Wibu-Systems Wins KES Innovation Award for CodeMeter ASIC

Wibu-Systems, a global leader in software protection, licensing, and cybersecurity, has won a KES Innovation Award 2026 for CodeMeter ASIC in the Electronic Components & Materials category. The company is the only German recipient among the 35 award-winning businesses. Announced ahead of the Korea Electronics Show (KES), the recognition puts embedded protection and licensing in focus as WIBU-SYSTEMS Korea Ltd. prepares to exhibit at Coex in Seoul from October 13 to 16, at the EU Pavilion, booth B140.

A hardware foundation for software value

CodeMeter ASIC integrates a physical root of trust directly into the electronic design of a device. Soldered onto the circuit board, the 5 × 5 mm component combines protected license and key storage with cryptographic functions. Its USB and SPI interfaces support integration into embedded systems, industrial equipment, and intelligent electronic products. The current component uses a Common Criteria EAL5+ evaluated secure element.

Within the CodeMeter ecosystem, this hardware anchor supports protection of proprietary software, algorithms, and credentials against unauthorized use, cloning, and extraction. Manufacturers can control access to paid features, activate upgrades, and implement subscription or usage-based models around a common hardware platform. The same component can store thousands of licenses, including licenses from multiple vendors. This links embedded security to the commercial management of software-defined functionality throughout a product's service life.

"When we founded Wibu-Systems more than 35 years ago, I envisioned technology that would protect the value of software and give its creators control over how it is used and commercialized," says Oliver Winzenried, CEO and co-founder of Wibu-Systems. "I am proud to see that this vision remains so relevant today, and that the distinctive technology we have continuously developed throughout our company's history is receiving this recognition in Korea. As more value moves into software, our responsibility is to keep advancing the protection and licensing foundations on which our customers build their businesses."

Preparing protection and licensing for post-quantum cryptography

For equipment that remains in operation for many years, security planning must also address changes in cryptography. A sufficiently capable quantum computer could compromise widely used public-key methods such as RSA and elliptic curve cryptography. In licensing systems that depend on those methods, this could undermine the authenticity of authorizations and put control over software functionality at risk.

Wibu-Systems is pursuing a staged migration toward post-quantum cryptography across the components involved in creating, distributing, storing, and validating licenses. The work encompasses hardware and software tools, license containers, and the management infrastructure used in a deployment. It requires coordinated changes to cryptographic methods, data formats, storage, and verification, together with a plan for existing installations.

CodeMeter 9.00 already lays groundwork for that transition through changes toward a universal runtime architecture. Universal Data now extends across hardware, software, and cloud license containers to accommodate longer cryptographic material. The architecture is intended to support current containers alongside a future generation of PQC-enabled CmDongles, while retaining CodeMeter API compatibility. These are preparatory steps toward future PQC-capable products.

Connecting embedded security with Korean manufacturers

"For Korean manufacturers in semiconductor equipment, automation, robotics, and AI-enabled electronics, valuable software needs both a trusted technical foundation and a practical route to revenue," says JungJae Kim, Sales Director of WIBU-SYSTEMS Korea Ltd. "At KES, we look forward to discussing how CodeMeter ASIC can connect IP protection and feature licensing with their product designs. Our local team can work with customers on their integration requirements and help them plan for long product lifecycles, including the coming transition in cryptography."

Wibu-Systems is participating in the EU Pavilion through the EU Business Hub - Japan and the Republic of Korea program. Visitors can meet the Korean team at booth B140 to discuss embedded integration, software protection, and licensing requirements.