California-based digital security company Identiv is working with Dutch electronics giant NXP on NFC-enabled secure sensing tags for product integrity and condition monitoring.

For IoT security applications, the NFC tags are among the first available with NXP NTag 22x DNA chip devices, adding capabilities for anti-counterfeiting, new-to-market tamper detection, and batteryless condition sensing.

The designs enable a wide range of sensing options in healthcare and pharma, retail, smart packaging, supply chain control including blockchain, and augmented user experiences. The portfolio secures everyday objects in mobile anti-counterfeit authentication applications and closed-loop systems, tamper proof medications, beverages, and consumables, and senses specific conditions such as moisture, pressure or fill level powered by an NFC field, all without a battery.

The sensing tags with conductive and capacitive capabilities are suitable for status-aware applications enhancing quality assurance along the supply chain, verifying fill levels for refill orders or patient compliance, and wet and dry sensing for smart wound recovery or skin patches.

“Our collaboration with Identiv catalyses our constant quest for innovation in the smart, secure product space,” said Philippe Dubois, NXP vice president. “The NTag 22x DNA series, NXP’s new NFC single-chip solutions, provide CC EAL3+ certified security, dual-mode tamper detection, and simple battery-free sensing for a broad range of IoT applications. With Identiv’s specialised tagging for the NTag 22x DNA series, manufacturers can now protect product authenticity and integrity, while enabling a new level of condition monitoring to assure product quality and correct handling.”

The status detection products enable IoT security with a Secure Unique NFC (Sun) message authentication feature using AES-128 cryptography. Sun dynamically verifies message authenticity and integrity. Mutual authentication can further enhance security by protecting data against unauthorised access or malicious change attempts.

“As the demand for status detection and sensing grows, Identiv is proud to expand our strategic collaboration with NXP to bring our customers and the broader market the latest in innovative technologies,” said Amir Khoshniyati, Identiv vice president. “Whether regulating dosage in an insulin pump or determining when you need to order a refill of your favourite beauty care product, NFC tags with status detection and sensing capabilities improve our customers’ products and improve our everyday lives.”

Identiv’s RFID and NFC products verify identities and security in the IoT and are embedded in billions of everyday objects, including medical devices, books, toys, athletic apparel, perishables and pharmaceuticals.

• Identiv has partnered Illinois-based SaaS company Wiliot to meet global demand for passive and active IoT services. The aim is to create an ecosystem of intelligent products in healthcare, pharma and smart packaging.

Identiv’s Bluetooth LE IoT Pixels for the mass IoT market use built-in logic and communicate intelligently to create an ecosystem of digital products, including tracking cold chain, temperature, moisture and movement.

Identiv is a developer and production partner for Wiliot, providing expertise in complex antenna, device and systems design with a global commercial channel and proven scalability. The Wiliot platform allows healthcare customers, retailers, brands and perishable distributors to achieve real-time, cost-effective visibility of all equipment and supplies.

“The movement to add intelligence and connectivity to trillions of everyday things is being driven by an ecosystem of companies that share a vision of where the internet of things is going, companies that have the experience, expertise and capacity to make it happen,” said Tony Small, Wiliot chief business officer. “The potential to make products safer, better quality and more sustainable is very exciting. We are delighted that Identiv is bringing their unique track record of experience with some of the most sophisticated IoT technology to this ecosystem.”

These BLE tags, known as IoT Pixels, enable monitoring of any everyday item, from vials of medicine to luxury apparel. The partnership is strengthened through Identiv’s production processes along with compliance and quality control through its engineering expertise in specialty designs.

“As we continue our growth as a leading IoT manufacturer and provider, we have partnered with Wiliot to meet the production demands of the mass market interested in connecting billions of everyday items simultaneously over-the-air with widely adopted smart devices,” said Khoshniyati. “Identiv is well positioned to efficiently scale the innovative IoT Pixels globally and our partnership with Wiliot is already driving results with many credible names, including leaders in the food and beverage market.”