Smart card specialist SmartCitizen announced today that a team lead by its founders and senior management has concluded a deal to buy Smart Card Solutions' stake in the business. This will give the team 100% ownership of the company.

Commenting on the announcement, Chris Poulton, Chairman said: "Since its formation in 2004, as a spin-out of Smart Card Solutions, SmartCitizen has rapidly established itself as a dominant supplier of card technology and services to the local government sector, and this was recognised recently when we were contracted by Bracknell Forest Borough Council to take on the programme management and technical support of the National Smart Card Project. Being in control of our own destiny will enable SmartCitizen to cement the strategic alliances we need to capitalise on our market leadership."

SmartCitizen specialises in building and managing citizen smart card schemes for local government. Its mission is to support local authorities in moving to electronic service delivery, using smart cards to improve accessibility, take out cost and enhance the citizen experience. SmartCitizen's track record is impressive with a team of analysts and developers that has over 30 years of experience of working within and for local authorities as well as vast experience of smartcard developments in general.

The SmartCitizen team has played key roles in many of the UK's most important smart card initiatives. It created the card software and provided much of the knowhow which went into the National Smart Card Project, and SmartCitizen is now responsible for managing and resourcing the SmartConnect programme and providing technical support to users of the package. SmartCitizen offers local authorities and technology partners a complete service from initial feasibility studies through to card scheme creation and support, including management and hosting where required.

For more information please visit http://www.smartcitizen.net