Introduction to the ARIES identity ecosystem aimed at setting up a reliable identity framework comprising new technologies, processes and security features that ensure highest levels of quality in secure credentials for highly secure and privacy-respecting physical and digital identity management processes. The identity ecosystem is being devised in the scope of ARIES European project and aspires to tangibly achieve a reduction in levels of identity fraud, theft, wrong identity and associated crimes and to create a decisive competitive advantage for Europe at a global level.