technology sector. This project has the potential to set new standards in secure credential binding and contribute to the broader goal of legal identity for all, as outlined in UN SDG 16.9. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main focus of the project funded by the Research Council of Norway?

A: The project focuses on developing new methods for secure credential binding in digital wallets, specifically user-controlled shareable biometrics, while ensuring compliance with GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, and the EU AI Act.

Q: Who are the key partners collaborating with Mobai on this project?

A: The key partners collaborating with Mobai on this project are Simula, the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), and Partisia.

Q: What is the significance of user-controlled shareable biometrics?

A: User-controlled shareable biometrics empower individuals to manage their biometric data more effectively, ensuring privacy and security in an increasingly digital world.

Q: What is Mobai's previous funding history?

A: Mobai secured 30 million Norwegian kroner (roughly US$2.8 million) in an oversubscribed seed financing round in 2021 and €2.8 million in funding for a project to strengthen face biometrics systems' security for Norway's banking industry.

Q: How does this project contribute to UN SDG 16.9?

A: The project provides legal and ethical insights that can shape future guidelines for responsible biometric data use, contributing to the goal of legal identity for all as outlined in UN SDG 16.9. 

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