2026 Review

Banknote counterfeiting has entered a new era, driven by democratized access to high-resolution digital printing technologies, artificial intelligence, and global distribution networks for “movie/ prop money”.

This new landscape has drastically shortened counterfeiters adaptation cycles, which have shrunk from decades to barely a few years

Consequently, Central Banks are being forced to rethink the effectiveness of traditional security measures and pursue structural solutions to stay ahead of the threat

Seguridad Estructural vs. Superficial: ¿Cómo decidir el sustrato ante la nueva era de la falsificación?

La falsificación de billetes ha entrado en una nueva era, impulsada por el acceso democratizado a tecnologías de impresión digital de alta resolución, inteligencia artificial y redes globales de distribución de “dinero de utilería” (movie money). 

Este nuevo escenario ha reducido drásticamente los ciclos de adaptación de los falsificadores, pasando de décadas a apenas unos cuantos años, lo que obliga a los Bancos Centrales a repensar la eficacia de las medidas de seguridad tradicionales y buscar nuevas soluciones.

Javier Andino Marenco is the Technical Services Manager for CCL Secure Latin America. He has 23 years of experience in cash management. Prior to joining CCL, Javier spent 14 years at the Central Bank of Costa Rica, where one of his outstanding achievements was leading the 2009/2017 Costa Rican banknote series projects.

Javier holds a Master’s degree in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from the National University of Costa Rica and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Maintenance Engineering from the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC). He is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) by the ASQ (American Society for Quality) and holds Six Sigma certifications. Additionally, he completed the Circular Economy program at UC Berkeley and a diploma in Strategic Sales Management from Tecnológico de Monterrey

Explore the new SICPA House Note conceived as an integrated design exercise, where intaglio printing provides the underlying structure bringing together contemporary expression, sight and touch, security and creativity. 
Rather than layering elements side by side, the design is built through integration. Lines, textures, colour and relief grow from a shared foundation, allowing diverse visual and tactile experiences to coexist within a single, coherent composition. Optical effects, shifting perspectives and layered readings emerge naturally from this convergence, illustrating how contrast can generate unity and coherence within the overall design. 
The presentation invites the high security printing community to reflect on how design integration is vital to strengthen the aesthetics, security and utility of the banknote, and to maximise the impact of communication with the public. 

With over 20 years of experience, having worked in various organizations including the Ministry of Finance and the Argentine Mint, Diego is now SICPA's Managing Director for Latin America.

He is a specialist in the development, production, and trading of payment methods and physical-digital security documents, as well as fiscal and identity documents.

His responsibilities at SICPA include government and central bank relations, operations across various industries, and leading teams throughout the region, driven by a deep-rooted passion for the industry.

Arturo Salgado is General Manager at SICPA Mexicana, a strategic ink manufacturing plant for Latin America, where he leads the company’s activities in Mexico and supports selected countries across the region, with a strong focus on government and central bank relationships, security solutions, and business development.

He has extensive experience in high‑security printing and authentication technologies, covering banknotes, identity documents, tax stamps, and secure documents. In his role, Arturo oversees strategic customer engagement, regional operations, and the introduction of innovative security features tailored to local market needs.

Prior to joining SICPA, Arturo spent 10 years at Thomas Greg & Sons, developing passport and national ID projects across Mexico, Latin America, and North America.

If you are interested in banknote design, this session is one not to miss! We will unveil Oberthur Fiduciaire’s new design direction, rooted in a strong user-centric approach that seamlessly integrates security features with visual storytelling. And a heads-up: this won’t be your standard design presentation. We’ve deliberately taken a different path to make it engaging, memorable, and genuinely refreshing.

Camille Cossec was born in France and graduated from Toulouse Business School and from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota in 2011, with a special focus on international business.

She worked for Idemia in Colombia for 4 years and then spent 8 years as Sales Area Manager for the Latin America region for SURYS. She is now Sales Area Manager for Oberthur Fiduciaire, for Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Oberthur Fiduciaire is one of the world’s leading privately owned security printers specialising in the production of innovative security features, durable banknote paper and banknotes in more than 70 countries.

Camille Cossec nació en Francia y se graduó de Toulouse Business School y de la Universidad de los Andes en Bogotá en 2011, con especial enfoque en negocios internacionales.

Trabajó para Idemia en Colombia durante 4 años y luego pasó 8 años como gerente de ventas para la región de América Latina para SURYS. Actualmente es gerente de ventas para Oberthur Fiduciaire, para la región de América Latina y el Caribe. Oberthur Fiduciaire es una de las imprentas de seguridad privadas líderes en el mundo especializada en la producción de elementos de seguridad innovadores, papel duradero para billetes y billetes en más de 70 países.

Step into the world of VAULT BILL — where identity is crafted, not claimed.
Inspired by the noir aesthetics of hidden details, shifting perspectives, and the tension between what’s shown and what’s concealed, Hueck Folien unveils a banknote concept engineered for scrutiny. Every feature has intent, every layer serves a purpose, and every detail invites you to look closer. But here’s the challenge: Can you crack the code? Can you distinguish the authenticity from the imitation when the city blurs and only precision remains?

In this session, we reveal how VAULT BILL transforms security into experience — merging tactile truth, visual storytelling, and next‑level anti‑counterfeiting features into a design that doesn’t shout but stands unshakably firm when questioned.

Are you ready to decode identity?

Jan Hofmann holds a diploma in Printing Engineering and Economics from the Printing University in Stuttgart, Germany. After several years working as a Producer in the commercial printing and packaging industry, he transitioned into the banknote industry in 2006. As Regional Sales Director at Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, he was responsible for the sales of banknotes, as well as commodities and machinery. In 2015, he joined Hueck Folien GmbH as Head of Sales for their Security Division, where he is now responsible for the sales of high-security threads and foils.

The 100 GTQ Commemorative banknote design emerged from very interesting concept of: drawing back to the historical design of this denomination, the necessity to adapt it to its present version and look and finally adding on top of it the newest technology in form of cutting-edge security features. It’s a story on compromise, selective decision making and taking up technological challenges that led to satisfactory result of creating a banknote to celebrate 80 years of the Bank of Guatemala and keeping its look of the denomination in circulation for daily unaltered payments.

It’s a message about the event to commemorate that goes from hand to hand, form eyes to eyes and at the same time it fulfils its primordial task of value flow.  

Radosław Śliwa is Banknote Product Manager at Polish Security Printing Works where he is responsible for developing company’s product offer and innovative partnerships within the banknote industry. Radosław joined PWPW in 2017 increasing its international presence effectively on international markets. He is a big fan of simple, functional, and visually attractive solutions. The committed PWPW’s team of professionals in the field of research, development, design, and production make his role enjoyable and the portfolio of successful implementations grows.

Argentina presents the latest update to its national identity system, centered on the new polycarbonate eDNI developed under the ICAO (9303) eMRTD international standard. This implementation extends beyond a simple change in the physical medium; it integrates a cloud services architecture and REST API technology, consolidating a reliable and scalable validation ecosystem for third-party service providers.

The core of this solution is the capacity to perform remote cryptographic validations. Through a technical workflow that links dynamic QR codes with the NFC reading of the document’s chip, data authenticity is verified directly and securely. This approach mitigates the risks inherent in traditional Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and digital image manipulation by basing trust on the verification of the state-issued digital signature.

RENAPER’s experience demonstrates how a robust digital identity framework contributes to the development of the digital economy, facilitating secure identification processes in critical sectors such as finance and healthcare. Presenting this model will provide an opportunity to share a practical, standard-based solution to combat fraud and ensure legal certainty in non-face-to-face environments.

Strategic technology leader with over 18 years of experience in Digital Transformation and Secure Identity Ecosystems. As the current Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the National Registry of Persons (RENAPER) of Argentina, Flavio has led the national evolution of the electronic national identity document (eDNI), integrating ICAO 9303 standards and ISO/IEC 18013-5 protocols. He is an expert in aligning high-level public policies with cutting-edge technical implementations, including AI-driven automation and scalable cloud architectures.

The Dominican Republic implemented a next-generation national identity card system led by the Central Electoral Board (JCE), designed to strengthen security, digital trust, and public service modernization. The new ID card integrates advanced polycarbonate construction, high-security laser personalization, multi-layered Level 1–3 security features, and biometric deduplication processes to ensure robust identity integrity and fraud prevention.

Beyond physical security, the project introduces a comprehensive digital identity framework incorporating PKI-based digital signatures, enabling citizens to securely access government services and digitally sign official transactions. The system architecture supports interoperability across public institutions and future integration with mobile identity credentials.

Transforming National Identity: The Dominican Republic’s New Secure eID Ecosystem

This presentation will provide a technical overview of the card’s security design, personalization infrastructure, production controls, and governance model. It will also address operational challenges in large-scale ID replacement programs, including data migration, public communication, cybersecurity safeguards, and stakeholder coordination.

The Dominican experience offers valuable insights for Latin American countries pursuing secure, interoperable, and digitally enabled national ID ecosystems.

President Luis Abinader appointed industrial engineer Lorenzo David Ramírez Uribe as Director General of Passports for the Dominican Republic through Decree 314-24. With a strong background in productivity and quality from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), Ramírez Uribe holds international certifications such as Certified Quality Auditor (ASQ), Six Sigma Green Belt, and CAPA Expert, in addition to extensive experience in lean manufacturing, project management, and quality systems.

His career includes leadership roles in multinational companies and at the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), where he strengthened the country's standardization and metrology, as well as participation in COPANT and ISO international assemblies.

Today, as Director General of Passports, Ramírez Uribe is leading the implementation of the electronic passport, a key project to modernize public services and ensure greater security, efficiency, and reliability in the issuance of travel documents.

Mr. Tommy Aguilar Peralta is the Coordinator of Technological Strategy Management of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica, with more than 20 years of experience in the area of information technologies. He has led projects related to biometric engines, implementation of personalization centers, as well as managing the project that implemented the Costa Rican digital identity. His strategic vision will provide a valuable perspective on the issue of digital identity documents and the future vision of their usefulness in the different sectors of the country.

FRAGMENTED INTERNATIONAL ORDER: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF SECURE DOCUMENTS

We are witnessing the emergence of a new international order, characterized by an increasingly fragmented world. This situation is reflected in various social phenomena, including armed conflicts and the mass displacement of people. At a time when migration is questioned, criticized, and reviewed by many countries, multiple factors affect the legal status of individuals. In this context, risks associated with the verification of their true identities are increasing. From this perspective, this presentation will analyze the role played by secure documents within the framework of the current global scenario.

When it comes to ensuring a resilient cash cycle, it is important that the banknotes used serve their specific function.
Whether it’s ensuring they can circulate and withstand processing for longer or are ahead of the counterfeiters during the life of the family, the choice of substrate is crucial. Better substrates make for better banknotes

Richard Perera is the Director of Marketing Services at Landqart AG, where he oversees Product Management, Design, and Communications. Since 2011, he has held various roles within the company, beginning with sales operations in the Americas. With over 25 years of experience in the currency industry, Richard possesses a unique end-to-end understanding of the global cash cycle, from high-security substrates to complex distribution networks. Having worked extensively with government and commercial clients worldwide, he brings a strong strategic perspective on currency innovation. Richard holds Masters’ degrees from the University of St Andrews in Business Management and International Relations.

What if a security feature could do more than protect — what if it could communicate?

Security evolves when proven principles are taken one step further. From historical landmarks to national wildlife, from anniversaries to commemorative notes, security features help translate meaning into movement – turning stories into visual experiences the public connects with instantly. The latest development from G+D Louisenthal feels instantly recognizable, visually compelling, and intuitively secure. By uniting powerful protection with striking visual impact, it significantly strengthens counterfeit resilience while reinforcing national identity and elevating the overall character of the note. Moreover, double security embodies the unique synergy between the inherent security provided by the choice of banknote substrate and cutting-edge security features, creating a holistic approach to protection, design, and inspiring confidence in every note.

Regina is an International Sales Manager at G+D Louisenthal, responsible for the Latin American and European markets. She has been with Louisenthal for eight years and specializes in state‑of‑the‑art security features and banknote substrates. Regina studied Business Administration in Germany and Mexico, focusing on International Business, and completed her MBA in 2024 at FOM University of Applied Sciences in Munich. In her role, she supports central banks and government institutions with tailored security solutions.

Regina es International Sales Manager en G+D Louisenthal, responsable de los mercados latinoamericano y europeo. Lleva ocho años trabajando en Louisenthal y es experta en características de seguridad de última generación y en sustratos para billetes. Estudió Administración de Empresas en Alemania y México, con un fuerte enfoque en Negocios Internacionales, y completó su MBA en 2024 en la FOM University of Applied Sciences de Múnich. En su función, apoya a bancos centrales e instituciones gubernamentales con soluciones de seguridad a medida.

COO at Blendpaper
Mechanical and Industrial Engineer with specialization in Project Management (PMP). Specialist in security paper and banknote manufacturing processes, with expertise in continuous improvement, quality assurance, and operational excellence.

With leadership experience in the pulp and paper industry since 2007, he has led projects involving cotton-based fibers, banknote substrates, high-security papers, and sustainable solutions for the security printing industry.

Built for the present. Ready for the future. Design to Endure explores how innovative and sustainable designs and technologies create robust, future-proof security solutions that stand the test of time.

Mario serves as Regional Manager, Banknotes Security at KURZ, where he works with central banks, security printers and paper mills in Europe and Latin America on banknote security technologies. Based on his international experience and a perspective outside the traditional security printing industry, he focuses his work on one of the main challenges of public authentication: developing highly secure security elements, but easy to recognize for the citizen.

SAFEGUARD® stands as a global benchmark in polymer banknote technology, trusted by 30 issuing authorities and used in 95 denominations across five continents. Renowned for its exceptional durability and usability, it also delivers advanced security through a comprehensive suite of visually engaging and highly secure printed, applied and embedded authentication and anti-counterfeit features. Yet at De La Rue, progress never pauses. Our multidisciplinary teams, spanning scientific research, product development and advanced manufacturing, are driving an ambitious innovation roadmap set to redefine industry standards and shape the future of secure currency through cutting-edge product and feature development.

Barnaby Dicks is the Business Development Director for the Americas at De La Rue. Barnaby joined De La Rue in 2008 initially in the Security Print division looking after the Caribbean and latterly in the Currency Division. Currently based at De La Rue UK he has also had placements in Kuala Lumpur and Miami. Before joining De La Rue Barnaby was Sales Director at a vehicle export distributor responsible for fleet sales to Government, Humanitarian and Commercial sectors operating in the developing world.

SICPA’s next-generation security features are now available to governments to redefine how they protect and enhance polycarbonate passport data pages and national ID cards.  
By combining SPARK® and OPALINE® on pre-printed transparent laminates, authorities can integrate complementary, high-performance security elements that address both visible authentication and the protection of sensitive data. 

SPARK® delivers instant, intuitive authentication through dynamic optical effects, making documents highly resistant to forgery while reinforcing trust and national image. 

In parallel, OPALINE® protects the photo and personal data, combining colour-shift and polarisation effects with great design flexibility and seamless integration into existing manufacturing processes. 
Together, these solutions provide a holistic, future-ready approach to physical document security—enhancing fraud resistance, operational efficiency, control interoperability and sovereignty protection, while enabling both authorities and printers to meet evolving requirements without added complexity. 

Arturo Salgado is General Manager at SICPA Mexicana, a strategic ink manufacturing plant for Latin America, where he leads the company’s activities in Mexico and supports selected countries across the region, with a strong focus on government and central bank relationships, security solutions, and business development.

He has extensive experience in high‑security printing and authentication technologies, covering banknotes, identity documents, tax stamps, and secure documents. In his role, Arturo oversees strategic customer engagement, regional operations, and the introduction of innovative security features tailored to local market needs.

Prior to joining SICPA, Arturo spent 10 years at Thomas Greg & Sons, developing passport and national ID projects across Mexico, Latin America, and North America.

With over 20 years of experience, having worked in various organizations including the Ministry of Finance and the Argentine Mint, Diego is now SICPA's Managing Director for Latin America.

He is a specialist in the development, production, and trading of payment methods and physical-digital security documents, as well as fiscal and identity documents.

His responsibilities at SICPA include government and central bank relations, operations across various industries, and leading teams throughout the region, driven by a deep-rooted passion for the industry.

CHROMA is the world’s first full-colour laser engraving technology for polycarbonate identity documents, delivering lifelike portraits with up to 16.7 million colours equivalent to 1200 DPI. Developed by TOPPAN Security, the technology embeds vibrant images beneath the surface for unmatched durability, tamper resistance, and compliance with ICAO standards. Using a single laser source and subtractive colour model, CHROMA achieves the highest definition in the market, photo-realistic portraits with unparalleled vibrance, and maximum security through subsurface engraving. This is a new standard for colour laser portraits.

Marcos is Head of Sales, Latin America & Caribbean at TOPPAN Security, with a background in Public Management and more than 10 years of experience working with governments and public institutions across the region on secure citizen identity programs. His work covers ePassports, national ID projects, and identity technologies, collaborating with authorities and partners to deliver secure and reliable solutions. Deeply engaged in document security and digital trust, he supports governments across Latin America in modernizing identity infrastructures while improving security, durability, interoperability, and confidence in next-generation identity documents and citizen services.

Light field technology represents the next generation of anti-counterfeiting solutions, offering unparalleled security and intuitive verification for passports, ID cards, driving licenses, banknotes and other high-security documents. By capturing and reproducing the full 3D light field (both intensity and direction of light rays), the technology delivers dynamic, photorealistic 3D effects that are nearly impossible to replicate with traditional printing or copying methods.

In security documents light-field technology is typically implemented using a layer of micro-lens arrays and a layer of micro-images (different perspectives of the object viewed by every micro-lens).  When combined, these two layers reconstruct an enlarged image that exhibits full parallax and 3D depth.

While the two-layer system can deliver compelling visual effects, it also presents some inherent challenges for document security. The multilayer structure increases overall thickness and rigidness of the substrate and depends on highly accurate alignment between the lenses and micro-images (even minor deviations in alignment can introduce distortions or degrade the intended 3D visual performance). This requires complex manufacturing steps, which increases the risk of inconsistencies during mass production.

Demax’s E-Motion™ effect overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks by using thin, single layer diffractive structure, where digitally computed or real scene captured micro-images are modulated with corresponding directional diffractive structures in such way that precisely preserves both the direction and intensity of light rays, allowing the reconstructed 3D object to appear with:

• Continuous, smooth parallax
• High-resolution depth
• Natural motion during tilt or rotation
• Photorealistic details

These dynamic visual cues are instantly recognisable to the human eye, providing a simple and intuitive method of verification.

The use of diffractive structures provides advanced control over spatial and frequency domains, enabling the integration of additional optical effects such as: contrast switching, image switching, and parallax swapping. The result is a visually striking, multi-dimensional feature that is not only easy to authenticate but extremely difficult to counterfeit.

Technologically benefits:

·       As both layers are formed simultaneously during mastering, alignment is perfect from the start, ensuring every produced element is distortion-free and identical to the original master, something other technologies cannot guarantee.

·       E-Motion effect as thin, single layer diffractive structure is easily implemented in mass production techniques for security documents and significantly reduces the production cost.

Micaal is a senior sales and marketing professional with over 15 years’ experience in the high security printing industry and government-issued documents. Having graduated from the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Manchester in the UK, in 2009 he joined Reconnaissance International, a UK-based consultancy for the currency and secure document sectors, first as Business Development Manager and subsequently taking on the role of Regional Director spearheading the company’s activities for the ID and travel documents markets, amongst other things. In early 2020 he joined Demax in Bulgaria - a leading supplier of security foils for government-issued documents - to lead the company’s international sales activities and has since been working with security printers and governments to deliver optical protection for passports, national identity cards and other high security documents. Micaal has contributed to a number of leading industry reports and market studies, was previously the editor of ID & Secure Documents News and has also served as General Secretary of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), now International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA).

This presentation highlights LASINK™, IN Groupe’s leading color portrait technology for polycarbonate ID documents. From LASINK™ Origin to LASINK™ Helios and LASINK™ 3D, this technology has proven its reliability in Latin America, particularly in Costa Rica (from 2016 to 2025) and Colombia (since 2021). Currently, more than 60 million LASINK™ ID documents are in circulation worldwide, trusted by governments for secure and long-lasting identification.

Based on single-laser technology, LASINK™ enables rapid personalization while offering exceptional protection against counterfeiting. The latest advancement, LASINK Origin+, further enhances document security with sharper details and smoother transitions. More than just a design feature, color portraits improve document security and streamline daily inspections.

Senior pre-sales and business development professional with over 20 years of experience in secure identity solutions and government projects in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has participated in large-scale initiatives related to identity documents, passports, and banknotes in more than 10 countries in the region.

He combines strong technical expertise with a strategic and commercial vision, enabling him to lead complex bidding processes, design comprehensive end-to-end solutions, and contribute to the successful closing of high-impact government contracts.

As counterfeit identity documents grow increasingly sophisticated — enabling identity theft, financial crime, human trafficking, and exploitation by terrorist networks — the Document Security Alliance, INTERGRAF, and the Secure Identity Alliance have joined forces to publish Best Practice Guidelines and Minimum Security Standards for Identity Documents, a landmark international framework released in April 2026. Designed for issuing authorities and policymakers worldwide, the guidelines move beyond existing minimum standards to offer a practical, decision-focused roadmap organized around three critical themes: the physical and digital integration of security features such as cryptographic chips, Machine-Readable Zones, and biometric data; rigorous quality control of portrait images and enrollment processes as a foundational security requirement; and continuous professional education as an ongoing imperative in the face of ever-evolving threats. Grounded in both established best practice and the real-world constraints of procurement cycles and budget limitations, the framework does not mandate a single technical approach, but instead invites every issuing authority — regardless of its current baseline — to honestly assess its documents against modern threat scenarios, leverage existing tools more effectively, and commit to a clear trajectory of continuous improvement in the security and integrity of the credentials citizens depend on every day.”

Camilo Buitrago is a Mechatronics Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the design and implementation of identity projects for government entities. He specializes in developing software solutions for issuing physical identity documents, mainly electronic ones, as well as managing digital identities. His expertise is distinguished by the application of comprehensive security principles and adherence to international standards, ensuring data protection both in documents and in related transactions. 

Senior pre-sales and business development professional with over 20 years of experience in secure identity solutions and government projects in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has participated in large-scale initiatives related to identity documents, passports, and banknotes in more than 10 countries in the region.

He combines strong technical expertise with a strategic and commercial vision, enabling him to lead complex bidding processes, design comprehensive end-to-end solutions, and contribute to the successful closing of high-impact government contracts.

Meredith Anglin is Executive Director, Currency at Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN), where she leads international currency programs and partnerships with central banks worldwide. With extensive experience in currency, she oversees complex end‑to‑end projects—from concept development through manufacturing and delivery—supporting issuing authorities in strengthening the integrity and effectiveness of their currency.

Meredith works closely with central banks across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, advising on issuer‑ and user‑centric banknote strategies and optimized production solutions. Known for her collaborative and pragmatic approach, she brings strong stakeholder engagement expertise at the executive and technical levels.

She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French, and is based in the Ottawa, Canada region.

Trust is at the core of any currency system. Phil will explore what is unique to Japan as a manufacturing nation and how long-term reliability helps build trust in currency.

Prepress processes in banknote printing are fundamental to the performance, security, and quality of banknotes. As banknote designs incorporate increasingly sophisticated security features and demand tighter production tolerances, prepress workflows must progress to deliver enhanced precision, operational efficiency, and sustainability. Several years ago, Orell Füssli Security Printing recognized this critical demand and made a bold strategic decision. The whole prepress technology was reimagined from the ground up, ensuring Central Banks receive incomparable precision and security. 

Central to this transformation is the introduction and co-development of innovative laser-based engraving technologies that have redefined production standards. Direct laser engraving of intaglio printing plates delivers unrivaled precision in reproducing complex security elements while increasing plate durability and eliminating environmentally harmful chemical processing. Orell Füssli now offers ultra-high-resolution engraving for intaglio, offset, intaglio stencil, several imprint and varnish plates with seamless computer-to-plate (CTP) transfer that skips traditional intermediate steps entirely, enabling microstructures so refined they define new standards in counterfeit protection. This comprehensive prepress overhaul represents a complete rethinking of the production environment, increasing automation, achieving new levels of reproducibility, and lowering setup times to deliver efficiency gains that directly impact the bottom line. 

In this presentation Orell Füssli Security Printing will reveal how they successfully steered this major transformation from strategic vision to production reality and demonstrate the future technologies in banknote printing. They will show how integrated process innovation can simultaneously strengthen security and precision, boost performance, and achieve sustainability objectives that were once considered mutually exclusive. 

With about 10 years of experience in the security printing industry, Mr. Michael Baur is responsible for the Spanish-speaking customers of Orell Füssli Ltd. Security Printing. Additionally, he is the Key Account Manager and the main point of contact for the Swiss National Bank. During his professional career Mr. Baur has been leading several projects in the field of banknotes.

Mr. Baur holds a Master’s degree in International Cultural and Business Studies combining business, economics, cultural studies and languages in one package.

Fernando Guerrero is an industrial engineer with two master´s degree in Business Administration, and Comprehensive Management of Quality, Prevention and Environment as well as a certification in Private Security. After working as Occupational Risk Prevention Head at the FNMT-RFM, Fábrica de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda, he took over the position of Security Manager in IMBISA, Imprenta de Billetes, S.A., the printing works in charge of producing the Euro banknotes for Banco de España. In 2023, upon the construction of IMBISA’s new factory, Guerrero was also appointed Industrial Manager.

Modern banknote production environments generate large amounts of operational data across production, quality control, warehouse management, and process monitoring systems. The challenge today is transforming this information into meaningful insights capable of improving efficiency, supporting operational decisions, and optimizing production performance.

In this presentation, PARVIS will showcase VALDA, its Business Intelligence solution for banknote printing environments. Through practical examples and live dashboards, we will demonstrate how production data can be consolidated and leveraged for real-time monitoring, trend analysis, forecasting, process optimization, and performance evaluation across the entire manufacturing workflow.

Pedro holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena in Spain. During his final academic year, he joined an exchange program at the Politecnico di Milano, where he completed his final thesis project.

While living in Milan, Pedro began his professional career in the oil and gas industry, initially working as a planning technician intern and later as a full-time employee.

In 2015, Pedro joined PARVIS, where he currently works as an Account Manager, directly supporting several customers across Latin America. Since 2021, he has been based in Mexico, working closely with regional clients and operations.

In Latin America, government security documents are subject to public tenders. However, many of these tenders include ambiguous or non-existent specifications, which hinder genuine competition among bidders and compromise the effectiveness of document security. We have analyzed a set of real tenders that clearly illustrate this issue, revealing non-existent security measures, security features with unclear specifications, and some security features that require significant development time and prevent the timely submission of samples for evaluation, among other issues. This raises questions such as: Who defines the security features of the documents to be tendered? Do institutions have experts who suggest these security measures? Do the documents have adequate security measures for fraud prevention and combating fraud?

Specialist in Graphology and Document Examination from the Free College of University Studies; Master of Criminal Sciences with a Specialization in Criminalistics from the National Institute of Criminal Sciences, National President of the Mexico Chapter of the International Society of Experts in Document Examination (SIPDO), Member of the Mexican Academy of Criminalistics, Professor at INACIPE-FGR and Research Professor at the Free College of University Studies; Expert in Graphology, Document Examination, Fingerprinting, Graphology and Criminalistics for 37 years; Director of the Corporate Services for Investigation, Document Protection and Forensic Sciences.

The presentation focuses on the state-of-the-art security technologies implemented by the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) in the production of passports, with a particular emphasis on their enhanced promotional passport. With over a century of expertise in the security printing industry, PWPW demonstrates its commitment to innovation and protection against identity theft and unauthorized border crossings.

Drawing inspiration from science, the promotional passport symbolizes unity and development, incorporating a modern art style and various security features developed in PWPW’s laboratories.

The presentation focuses particularly on unique technologies including specifically a new PC Data Page, as well as special watermarks, substrate coatings, and internally developed optical effect inks. It delves into printing techniques like offset, intaglio, and silkscreen, combined in various security features leveraging their safety against copying. Moreover, advanced features applied during personalization stages, such as laser-engraved microtexts, OptiqID^TM (optically variable laser engraved element with light polarization effect), AVIA™ (Data Matrix code), as well as Photoshield™ (a translucent feature in the holder’s photo), are explored, demonstrating PWPW’s commitment to innovative security solutions.

By showcasing these sophisticated security features, PWPW aims to ensure document integrity and thwart forgery attempts, inviting collaboration and emphasizing their dedication to excellence in security printing.

Since 2014 holds responsibility for managing PWPW’s sales operations across the Latin American region. Her journey to this pivotal role has been marked by a rich educational background and a diverse set of experiences, combining her expertise in law, languages, and international business. Beyond her professional achievements, Monika enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Desde 2014, es responsable de la gestión de ventas de PWPW en la región de América Latina. Su camino hacia este puesto ha sido marcado por una formación intensa y adquisición de experiencia que sirven de nexo entre su conocimiento de derecho, idiomas y negocios internacionales. Más allá de sus logros profesionales, Monika encuentra satisfacción viajando y disfrutando de su familia.

SECURITY BEGINS BELOW THE SURFACE 
In today’s world, where digital solutions are often in the spotlight, the importance of secure paper-based documents remains essential. Certificates, tax stamps, and other official or high-value documents play a key role in everyday administration, where maintaining trust, authenticity, and integrity across borders and industries is crucial. 
With its broad portfolio of paper-based solutions, ANY combines technical expertise, innovative materials, and advanced printing technologies to create documents that are secure, reliable, and visually distinctive. Each document guarantees security and quality in every aspect. From the carefully selected materials to the integration of advanced security features, every detail is thoughtfully engineered to prevent counterfeiting and tampering. 
The presentation will demonstrate how innovation and technical expertise ensure that every certificate, stamp, or document meets the highest standards of security, reliability, and usability. Participants will explore the latest security additives and ink technologies, as well as the inspection devices and hybrid authentication solutions connecting physical and digital verification

Balázs Megyeri is the Chief Research and Development Officer at ANY Security Printing Company PLC. He has been a member of the ANY team since September 2015. He initially utilized his expertise and years of experience in the Printing Research and Development area as a chemical engineer, and since 2022, he has been the head of the research and development organization. From the beginning, he has played a role in the creation of innovative solutions and new patents in the field of document security. He is responsible for the expert, research and development, and production activities of the Document Security Laboratory, as well as the continuous provision of the security products and solutions distributed by the Company.

The presentation will introduce nanoDOVID® technology, a nanoengineered and nanofabricated solution for the protection of identity documents and banknotes. Major aspects of the technology, as well as its specific implementation in the protection of polycarbonate ID cards, driver´s licenses and passports, will be discussed

This paper analyzes the affordability of cash in an international context and argues that maintaining affordable access to cash is essential for a resilient and efficient payment system. Placing the consumer at the center of the analysis, it reviews the literature on payment instrument costs, traces costs along the entire cash cycle, and evaluates regulatory frameworks and their effects on cash demand and infrastructure. On this basis, the paper formulates policy recommendations aimed at safeguarding affordable access to cash within a diversified and inclusive payment ecosystem.

Highlighting the social importance of cash and the role it plays in financial inclusion as well as the wider use within society as well as the mechanisms by which central banks and regulators can ensure its availability, distribution and the channels available for the public to choose their accessibility preference. In this presentation, Carlos will address the importance of cash in society, highlighting its role in financial inclusion, economic resilience, and freedom of choice.

Carlos Isidro de la Cruz, General Manager of Prosegur in Central America, has over 25 years of experience in security. Throughout his career, he has led operations at Prosegur Cash, strengthening his capabilities in management, efficiency, and risk management in the cash sector. His vision combines leadership, operational experience, and a focus on innovation and excellence to bring a strategic perspective to the sector.

Compass Banknote Intelligence offers a unique opportunity for organizations involved in banknote manufacturing as well as government issuing authorities. This innovative software solution is designed to import, store and analyse data collected from across the cash cycle, and supports fact-based decision making in banknote design and many other use cases. It drives the integrity and security of banknote production and issuance processes. 
This tool provides central banks and issuing authorities with deep insights into the quality and performance of circulating banknotes. By interpreting key production and processing parameters, this solution enables improved design decisions, enhanced quality control, and greater operational efficiency throughout the banknote lifecycle. 

Gyula, currently based in London, works within the Software Sales and Consultancy team, focusing on software and data-driven solutions in Currency Technology. He brings extensive experience from large-scale digital transformation initiatives in commercial banking, alongside more than 7 years working closely with central banks, including 5 years based in the UAE covering the MEA region. Earlier in his career, he collaborated extensively with Microsoft on complex banking transformation programmes. In his current role, he supports the positioning and adoption of Compass Banknote Intelligence, helping central banks translate cash-cycle analytics into decisions.

In 2026, central banks and security printers face converging pressures driven by excess material accumulation, heightened security and insurance requirements, and geopolitical uncertainty affecting supply chains, production continuity, and capital deployment. Traditional, monolithic infrastructure delivery models are increasingly capital-intensive, slow to execute, and insufficiently adaptable to phased growth or rapid capacity expansion.

This paper presents a modular, scalable framework for high-security storage and handling infrastructure designed to provide immediate capacity relief while enabling long-term institutional resilience. The model allows secure vault and handling modules to be deployed incrementally, maintaining operational continuity and full compliance with security, insurance, and regulatory standards.

Central to the approach is a holistic project management methodology that integrates all disciplines involved in the planning, design, engineering, security architecture, automation, MEP systems, construction, commissioning, and operational transition of highly specialized facilities. Rather than treating these domains as sequential or siloed activities, the framework coordinates them under a unified governance structure, ensuring interface control, risk mitigation, cost predictability, and alignment with operational objectives from concept through handover.

Digital modeling and simulation tools are employed selectively as validation and oversight mechanisms, supporting design verification, phasing strategy, cost modeling, and operational flow analysis without introducing procedural complexity.

Through a real-world application scenario, the paper demonstrates how modular vault infrastructure—governed holistically and validated digitally—can compress delivery timelines, reduce capital exposure, and create scalable, investment-grade secure logistics assets capable of transitioning from interim deployment to permanent, high-security infrastructure.

Julián Mejía is an architect and Projects Director with more than 17 years of international experience in secure infrastructure, cash logistics, and mission-critical institutional facilities. He specializes in cash centers, vaults, mints, administrative buildings, and secure logistics environments, integrating architecture, security, automation, sustainability, Digital Twin methodologies, and PMO governance. His work supports central banks, government institutions, and multinational organizations in the delivery of resilient, future-ready infrastructure for currency and high-security operations.

*This presentation will be delivered in Spanish.

Machine-readable codes have been present on Latin American identity documents and drivers licenses for decades. The speech explores the advantages, as well as the risks and pitfalls, of printed digital codes, in comparison to embedded microcontrollers. A particular spotlight is shone on the ICAO standards VDS (Visual Digital Seal) and IDB (ICAO Data Structure for Barcodes).
While offering a more cost-effective and easier to implement alternative to chip-based security, machine-readable codes depend on the availability of a reliable infrastructure of devices and applications to work. Whenever the code cannot be read or verified, the user is thrown back onto the primary security features of the document. Highly tamper-resistant DOVIDs (Diffractive Optically Variable Image Devices) are a well-established, easy-to-verify security feature that has proven extremely effective in securing identity and travel documents. On this premise, it is argued that secure and interoperable machine-readable codes and state-of-the-art DOVIDs are a near fail-safe and highly cost-effective combination for making sure that the authenticity and integrity of identity documents can be ascertained by anybody under any circumstances.

Los códigos de lectura mecánica llevan décadas presentes en los documentos de identidad y permisos de conducir de América Latina. La conferencia analiza las ventajas, así como los riesgos y las trampas , de los códigos digitales impresos, en comparación con los microcontroladores integrados. Se presta especial atención a las normas de la OACI VDS (Visual Digital Seal – sello digital visual) e IDB (ICAO Data Structure for Barcodes – estructura de datos de la OACI para códigos de barras).
Aunque ofrecen una alternativa más rentable y fácil de implementar que la seguridad basada en chips, los códigos legibles por máquina dependen de la disponibilidad de una infraestructura fiable de dispositivos y aplicaciones para funcionar. Siempre que el código no pueda leerse o verificarse, el usuario recurre a las características de seguridad primarias del documento. Los DOVID (Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device – dispositivo de imagen ópticamente variable difractiva), altamente resistentes a la manipulación, son una característica de seguridad bien establecida y fácil de verificar que ha demostrado ser extremadamente eficaz para proteger los documentos de identidad y de viaje. Partiendo de esta premisa, se sostiene que los códigos de lectura mecánica, seguros e interoperables, junto con los DOVID de última generación, constituyen una combinación casi infalible y económicamente atractiva para garantizar que cualquiera pueda verificar la autenticidad e integridad de los documentos de identidad en cualquier circunstancia.

Jochen holds college degrees from the University of Cologne, Germany and Virginia Polytechnic Institute, USA. After 15 years with Giesecke & Devrient and Veridos in various capacities, as well as several subsequent engagements with other important players in the identity solutions and machine vision industries, Jochen joined OVD Kinegram AG in spring 2025 as Area Sales Manager Latin America. A seasoned specialist for the Latin American identity solutions market, over the years Jochen has acquired broad technological and strategical knowledge.

Jochen es licenciado por la Universidad de Colonia (Alemania) y el Instituto Politécnico de Virginia (EE.UU.). Después de 15 años con Giesecke & Devrient y Veridos en varias capacidades, así como varios compromisos posteriores con otros actores importantes en las industrias de soluciones de identidad y de visión artificial, Jochen se unió a OVD Kinegram AG en la primavera de 2025 como Area Sales Manager para América Latina. Especialista experimentado en el mercado latinoamericano de soluciones de identidad, a lo largo de los años Jochen ha adquirido amplios conocimientos tecnológicos y estratégicos.

The global identity ecosystem is entering a new phase of transformation. Governments, technology providers, and system integrators are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape where digital identities, advanced verification technologies, next-generation cryptography, and innovative document solutions are redefining how trust is established in both the physical and digital worlds. 

Across the industry, new models are emerging that aim to make identity more secure, portable, and user-centric. Interoperable digital identity frameworks and secure identity wallets are enabling citizens to store and present credentials through mobile devices, supporting use cases across both public and private services. At the same time, decentralized identity and self-sovereign identity (SSI) concepts are gaining traction, introducing new approaches where individuals can control and share verifiable credentials without relying exclusively on centralized databases. 

Artificial intelligence is also playing an increasingly important role in identity verification. AI-driven biometrics, document authentication, and fraud detection are enabling faster and more secure onboarding processes, while also raising important questions around governance, trust, and the responsible use of automated decision systems. 

In this session, we will explore three of the most impactful trends shaping the future of identity in 2026 and beyond. 

First, we will examine the accelerating adoption of digital and mobile identities. Countries worldwide are piloting or deploying mobile credentials and digital identity wallets, raising a key question for the industry: are mobile identities set to replace physical documents, or will hybrid identity ecosystems combining both formats remain the long-term model? 

Second, we will address the growing importance of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). As quantum computing advances from theory toward practical reality, the identity ecosystem must prepare for a new generation of cryptographic standards capable of protecting secure documents, chips, and digital identity infrastructures in the decades ahead. 

Finally, we will explore an emerging innovation gaining attention in the secure document world: chip-in-paper technologies combined with identity solutions. This approach opens new possibilities for connected credentials, sustainability-driven identity programs, and new applications that complement traditional chip-based documents. 

Join this session to gain a strategic overview of the technologies, challenges, and opportunities shaping the next chapter of the global identity industry

Adrián Rosas is a commercially driven leader with a strong passion for technology and innovation, specializing in market development within the payments, digital identity, and security industries. He currently leads the commercial strategy for Mexico and Latin America at Infineon Technologies, driving the adoption of cutting-edge solutions such as SECORA ID, NFC, and secure identity technologies. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Adrián has been involved in key projects with banks, government institutions, and technology companies, helping transform the way people identify themselves and perform digital payments. Adrian has led initiatives focused on integrating smart solutions for transportation, fintech, and digital government, positioning the company as a relevant player within the technology ecosystem. His approach combines strategic vision, strong execution capabilities, and a results-oriented mindset. Adrián is recognized for his ability to build high-value relationships, navigate complex commercial environments, and successfully close strategic opportunities. 

Ksenia Egorova is a Senior Manager in Application Management and Business Development for Government ID projects at Infineon Technologies AG, Germany. Her main focus is to facilitate the deployment of highly-efficient and robust electronic documents and to empower partners and governments with the relevant and up-to-date knowledge about secured chips, technologies and components embedded into electronic ID documents.

The global excise control landscape is transforming. Revenue authorities are increasingly drawn towards fully digital approaches, including the use of non-secure 2D barcodes instead of high-security tax stamps, while at the same time facing soaring levels of illicit trade.

Against this backdrop, the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) plays an advisory, impartial role within the excise ecosystem. As a not-for-profit international trade body representing 29 leading providers of tax stamps, secure components, equipment, and traceability systems, ITSA advocates for resilient ‘phygital’ excise solutions that combine secure physical tax stamps with robust digital traceability, and that are independent from the industries they regulate.

In an environment of rapid technological change, ITSA’s objective is to establish itself as a leading global authority advising revenue agencies on effective, futureproof strategies for mobilising and protecting excise revenues while safeguarding legitimate trade.

This presentation introduces ITSA, its work, and the current landscape it operates in. But it is also a call to action to companies active in the excise tax stamp and traceability space that have not yet joined the ITSA movement.

To make its voice heard as a proponent of phygital, independent excise control solutions, ITSA needs to continually evolve and grow its membership. Therefore, this presentation explains why companies should consider becoming an ITSA member and what the key benefits are of signing up to this movement.

Mr. Mandiola is currently head of FMA Corp, a strategic advisory firm that helps both private companies and government entities, primarily in Latin America, with their adaptation to the latest digital, security and business environments.

Mr. Mandiola began his career at a lobbying firm in Washington, DC, before entering the banking world at Lloyds Bank and then returning to Chile to Banedwards (now Banco de Chile).  He has held several executive roles in different companies and was Managing Director of SKY TV, DIRECTV, and Turner/TimeWarner in Chile as well as working for the Chilean government as Managing Director of Casa de Moneda de Chile (Chile’s State Mint and Printing Company).  In this last role, Mr. Mandiola was influential in promoting the use of Tax Stamps, which resulted in the eventual adoption of such a system by Chile’s Tax Authority.

Due to his experience, Mr. Mandiola is a frequent invited speaker at international conferences, as well as a registered consultant for ITSA (International Tax Stamp Association) and Reconnaissance International.

Mr. Mandiola holds degrees from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and the University of California at Irvine, as well as political studies at the University of Essex.  In 2019, Mr. Mandiola was certified as a board member by the Universidad de Los Andes in Santiago.

After a successful implementation, the Costa Rican Digital Identity has established itself as a key pillar of digital transformation, which will generate, in the medium and long term, tangible benefits in the modernization of the State, the dynamization of the digital economy and the significant improvement in the experience of citizens, through the reduction of processing times and the expansion of digital services.

This presentation will cover the key milestones that have made its implementation possible, highlighting the learnings and achievements achieved in the process. It will also explore the vision for the future, which includes the expansion of its adoption on a large scale, advances in interoperability and integration with both public and private services. It will show how strategic sectors such as banking, health, education, transport and commerce will be enhanced, promoting a more efficient, secure and inclusive digital ecosystem, and how Costa Rica is positioned as a regional benchmark in digital identity, laying the foundations for a sovereign, reliable, citizen-centered model aligned with the most demanding global standards.

Mr. Tommy Aguilar Peralta is the Coordinator of Technological Strategy Management of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica, with more than 20 years of experience in the area of information technologies. He has led projects related to biometric engines, implementation of personalization centers, as well as managing the project that implemented the Costa Rican digital identity. His strategic vision will provide a valuable perspective on the issue of digital identity documents and the future vision of their usefulness in the different sectors of the country.