SmartID: The digital fingerprint of products

“In the future, products and their packaging will be far more than just a protective shell: they will become transparent carriers of information.”
- Dr. Tobias Jochum, SmartID Coordinator, Fraunhofer IAP

With this thought, Dr. Tobias Jochum outlines the direction in which the industry is heading. What does he mean by this? The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is becoming mandatory – but only technologies like SmartID make it tamper‑proof and truly usable in practice.

Dr. Tobias Jochum will also provide an in‑depth look at the technology live at interpack on 9 May, from 15:40 to 16:00. In his presentation “SmartID: Digital product passport and brand protection combined”, he explains how SmartID unites the Digital Product Passport with brand protection and complete traceability in a single solution.

The presentation is part of the “Smart Packaging” theme day, which, within the interpack Spotlight Forum, focuses entirely on digital identification, 2D codes, interconnected systems and data‑driven business models. On 9 May, innovations such as digital product passports, authenticity verification, traceability and integrated packaging lines take center stage.
Start‑ups will also present their smart‑packaging solutions that day, including within the “Start‑up Pitches”.

SmartID uses the unique surface structure of a product as a natural fingerprint and links it with a conventional QR code. This creates an inseparable connection between the physical object and its digital product passport.

“SmartID can be easily integrated into a manufacturer’s app and database. A simple smartphone scan is all it takes for customers or retailers to immediately access all product data – while simultaneously verifying the physical authenticity. All in a single step,” says Jochum.

He adds: “In this way, we build a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, seamlessly combining track & trace, anti‑counterfeiting and compliance in one low‑threshold process.”

The researcher, who will also present the development at interpack 2026, emphasizes:
“From my perspective, the greatest added value lies in turning a regulatory obligation into a real business advantage – essentially a smart 2‑in‑1 solution.”

For brand manufacturers, SmartID becomes relevant wherever the DPP alone is not enough: a QR code can be copied – a physical surface structure cannot. SmartID not only fulfils legal requirements but also provides additional benefits:

• protection against counterfeits and revenue losses,
• full transparency along the supply chain,
• fast access to production data for quality management, and
• new touchpoints for marketing, service and recycling information.

Thus, regulatory effort becomes an instrument for brand protection and customer engagement.

Another advantage: SmartID adapts to existing production processes – not the other way around. All that is needed for integration is a standard camera system, the SmartID algorithm and a small computing unit. No extensive modifications to printing or packaging lines are required.
“That may sound surprisingly simple – and in practice, it truly is,” concludes Jochum.