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At MEDICA 2023, the Fraun-hofer crew will exhibit an indication model of the SmartID counterfeit-proof barcode system. Credit score: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Relating to remedy or medical gadgets bought on-line, end-users usually wonder if these are actual or faux. The SmartID counterfeit-proof barcode system means anybody can use a smartphone to test a product is real, supplied the producer makes use of SmartID. It may be authenticated with out connecting to a database.
SmartID has been developed by a consortium of Fraunhofer institutes. The results of a three-year mission, they are going to exhibit an indication model of their SmartID on the joint Fraunhofer sales space (Corridor 3, Sales space E74) at MEDICA 2023 in Düsseldorf from November 13 to 16, 2023.
The worldwide marketplace for counterfeit medicines is flourishing. About 1 in 10 medicines bought on-line is counterfeit, in accordance with a 2020 estimate from the World Well being Group (WHO). Counterfeit medicines contain a variety of merchandise—from way of life medicines comparable to slimming or hair development merchandise to important medicines comparable to most cancers medication, painkillers, or remedy for hypertension.
In order that end-users can affirm the authenticity of medicines and different kinds of merchandise, the Fraunhofer Institutes for Utilized Polymer Analysis IAP, for Safe Info Know-how SIT and for Open Communication Techniques FOKUS have developed a brand new sort of labeling system: SmartID.
Floor texture of packaging as a fingerprint
“With SmartID, everybody within the provide chain can confirm and authenticate a product that carries a SmartID code immediately through a smartphone—offline, i.e., with out having to connect with a database,” explains Dr. Tobias Jochum, mission coordinator primarily based on the Fraunhofer Heart for Utilized Nanotechnology CAN in Hamburg, a analysis outpost of Fraunhofer IAP. “We leverage the truth that all packaging has a novel, attribute floor texture—much like a human fingerprint—and that commonplace smartphone cameras are in a position to seize this floor texture,” says Jochum.
The important thing to the system: Details about the floor texture is digitized and transformed right into a barcode which is printed onto the packaging. The SmartID app developed as a part of the mission is then used to test whether or not the data saved within the barcode matches the info captured from the floor texture. A counterfeit-proof barcode is generated, which may additionally embrace different details about the product.
The benefit for producers is that no IT infrastructure must be arrange, as verification and authentication happen totally inside the SmartID app on the smartphone. No database required. What’s extra, the system is simple to combine into industrial printing processes when producing the packaging.
“One main requirement for the SmartID concept is that the barcode and the world wanted for evaluating the floor textures are as small as doable. Because the mission evolves, we’ll optimize the system by way of the world required and in addition the sensitivity. Quantum supplies will play a key position right here. “These make it doable to detect considerably extra floor texture options over a smaller space,” says Jochum.
Anti-counterfeit barcode for every kind of merchandise
The analysis crew has labored constantly on the labeling system over the past three years, and it’s now attracting consideration. “Folks from a variety of industries promoting top-quality merchandise have already proven an curiosity in SmartID, together with from the fields of inside design, mechanical engineering, the printing business and even the medical sector, the place the system is perhaps used for protecting supplies comparable to respiration masks,” continues Jochum.
“We’re at present nonetheless within the mission improvement part, however we’re already negotiating licenses for the SmartID know-how,” says Jochum fortunately. They’ve partnered with Evia Analysis GmbH, who wish to use SmartID within the style business. “Safety at particular person product stage primarily based on distinctive floor textures was very enticing. We additionally like the concept of offline verification: no database, so we will provide our clients modern, sustainable merchandise,” explains Steffen Tauber from Evia Analysis GmbH.
“The huge variety of inquiries we get exhibits we have to be heading in the right direction. We’re actually wanting ahead to some fruitful conversations and to discovering new areas of software for SmartID at MEDICA. Corporations can get a right away impression of our demonstration model there,” explains Jochum.
