High-tech solutions to combat lethal counterfeiting

The idea for the German-African pilot project originated in a meeting organised by Chemnitz German Bundestag member Frank Heinrich, who networked African government representatives with German entrepreneurs. Frank Theeg: “Three months later, someone called from Côte d’Ivoire and an invitation followed shortly after that.” That was just 15 months ago. Since then, the Chemnitz start-up has been working on two fronts. The larger of the two is in Africa. Theeg was forced to learn that coordination processes worked differently in his partners’ country, in that they were less plannable and less goal-driven. However, he has since held a conference in Abidjan with all key local cooperation partners in the country, including police, customs officials, and the pharmacy, pharmaceutical and hospital association. Just a few days ago – in early September 2020 – the relieving news finally arrived that the Ivorian government was to give the official green light for the project, which could now start as early as May of the coming year. With virtually counterfeit-proof seals and an app that anyone could download.

The core of authentic.network is also its workshop, which has a permanent team of just six people. Right next door, four developers sit at their computers fine-tuning the app. In order to develop the app to market maturity, they tested several hundred different smartphones over a two-year period. “Not even the iPhone world has complete functional uniformity”, says head designer Torsten Stein. “Our aim was to test all available devices and to adapt the app accordingly.” This includes ones with trimmed-down Android variants, which are widely used in Africa. The aim is for the technology to work on as many devices as possible when it is launched. In the development stage, the small team had to learn to store massive amounts of data on the seal in such a way that it can be read reliably with any smartphone. The result not only offers high-tech security but the app can also indicate, to within a few metres, where a counterfeit appears, thus making it easier to localise criminal networks. In addition, patients can use the app to report any health problems they experience after taking the tablets, which can point to substandard preparations. In other words, the seal not only provides security but is able to network various healthcare system players with one another and provide them with important information.

Frank Theeg hopes that a successful start will encourage other African states to follow suit. At a meeting, a minister from Niger told him that, in his country, there was a greater chance of buying counterfeit products in pharmacies than original ones. Combatting the lucrative counterfeiting business effectively requires corruption-free registration authorities who source medication from reliable producers and suppliers. It also calls for a secure form of technology, which is what Frank Theeg aims to provide with authentic.network. This could benefit everyone with an interest in combatting lethal diseases like malaria – but also those with an interest in combatting corruption. But above all, it could benefit those patients who currently do not know whether their tablets will provide life-saving assistance or untimely death.