The mission of OrganicID is to develop a low-cost organic electronic process technology that will enable the production and commercialization of printable electronic RFID tags for bar code replacement. This will be accomplished with tailored printing presses using various electronic inks and innovative design concepts.

This technology is important to the supply chain industry because silicon RFID tags cost anywhere from $0.20-$1.00, and are too expensive for item level tagging. The silicon industry is developing on-chip antenna technology and self-assembly techniques that will reduce the costs, but even with these innovations, the industry only talks of achieving a “five cent tag.” This price point is still too high to begin item level tracking and bar code replacement. Estimates are that RFID tags need to cost one cent or less to even be considered at the item level, and because the basic cost of the silicon production cannot be lowered to the $0.05 price range in any foreseeable future, the RFID industry needs a new platform technology.

Such a technology that has the potential to achieve sub-cent production cost is a printable electronic process. In this process, a variety of electronic inks with conductive, insulating, or semiconductor qualities, are printed in successive layers to form electronic circuits.

The advantages offered by low-cost, item-level RFID tag technology are significant and include the ability to:

  • Scan multiple objects in a shopping basket with one single action rather than handling each object separately.
  • Identify, count, and manage inventory on shelves automatically, ensuring sufficient available stock at all times.
  • Eliminate or dramatically reduce shrinkage as items can no longer be hidden in consumers' bags or clothing.
Imagine the Possibilities!