The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam has unveiled a system that combines conventional product information, data for the digital product passport and an authenticity check in a forgery-proof QR code. The solution is aimed at companies that wish to ensure product protection and traceability in addition to meeting legal requirements. “After almost 50 years, the classic barcode is slowly being phased out. From 2027, 2D barcodes such as QR codes are set to complement it,” explains the institute. This is due to new EU legal requirements, as products and packaging will need to carry significantly more information in future, such as production data, material composition, origin and expiry date.

Surface structure as a fingerprint

The IAP’s SmartID is designed to meet these new requirements and ensure seamless traceability throughout the supply chain. “Our identification system embeds the unique surface structure of a package or product into a QR code,” explains project coordinator Tobias Jochum. Every surface has unique structures at the micrometre level that are invisible to the naked eye. A camera system extracts a ‘fingerprint’ of the product from these microstructures, which is stored in a QR code along with the serial number and information from the digital product passport. SmartID can be easily integrated into a manufacturer’s app, and the QR code can be scanned using a smartphone.

Protection against product piracy

The QR code for SmartID is printed on the surface of the product or packaging and serves as a building block for combining product protection with the digital product passport. Manufacturers store the serial number and the product’s fingerprint in a database. If required, the QR code and surface characteristics can be read using the app. It compares the fingerprint and the code with the reference data and checks whether the item is genuine or a counterfeit. This allows manufacturers, retailers and customers to verify authenticity at the point of purchase. The SmartID thus also serves as a tool against product piracy. “After five years of development and optimisation, we can present a ready-to-use system that can be integrated into any printing press in the world,” says Jochum. The first licences have already been granted.

Source: Fraunhofer IAP