The signature is the most popular and trusted biometric feature for authentication as it is never given accidentally. It actively proves the signer's intent, which is significantly different from the use of passive biometrics - body characteristics such as finger, hand, face or iris.

In March 2000, the European Union agreed on a political vision aimed at making the EU the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. The 'Lisbon Strategy' has reached half time with mixed results, leading to a renewed strategy focusing on 'delivering stronger and lasting growth and creating more and better jobs'. The revitalised strategy relates strongly to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), specifically in the i2010 vision – radically modernising and deploying the EU policy instruments to encourage the development of the digital economy – and in the upcoming Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research and technological development (2007-2013).