Certicom

Certicom Corp. is a Canadian security technology company best known for its work in elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). The firm developed a broad portfolio of ECC-related patents and licenses, and it supplied cryptographic software libraries, hardware accelerators, and embedded security solutions for devices and networks.

Its technology has been used to secure digital signatures, key exchange, and authentication in telecom equipment, mobile devices, financial services systems, and other embedded applications. Certicom’s business model centered on licensing its ECC patent portfolio to semiconductor manufacturers, software vendors, and system integrators, as well as providing security consultation and evaluation tools.

The company contributed to the advancement and standardization of ECC techniques through participation in cryptographic research and standards development, helping to promote interoperable and efficient public-key cryptography for constrained environments. The combination of strong patent protection and technical expertise made Certicom a notable player in the field during the late 1990s and 2000s.

In addition to ECC, Certicom pursued solutions in cryptographic hashing, random number generation, and secure elements for embedded systems. The company’s technology and licensing activity influenced how manufacturers approached security in wireless, consumer electronics, and network equipment. Certicom’s legacy persists in the broader adoption of elliptic curve cryptography across industries.