Key codE based on nanomatErials to Protect sErvices and pRoducts

Projektinformationen

KEEPER

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101112988

DOI

10.3030/101112988

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 28 März 2023

Startdatum 1 Juni 2023

Enddatum 31 August 2026

Finanziert unter

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Gesamtkosten

€ 2 111 146,26

EU-Beitrag

€ 2 111 146,25

Koordiniert durch

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Italy

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

Berichtszeitraum: 2023-06-01 bis 2024-12-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

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.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

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.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

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.