Key codE based on nanomatErials to Protect sErvices and pRoducts

Project Information

KEEPER

Grant agreement ID: 101112988

DOI

10.3030/101112988

EC signature date 28 March 2023

Start date 1 June 2023

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 2 111 146,26

EU contribution

€ 2 111 146,25

Coordinated by

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KEEPER (Key codE based on nanomatErials to Protect sErvices and pRoducts)

Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Counterfeit products pose a significant threat to various sectors, including documents, pharmaceuticals, food, luxury goods, and art, causing economic losses and security risks. It is estimated that this hidden market is worth between €400 billion and over €2 trillion, with direct and indirect repercussions in Europe estimated at over €80 billion. Although many technological solutions have been tested over the years, it is still a challenge to effectively protect personal identity or products by making them uniquely identifiable, secure and inexpensive at the same time. Existing solutions range from RFID tags and secure QR codes to special inks and blockchain for traceability. However, many technologies suffer from vulnerabilities to cloning or high costs.
In this context, Keeper focuses on developing an innovative system that combines security, anti-counterfeiting and traceability, exploiting the optical peculiarities of a class of nanomaterials and the evolution of advanced spectroscopic techniques to create a comprehensive solution capable of addressing market challenges.
The Consortium's objectives are to develop new inks based on active nanomaterials, create appropriate coding, develop a dedicated low-cost reader and a software platform, in order to create a complete prototype. This will then be tested and validated on an industrial production line of ID badges, to test its scalability and better model its advantages and costs. Once complete, the system will guarantee the security and traceability of European and other physical products in various sectors, and will also be able to support and guarantee the identity of profiles and documents (both public and private) while minimizing the impact in terms of security, selective access to information, visibility, usability, and costs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first year of the Project, several key objectives were achieved. From a technical point of view, 3 active materials were developed and tested, synthesized via pulsed laser ablation in liquid and separated through high-performance liquid chromatography and various extraction cycles. These materials were then characterized using chemical spectroscopy. Using various active materials and different polymer matrices, 4 new inks were created, developed for two printing techniques, identified as suitable for industrial use for printing documents, ID cards, and labels for packaging of physical products. These were then successfully tested on industrial-type printers using both techniques, and the prints made were characterized using various techniques.
From the optical reader's point of view, the design and development of an innovative spectrometry system has begun, with the aim of making it portable and low-cost. The prototype system was also used to characterize the first ink samples to demonstrate its effectiveness in obtaining measurements that are sufficiently accurate and fast to be used as a secure tracking system.
From an industrial point of view, a start-up, Enigma, was created to take the lead in the commercial development of this technology. An initial market survey was carried out, identifying potential stakeholders and competitors, as well as an initial Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

For the first time, the possibility of inserting the nanomaterials in question into polymer matrices suitable for industrial printing with the selected techniques has been demonstrated, and that the photoactive properties can be stabilized for long periods. The possibility of synthesis by physical deposition techniques and chemical separation of carbon-based nanomaterials has been demonstrated. A new type of high-performance and portable spectrometer has been designed and prototyped.