Building on its leadership in providing solutions to support public sector agencies worldwide, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today launched an industry value network for public security. In today's world, the job of maintaining public security is made even more challenging in the face of new and more globalized threats. The industry value network (IVN) for public security will join 15 existing industry-focused IVNs hosted by SAP and brings together customers, partners and SAP to develop solutions that solve the unique challenges of the public security industry. The solutions are based on an enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA) and open standards to fuel a new dimension of industry interoperability and collaboration.

The new public security network fosters collaboration among independent software vendors (ISVs) such as Adobe (interactive forms), Cognitec (facial recognition technology), Daon (identity assurance software and services), ESRI (geographic modeling and mapping technology), Genesys (contact center solutions), Human Inference (solutions to enhance the quality of data), Idematrix (biometric identity management solutions), Ontos (semantic technologies and solutions), Open Text (enterprise content management solutions), technology vendors such as Cisco (IP networks) and systems integrators such as Capgemini and Itelligence. The IVN members are collaborating to solve industry-wide pain points in the areas of investigative case management, intelligence-led policing, identity management, emergency management as well as operational resource management by co-innovating end-to-end business processes running on a common business process platform. Partner applications will leverage the SAP NetWeaver(R) technology platform.

ESRI is among the inaugural participants of the IVN for public security. Much like the IVN itself, ESRI helps organizations meet their critical public security requirements with flexible, open, standards-based technology, while providing SOA-based geographic information system (GIS) integration capabilities for the geospatial enablement of a common platform and applications from SAP.

"Working with SAP and its partners on the development of enterprise services-based solutions is a natural choice for us since we strongly advocate increased collaboration among security providers to help secure borders and protect citizens," said Steven Benner, director of Strategic Accounts, ESRI. "This new community allows us to more closely engage with best-in-class security organizations and technology providers to share their experience, identify value opportunities and develop solutions to meet emerging and often quickly changing needs."

"Capgemini has been delivering solutions for public security customers for many years," said Jaap Roos, vice president Public Security, Capgemini. "Our customers are telling us about the importance of end-to-end solutions for their most pressing business needs in public security based on a solid business process platform. We are pleased to be an active participant in the IVN for public security, working jointly with SAP, our customers and ISVs to co-innovate and deliver complete industry solutions for public security on an open platform to our customers."

SAP has been a pioneer in orchestrating communities to help customers solve industry-specific business challenges. SAP introduced the first IVN for banking in 2005 and launched its IVN for public sector in May 2006 (see May 16, 2006 press release titled, "Partners, Customers and SAP Unite to Co-Innovate for the Public Sector and Consumer Products, High-Tech and Retail Industries"). The company now has 16 industry value networks, including aerospace and defense, automotive, banking, chemicals, consumer products, forest and paper, high tech, insurance, industrial machinery and components, mining, oil and gas, public sector, public security, retail, travel and logistics services, and utilities.