The challenge

Context of the challenge

Watermarks in physical paper documents have been an important security feature for centuries to signify authenticity and discourage counterfeiting. Watermarked documents are ubiquitous, appearing in banknotes, passports, driving licences, certificates, and other official documents handled daily by the public.

However, there are special cases where official paper documents are issued and an agile capability to produce watermarks is essential.

Applicants are also encouraged to identify commercial exploitation opportunities.

The gap

Creation of watermarks involve two primary processes:

• Watermarking during paper manufacturing: Techniques like cylinder mould watermarking, UV-activated threads, and planchettes can be employed. While these methods offer enhanced security, they are complex and require large-scale manufacturing processes.
• Post-processing of prepared paper: A dandy or impression roll is used to emboss a 2D pattern. Although this method is simpler and more common, it is also more vulnerable to replication by counterfeiters.

HMGCC Co-Creation is launching this challenge to gain the best of both processes. By leveraging advanced manufacturing and using innovative methods for producing paper watermarks, it is believed that high precision, consistent and robust security features could be achieved, but in small production runs that are agile so easily changeable.

Example use case

In the event of a disinformation campaign launched by an adversarial group against the UK, the public’s ability to distinguish between genuine and fake information may become compromised. While digital watermarking exists for digital media, physical document watermarking is required to become more agile for this threat.

Production engineer Gwen is tasked with increasing the number of watermarked documents, focusing on smaller production runs of government documents, from low-level public-issued leaflets to official paper documents shared within government. Mass produced documents such as passports, will not be affected by this change.

Gwen needs to cater to diverse customers with varying and bespoke requirements. She needs machinery that can automate the watermarking process, ensuring high precision and repeatability, while also handling diverse document types and quantities.

Project scope

Applicants should aim to deliver a process or manufacturing concept demonstrated in a relevant environment (Technology Readiness Level 5) within this 12-week project. Essential and desirable requirements are listed, along with constraints.

Essential requirements:

• Ability to apply complex watermarks into prepared ‘UV dead’ paper.
• Ability to process batch runs of up to 5,000 sheets of paper.
• A high precision, repeatable process is needed, not requiring artisan skills.
• Ability to easily change for the production of new watermarks at short notice.

Desirable requirements:

• Work on a number of different techniques, de-risk and recommend the most viable process.
• Consider techniques such as embossing, laser ablation, chemical etching, UV fibres, mylar threads, and others.

Constraints:

• It is unlikely that in the short term the sponsors could house new, large and expensive equipment, so low size, weight and power (SWaP) is important.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.

Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.

Clarifying questions

Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk and co-creation@dstl.gov.uk before the deadline with the challenge title as the subject. These clarifying questions may be technical, procedural, or commercial in subject, or anything else where assistance is required. Please note that answered questions will be published to facilitate a fair and open competition.