The Block: US Department of Homeland Security taps five blockchain startups to reinforce anti-forgery and counterfeit prevention procedures

The Science and Technology (S&amp;T) Directorate, the research and development wing of the United States Department of Homeland Security, has given close to a million dollars to five blockchain startups.

The intent of these awards, totaling $817,712, aims to find standards-based technologies to help the Department of Homeland Security use blockchain to modernize operations. In recent years, the S&amp;T Directorate has awarded funds to a range of startups working on new technology applications, including firms that work with distributed ledger tech.

The five startups are:

Mattr Limited . The firm intends to build digitally issued essential worker licenses for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Mesur.IO . The company will track toxins, pathogens and other hazards throughout the supply chain by retrofitting its existing technology. SecureKey Technologies . The firm will to make a Social Security Number digital option, giving the holder full control. Mavennet Systems , which seeks to digitally track natural gas shipments between the U.S. and Canada. Spherity GmbH , which plans to digitally create a copy record of imported e-commerce packages. Mattr Limited won the highest cash award, coming in at $200,000, while Mavennet won the smallest at $86,100.

S&amp;T stated that it selected the five winners out of 80 applications from companies that competed for funding on the directorate’s June industry day, CoinDesk reports.