An artificial intelligence capable of detecting counterfeit products using a cell phone camera
Counterfeiting is a crime, involving the manufacturing or distribution of goods under someone else's name, and without their permission. According to an International Chamber of Commerce, the total value of counterfeit and pirated goods globally is around €1.77 trillion. Each year EU companies lose €83 billion in sales due to counterfeited products. Although the counterfeiting has been a problem for decades, there is no effective solution that allows consumers to simply verify authenticity of products or for companies to effectively protect supply chains. Moreover, counterfeit goods are generally made from lower quality components that put the health and safety of consumers at risk. In these days of international emergency the news report that China has confiscated over 31 million counterfeit medical face masks that have fled the market due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. Global retailers such as Amazon and Etsy have also reported cases. 

Cypheme introduces two AI-based counterfeit detection systems that allow a consumer to determine if a product is an original branded product using only a standard smartphone camera. Microguard labels use a combination of novel security features, including a micro-structured varnish that can only be read with an artificial intelligence technology developed by Cypheme to authenticate the product. Microguard DeepTrace is an algorithm able to extract deep spectral information from printed pigments, providing a revolutionary measure of authenticity without any modification of the packaging or product. Microguard is unique in the level of security it provides and its resistance to forgery by counterfeiters. Microguard solutions have already gained market traction, trusted to protect more than €140 million worth of products. The Phase 2 project will address the technical challenges to achieve scale up and provide commercial demonstration and validation with suitable partners to facilitate full-scale market entry.