The OISTE Foundation  is a non for profit  international organization based in Geneva,  Switzerland. Founded in 1998, OISTE was created with the objectives of promoting the use and adoption of international standards to secure electronic transactions, expand the use of digital certification and ensure the interoperability  of certification authorities e-transaction systems.

OISTE is also cooperating in the determination of international e-commerce and e-government security and use of certification standards, both technical and legal, applicable to e-services in general based on Global Public Key Infrastructures created in cooperation with WIseKey and the International Telecommunication Union www.itu.int/ecdc/. In this regard OISTE CA  is acting as a ROOT Certification Authority for disadvantages countries and establishing certification authorities and registration authorities, including the establishment of a secure Internet for participating countries.

OISTE also offers a coordination role for the establishment of a global information infrastructure among international organizations, government and private sector organizations involving information infrastructure development and applications. Finally OISTE serves as a platform for discussion, debate and action on the key issues related to International Secure Electronic Transactions.



OISTE is a not for profit foundation which is governed by the present by-laws and by article 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code

The objects of the Foundation are:

- the determination of international e-commerce security and use of certification standards, both technical and legal, applicable to electronic commerce worldwide and to the Global Public Key Infrastructure and the issuance of certification authorities and registration  in this connection, including the custody of a Global Common ROOT for Certification Authorities;

- the establishment of a secure Internet in disadvantaged areas, such as developing countries;
 

In order to implement its objects, the Foundation shall:

- cooperate with international organizations, governments, non governmental organizations, private sector  and non for profit organizations in relation to the Public Key Infrastructure projects;

- make investments in order to expand the reach of Public Key Infrastructures  worldwide;

- coordinate the expansion of public key  infrastructure worldwide with a wide range of organizations investing resources in said infrastructure, in developing software products, in developing information products, or most commonly in its use as an enabling medium for their business or activity;

- facilitate, through funding and technical assistance, initiatives and mechanisms for sharing information, services, research and recommendations addressing the economic, political and technological considerations in information infrastructure development and services;

- promote projects and programs utilizing the Internet based telecommunication networks and Intra-net organization networks and information technology applications in support of key areas such as health care, education, environment, technology and know-how transfer and poverty alleviation;

- finance the provision of advice for private sector ventures and project in developing countries in order to help governments create conditions that stimulate the flow of both domestic and foreign private savings and investments for a global public key infrastructure based on a Common Shared Global ROOT;

- facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment, operation and technology transfer of advanced, network-based applications and network services to further the OISTE   leadership in research and accelerate the availability of new services and applications on the Global PKI Infrastructure infrastructure;

- be authorized to make investments in the form of the purchase of property, including intellectual property, and the provision of venture capital to companies or entities conducting activities related to the Foundation's objects.