Press & mediaNewsroom.

Press releases, media coverage, images, videos and key facts on authentic.network – free for editorial use.

Press kitpress@authentic.network

Press releases

Official announcements from authentic.network.

From the archive 2021–2022 ↓
Press release

authentic.network and LIQUI MOLY roll out product authentication in 150+ countries

Copy-evident codes on 40 million products a year, verified with any smartphone – no app, no reader.

Read release →
Press release

authentic.network wins G20 Innovation Award for Secured Digital Infrastructure

Recognised at the G20 MSME Digital Innovation Challenge 2025 in South Africa for Crypto-Optical Technology that any smartphone can verify.

Read release →
Press release

authentic.network and aak-GROW sign €3.2 million memorandum at the German-African Business Summit

Signed in Nairobi in the presence of German Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck: copy-evident labels for Kenya's agrochemical sector.

Read release →

Media coverage

A short summary in our words and a link to the original. Articles are listed in their original language.

29 articles and broadcasts

Selected coverage

Fuels & Lubes (F&L Asia) · 10 June 2026 · Editorial

LIQUI MOLY adds QR authentication to motor oils worldwideEN

F&L Asia reports on the international rollout: a code on every container cap, verified by smartphone, covering about 150 countries – and why multi-tier distribution makes lubricants a counterfeiting target.

fuelsandlubes.com ↗MDR um 4 (TV) · 11 February 2026 · TV

Unternehmer aus Chemnitz digitalisiert MedikamentenschutzDE

The MDR afternoon programme portrays Frank Theeg and the fight against counterfeit medicine – a four-minute TV feature.

TV ↗Freie Presse · June 2026 · Editorial

Vom Silicon Valley nach Chemnitz: Wie ein Startup Medikamentenfälschungen bekämpfen willDE

Portrait by Eva-Maria Hommel for the "Sachsen gründet" start-up award 2026: how Frank Theeg and Torsten Stein founded authentic.network and what a smartphone scan does against counterfeit medicine.

freiepresse.de ↗

All coverage

2026

Fuels & Lubes (F&L Asia)
EditorialLIQUI MOLY adds QR authentication to motor oils worldwideENF&L Asia reports on the international rollout: a code on every container cap, verified by smartphone, covering about 150 countries – and why multi-tier distribution makes lubricants a counterfeiting target.fuelsandlubes.com ↗Autosphere
EditorialLIQUI MOLY introduces anti-counterfeit QR codes to protect shops and enginesENThe Canadian trade magazine explains what the rollout means for workshops: a scan at the counter shows whether the oil is genuine before it goes into an engine.autosphere.ca ↗THE SHOP Magazine
EditorialLIQUI MOLY, authentic.network roll out digital product authentication technologyENTHE SHOP describes how packaging becomes a digital interface in the supply chain and quotes Frank Theeg and Marco Esser on economics and quality promise.theshopmag.com ↗Freie Presse
EditorialVom Silicon Valley nach Chemnitz: Wie ein Startup Medikamentenfälschungen bekämpfen willDEPortrait by Eva-Maria Hommel for the "Sachsen gründet" start-up award 2026: how Frank Theeg and Torsten Stein founded authentic.network and what a smartphone scan does against counterfeit medicine.freiepresse.de ↗Freie Presse
EditorialDas neue Silicon Valley von Chemnitz: Woran im Gründerzentrum „Die Fabrik“ geforscht wirdDEA tour of the "Fabrik" co-working space on Zwickauer Straße, where authentic.network develops the sticker that will soon appear on LIQUI MOLY bottles.freiepresse.de ↗
Fuels & Lubes / Lubricant (print)
EditorialSchmierstoffe digital absichernDEThe German trade magazine Lubricant (Fuels & Lubes / Energy, issue 3/2026) reports on digital protection for lubricants with authentic.network's copy-evident code.Print
WhatTheyThink
EditorialOnline print becomes an ecosystem: why OPS 2026 is essential for traditional print shopsENauthentic.network is one of four start-ups in the Insight Pitches at the Online Print Symposium 2026: anti-counterfeiting produced in a standard CMYK print process, no security printing equipment needed.whattheythink.com ↗PresseBox (zipcon consulting)
Third-party releaseOnlineprint wird zum Ökosystem: Warum der OPS 2026 auch für klassische Druckereien Pflicht istDEThe OPS 2026 announcement names authentic.network among the Insight Pitch start-ups and notes the G20 Innovation Award of autumn 2025.pressebox.de ↗MDR um 4 (TV)
TVUnternehmer aus Chemnitz digitalisiert MedikamentenschutzDEThe MDR afternoon programme portrays Frank Theeg and the fight against counterfeit medicine – a four-minute TV feature.TV ↗
20222 articlesPCR (South Africa)
EditorialBlockchain app improves life in AfricaENThe South African packaging magazine reports on authentic.network's labels for malaria medicine, masks and machetes.b2bcentral.co.za ↗
MDR Einfach genial (TV)
TVFür mehr Sicherheit: Fälschungsschutz aus ChemnitzDEThe MDR technology programme "Einfach genial" visited authentic.network in Chemnitz.TV
202118 articlesNCI News (TV)
TVReportage du journal télévisé sur authentic.network à AbidjanFRIvorian broadcaster NCI reports on authentic.network's technology after the congress in Abidjan.TV ↗InfosNews Abidjan
EditorialLutte contre la contrefaçon : Authentic Network apporte des solutionsFRThe Abidjan online magazine on authentic.network's solutions against counterfeiting in Côte d'Ivoire.infosnews.net ↗StartingUp
Editorial2,6 Mio. Euro für Blockchain-Start-up authentic.networkDEThe founders' portal reports on the financing round with Peppermint Holding and Jentzsch Investment and on plans for a branch in Abidjan.starting-up.de ↗
KfW – Zukunftstechnologien
Institution„Wir leben in einer Zeitenwende“DEIn KfW's 2021 magazine on future technologies, founder and author Verena Pausder writes about innovation in Germany – and about authentic.network (page 14).Print
StartUs Insights
EditorialDiscover 5 top blockchain start-ups impacting the FMCG sectorENThe innovation scouting platform lists authentic.network among five start-ups for counterfeit protection in fast-moving consumer goods, selected from 121 companies.startus-insights.com ↗Dennemeyer IP Consulting
PartnerSuccess story: IPR valuation for authentic.networkENDennemeyer valued authentic.network's intellectual property, taking sustainability factors into account, at EUR 10 million.PDF ↗
Süddeutsche Zeitung
EditorialNutzlos oder lebensgefährlichDEOn counterfeit vaccines and medicines in Africa – and a technology from Chemnitz that could help (city edition, page 7).Print
GIZ
InstitutionUsing blockchain against counterfeit drugsENThe German development agency GIZ reports on the pilot in Côte d'Ivoire, supported by a GIZ advisor (also in German: "Blockchain gegen gefälschte Medikamente", and in the GIZ media centre).giz.de ↗GIZ (video)
TVGIZ-Interview mit Frank TheegDEVideo statement by Frank Theeg for GIZ (English subtitles).TV ↗Le Patriote
EditorialLutte contre les faux médicaments : un projet pilote lancé pour authentifier les antipaludiquesFRThe Ivorian daily on the launch of the pilot to authenticate antimalarial medicine.PrintHealthTech World
EditorialGreen tick project announced to identify fake malaria drugsENThe UK health-technology site on the pilot funded by the German development ministry and the figures behind it: 400,000 malaria deaths a year, 116,000 from fake medicine.htworld.co.uk ↗The European
EditorialWenn vermeintliche Medikamente den Tod bedeutenDEAnsgar Graw on the launch in Abidjan and the question whether a company from Chemnitz can take the sting out of malaria.theeuropean.de ↗MDR Sachsen
EditorialPer Code: Chemnitzer Unternehmen macht Medikamente fälschungssicherDEMDR on the digital seal for malaria medicine and the pilot with Côte d'Ivoire (also as a podcast).mdr.de ↗TAG24
EditorialSo hilft ein Chemnitzer Start-up in AfrikaDETAG24 on the Chemnitz development that is meant to make malaria medicine in Africa safe.tag24.de ↗Abidjan.net / AIP
EditorialUn projet pilote d'authentification d'antipaludiques lancé pour lutter contre la contrefaçonFRThe Ivorian press agency on the ceremony with Health Minister Dr Eugène Aka Aouélé and German ambassador Ingo Herbert: labels for close to two million products.news.abidjan.net ↗L'Infodrome
EditorialLutte contre les médicaments contrefaits : l'Allemagne vient en aide à la Côte d'IvoireFRL'Infodrome on German support for Côte d'Ivoire in the fight against counterfeit medicine.linfodrome.com ↗
Handelsblatt
EditorialApp zeigt Medikamentfälschungen anDEHandelsblatt on the crypto code that shows in an app whether a medicine is genuine, and on the pilot in Côte d'Ivoire funded by the German development ministry.
IHK Chemnitz
InstitutionUnser Start-up vorgestellt – Interview mit Frank TheegDEInterview with Frank Theeg in "Wirtschaft Südwestsachsen", page 24.ihk.de ↗

Key facts

40 Mproducts a year carry the code at LIQUI MOLYSource: LIQUI MOLY press release, 2 June 2026 ↗
150+countries in which LIQUI MOLY sells products carrying the codeSource: LIQUI MOLY press release, 2 June 2026 ↗
~1 sper verification with a smartphone camera, no appSource: Technology page
G20Innovation Award 2025, Secured Digital InfrastructureSource: press release, 3 February 2026

About authentic.network

authentic.network GmbH, Chemnitz, makes physical products verifiable. Its patented Crypto-Optical Technology prints a copy-evident security layer into a product's code; any smartphone camera tells an original from a counterfeit in about a second – no app, no reader, no special inks. Deployed by LIQUI MOLY on 40 million products a year in 150+ countries. G20 Innovation Award 2025, category Secured Digital Infrastructure.

Logos

The logo may be used unaltered for reporting on authentic.network. Please keep proportions, colours and clear space.

Logo light (for dark backgrounds)Logo dark (for light backgrounds)
Company
authentic.network GmbH
Headquarters
Zwickauer Straße 145, 09116 Chemnitz, Germany
Register
Amtsgericht Chemnitz, HRB 30034
Management
Frank Theeg, CEO
Technology
Crypto-Optical Technology (patented)
References
LIQUI MOLY, BOSCH, STIHL, Chillington, Drocolor, MIA, BERICAP, AHK, German Federal Government, Government of Kenya
Award
G20 Innovation Award 2025 – Secured Digital Infrastructure

Images

Image material, free for editorial use. Please credit “authentic.network” as the source. Print resolution on request.

Current press images (2024–2026)

LIQUI MOLY canister lids with the copy-evident code
LIQUI MOLY canister lids with the copy-evident codeDownload ↓
LIQUI MOLY Top Tec 4200: verifying the code on the cap with a smartphone
LIQUI MOLY Top Tec 4200: verifying the code on the cap with a smartphoneDownload ↓
Verifying a LIQUI MOLY engine oil with the authentic app – result: “Original”
Verifying a LIQUI MOLY engine oil with the authentic app – result: “Original”Download ↓
G20 Innovation Award 2025, Secured Digital Infrastructure
G20 Innovation Award 2025, Secured Digital InfrastructureDownload ↓
authentic.network team, “Sachsen gründet” Start-up Award 2026
authentic.network team, “Sachsen gründet” Start-up Award 2026Download ↓
Signing with aak-GROW, Nairobi, 3 December 2024
Signing with aak-GROW, Nairobi, 3 December 2024Download ↓
Signing with aak-GROW, Nairobi, 3 December 2024 (2)
Signing with aak-GROW, Nairobi, 3 December 2024 (2)Download ↓
German-African Business Summit 2024, Nairobi
German-African Business Summit 2024, NairobiDownload ↓
German-African Business Summit 2024, Nairobi (2)
German-African Business Summit 2024, Nairobi (2)Download ↓

Image archive (2021–2022)

Launch of the malaria pilot, Abidjan, February 2021
Launch of the malaria pilot, Abidjan, February 2021Download ↓
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021Download ↓
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021 (2)
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021 (2)Download ↓
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021 (3)
Handover of protective masks, Côte d'Ivoire, 2021 (3)Download ↓
Street sale of medicine, Roxy Market, Abidjan
Street sale of medicine, Roxy Market, AbidjanDownload ↓
Counterfeit malaria medicine
Counterfeit malaria medicineDownload ↓
Verifying the authentic code with a smartphone
Verifying the authentic code with a smartphoneDownload ↓
The sticker for the authentic app
The sticker for the authentic appDownload ↓
10 years of GIZ – Frank Theeg
10 years of GIZ – Frank TheegDownload ↓
authentic.network
authentic.networkDownload ↓
gummy – the physical NFT (2022)
gummy – the physical NFT (2022)Download ↓

Further images and print resolution on request.

Videos

Video material about authentic.network on YouTube.

YouTube
▶

How authentic.network's anti-counterfeiting technology works

How the copy-evident code protects products from counterfeiting
▶

World's first encrypted QR code by authentic.network

Physically unique and copy-evident
▶

authentic.network at the G20 Digital Innovation Summit

Presentation, G20 MSME Digital Innovation Challenge, South Africa 2025
▶

Why counterfeiting is a global crisis

Why product counterfeiting causes billions in damage and costs lives
▶

Why global brands trust us

Why international brands rely on authentic.network
▶

The authentic.network all-in-one platform

Authentication, track & trace, Digital Product Passport and data on one platform

Archive · 2020–2021

authentic.network introductionArchive video · YouTube↗authentic.technology – how it worksArchive video · YouTube↗Stop counterfeit medication with your smartphoneArchive video · YouTube↗Counterfeit protection for shoesArchive video · YouTube↗Medication sale at Roxy Market, AbidjanArchive video · YouTube↗NCI News (Côte d'Ivoire) reports on authentic.network, November 2021Archive video · YouTube↗

From the archive

Earlier releases are kept in their original wording as a record of the company's history. They describe the technology and the company as they were presented at the time; each carries a note with a link to how authentic.network works today.

2021–2022
Malaria, masks and machetes: a billion labels improve lives in Africa
How the Chemnitz-based scale-up protects lives and jobs in Africa – from malaria medicine and surgical masks to machetes.→German start-up develops physical NFT
With "gummy", a sticker that links a physical object to a non-fungible token, authentic.network announced an NFT product in 2022.→German start-up raises the stakes in combating global health problems in Africa
Kick-off for the integration of the first four local manufacturers of drugs and medical protective equipment in Côte d'Ivoire – 20 million masks to be protected.→Chemnitzer Startup: Erste Umsetzung der authentic Technologie zur Bekämpfung globaler Gesundheitsprobleme in AfrikaDE
Startschuss zur Integration der ersten vier lokalen Hersteller für Medikamente und medizinische Schutzausrüstung in Côte d'Ivoire – 20 Millionen Masken werden abgesichert.→Investors finance Chemnitz-based start-up authentic.network with 2.6 million euros
Peppermint Holding, Jentzsch Investment and an institutional bank from Saxony fund the company's international growth.→Combating fake malaria drugs in Africa with crypto codes
Ivory Coast Minister of Health welcomes the authentic.network CEO for the launch of a pilot to authenticate two million packs of antimalarial medicine.→

Press enquiries.

Interviews, image material, background on the technology and on customers – write to us, we answer within one working day.

Write to press@authentic.networkTechnology
Real products.
Real proof.

About this newsroom.

What does authentic.network do?

authentic.network GmbH from Chemnitz, Germany, makes physical products verifiable. Its patented Crypto-Optical Technology prints a copy-evident security layer into a product's code. Any smartphone camera tells an original from a counterfeit in about a second – no app, no reader, no special inks. LIQUI MOLY uses it on 40 million products a year in more than 150 countries.

Who is the press contact?

Write to press@authentic.network. We answer interview requests, send image material in print resolution and provide background on the technology, customers and the company.

May I use the images and texts on this page?

Press releases may be quoted and reproduced for editorial purposes. Images marked "free for editorial use" may be published with the credit "authentic.network". Articles in the media coverage section belong to the respective publishers and are only summarised and linked here.

Why are older releases kept in an archive?

Releases from 2021 and 2022 document the company's history – the first pilot against counterfeit malaria medicine in Côte d'Ivoire, the financing round and the first partnerships in Africa. They are shown in their original wording with a note, because the technology and the way we describe it have developed since then.

Where can I find the company's key facts?

In the press kit on this page: company data, management, register entry, technology, references and the G20 Innovation Award 2025. For the technology itself see the Technology page; for customer examples see the case studies.