Companion animal registration will be significantly simplified with the advent of a groundbreaking technological advancement. By employing smartphones to scan and upload the unique patterns of ridges and creases on the noses of companion animals, Pireco’s multi-biometrics-based identification solution has revolutionized the process. Similar to a resident registration card with a fingerprint, a personal ID based on the distinctive nose wrinkle pattern will now be issued.
On January 25, UNIST announced that Pireco’s multi-biometrics identification solution for identifying and registering companion animals has been officially designated as a special R&D case (Demonstration Special Case), within the regulatory sandbox system. This innovative approach further streamlines the current registration process by utilizing the distinctive nose wrinkle patterns as a personal ID.
Previously, companion animal registration in South Korea primarily relied on internal microchips or external necklaces. However, with the special R&D designation, Pireco’s groundbreaking technology empowers pet owners to register their beloved companions through a convenient mobile inscription recognition service. Pireco has recently released the ID:CO app on the app store, enabling users to register their pets by simply capturing a photograph of their noses and submitting it through the app. Notably, Bree, a Border Collie serving as a therapy dog at UNIST, became the first recipient of a nose print-based ID card.
Furthermore, even for those already registered with microchips or ID tags, additional nose print-based registration is now available. This particularly benefits the owners whose companion animals are registered with external ID tags, as it mitigates the risk of them losing their beloved pets. Presently, 53.8% of registered pets wear an ID tag with the owner’s name, contact information, and animal registration number.
However, until relevant laws are revised, companion animals that have not been previously registered must still adhere to the traditional chip or necklace registration method. Pireco’s CEO, Yibin Yang, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the R&D Special Zone Promotion Foundation, Professor Hyun-Deok Kang (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, UNIST), and the Innotown Promotion Team for their unwavering support in launching this business venture through the R&D special case.
Established in 2018, Pireco specializes in providing biometric information-based companion animal registration solutions, with inscription technology at its core. Last year, the company collaborated with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) to establish an international standard for their multi-biometrics identification solution designed for companion animals. Pireco aspires to promote the utility of inscription recognition technology not only within Korea but also on an international scale.
