Two major initiatives were launched in October 2004 to expand the reach and influence of the Smart Card Alliance organization. First, the Alliance was awarded a federal MDCP grant by the Department of Commerce to fund an expansion into Latin America for the organization. The 3 year program will establish a Latin America chapter organization, support a joint US-Latin American conference in 2005, and dedicate travel and organization resources to support emerging countries like Brazil and Mexico, and open these growing markets to U.S. member organizations. Secondly, the Alliance is creating “industry councils” and “technology councils” within the Alliance organization structure to enable members to form focused groups to drive targeted initiatives and deliverables to reach specific industry segments and address specific technology issues that can not be done effectively by the overall organization structure. Councils will empower individuals and groups to establish their own agenda and projects and solicit support from the Alliance to carry out their mission.

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