Project description
Safe authentication technology against counterfeit products
Counterfeit goods present a significant challenge across sectors such as luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, highlighting the urgent need for new security technologies. The ERC-funded SAFEPRINT project will develop cost-effective, high-entropy physical unclonable functions through ink droplet deposition. This technology uses the randomness of droplet formation to create unique, unclonable security features with higher entropy than current solutions. Now, SAFEPRINT will step beyond laboratory demonstration towards validation in relevant environments through key activities, including optimising printing parameters, developing a smartphone-compatible reader, and conducting market validation. It will leverage existing authentication infrastructure and participation in EU projects. This technology eliminates the need for specialised facilities and complex processes.
Objective
SAFEPRINT introduces a transformative approach to product authentication by developing cost-effective, high-entropy Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) based on ink droplet deposition. Building upon breakthroughs obtained in the ERC projects PEP2D and PREPRINT, this technology leverages the inherent randomness of drop deposition to create unique, unclonable security features that can deliver way higher entropy than current market solutions while reducing implementation costs. The project advances this promising technology from laboratory demonstration (TRL 2-3) to validation in a relevant environment (TRL 4) through five interconnected activities. These encompass technical optimization of printing parameters for maximum entropy and environmental stability, development of a smartphone-compatible reader system, integration with a secure authentication framework, and comprehensive market validation.
The project benefits from Quantavis (QVS) existing authentication infrastructure, its participation in other EU-funded projects and market access. SAFEPRINT addresses the critical challenge of counterfeit goods. Our solution enables robust product authentication across multiple industrial sectors, from luxury goods to pharmaceuticals, without requiring specialized semiconductor fabrication facilities or complex implementation processes. The technology ability to be printed on several substrates using modified standard equipment, combined with straightforward smartphone-based verification, removes significant barriers to adoption while maintaining enterprise-grade security. Through structured engagement with leading companies across target sectors, we will validate the technology commercial potential and develop a comprehensive business plan for market entry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
57128 Livorno
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.