Korean startups are leading in pet care innovations in the world. AI startup iSciLab is developing a unique app that will scan and register a dog’s nose print as a form of identification. It will help pet owners keep track of their pets without going through the existing microchip embedding surgery. The startup will be launching the service for a free dog nose registration trial at a pet show in Daegu on June 10.
Less cost, less pain identification system
In South Korea, the current animal protection law enacted in 2014 for pet identification in Korea requires pet owners to register companion dogs using a microchip. The actual registration, however, is relatively low because of additional expenses. Under the current process, a veterinarian injects a microchip for pets costing about 50,000 won ($40) to 100,000 won. Currently, iSciLab is offering a free beta app called ‘anipuppy’ for dog’s nose print registration. The company has announced that it will keep costs lower than the microchip method even when it becomes a paid service in the future. Additionally, ‘anipuppy’ gives no pain or discomfort to dogs. The pet owner can download the app on a smartphone, scan the dog’s nose for a few seconds, and register its identification mark.
iSciLab, founded in 2005 by Choi Hyung-in, Honorary Professor of mathematics at Seoul National University, has offices in Korea and Vietnam. iSciLab’s AI technology has received support from the Korean government with a state grant worth 1.1 billion won over the past three years. The company has published two SCI articles on its technology and obtained multiple related patents. The nose print identification still needs legal support recognition as only an RFID-based system is valid for now. However, the company is working on an additional demo project to test the new method’s safety ahead of commercialization. iSciLab is aspiring to make usage of nose print a world standard for pet ID registration in the future.
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