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SYDNEY-based YPB Group is acquiring Motif Micro, a company specialising in smartphone-readable micro-barcode originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The anti-counterfeit platform is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of non-replicable identifier technology due to its ability to uniquely encode products at the item level while maintaining ultra low cost, high physical security, exceptional visual appeal and reliable smartphone readout. It has the potential of becoming a global authentication standard, and has multiple end applications.
With this acquisition, YPB says it will commence production of microparticle barcodes from proprietary polymer nanocomposites for authentication of a vast array of goods.
YPB Group expects full commercialisation of the technology within twelve months. The acquisition will also give YPB the rights to a perpetual, exclusive worldwide license from MIT to develop and commercialise the technology.
The technology was originally developed as a collaboration between researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the lab of Prof. Patrick Doyle, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT.
The micro-barcode is cheap to produce, scalable, and secure. YPB will be able to produce a broad spectrum of distinct particles with various shapes, sizes, physical properties and sensors will enable YPB to offer unique authentication solutions for each client or product.
Unlike other non-replicable identifiers, Motif Micro’s solution will be readable by a consumer smartphone.
Multiple layers of security can be embedded within each individual microparticle, making the micro-barcodes impossible to reverse engineer.
The technology can be applied to almost any product, such as currency, 3D printed objects, any kind of packaging (i.e. food, pharma) and high end consumer goods
YPB plans to combine the micro-barcodes with its own core tracer technology, which is used for binary authentication of products. When used together with the micro-barcodes, which can mass produce vast quantities of unique codes at ultralow cost, the solution will be ideal for products that require serialised or customised identification.