In July 2011 the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) set up the “Deutsche Industrie-Forum zur eID-Infrastruktur” (DIF-AG eID-Infrastruktur, German Industry Forum on eID Infrastructure) to coordinate the further development of this infrastructure. Manufacturers of eID infrastructure components, such as eID clients and eID servers, participate in the forum managed by the BSI. Additional participants include eID service providers, organizations issuing ID cards and other cards, the providers of technical authorization certificates and signature certificates (trust centres), the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and the Federal Office of Administration.

The forum serves as a communication and information platform and sets up specialized working groups and workshops across organizations. Changes affecting various components are coordinated and assessed by all participants in the forum to draw up reliable schedules for the future development of the eID infrastructure.

The forum meets four times a year. You can get additional information on the technical developments made by this forum by writing to the e-mail address provided in the following.