Accelerating Security Innovation through Materials Simulations at SICPA
SICPA is a global provider of security solutions with the aim to safeguard trust, and to combat counterfeiting, illicit trade, and fraud, thereby ensuring the integrity of banknotes, identity documents, products, and government systems. To fulfill this mission, we continuously explore novel materials and detection methods that can enhance the security and authenticity of physical and digital assets. As part of our evolving R&D strategy, we are beginning to explore the potential of materials simulations to support and accelerate the discovery of novel functional materials tailored for security applications.
This presentation will outline our motivation for integrating simulation-based approaches into our research pipeline, share initial insights from early investigations, and reflect on the challenges and opportunities we foresee. While our implementation is still in its early stages, we believe that computational tools can play a pivotal role in enhancing our ability to design and evaluate materials with unique optical, chemical, and physical properties.
Senior Scientist
Dr. Kristin Willa is a Senior R&I Scientist working at SICPA on the development of novel machine-readable features for banknote and security applications. After studying physics at ETH Zürich, Kristin Willa pursued a Ph.D. under the supervision of Bertram Batlogg, focusing on charge transport in organic semiconductors.
Senior Chemist
Dr. Olivier Wagnières is a Senior Chemist at SICPA, where he leads the organic synthesis laboratories and pursue the development of novel optically active molecules. He earned his PhD at EPFL under the mentorship of Prof. Jieping Zhu, focusing on the total synthesis of natural indole alkaloids. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Prof. Varinder Aggarwal at the University of Bristol, contributing to the total synthesis of prostaglandins and the development of hydrocarbon proteomimetics.
