NSF grant supports anti-counterfeit college course

The US National Science Foundation has provided $200,000 in funding to help set up a certification course focusing on anti-counterfeit technologies.

The funding has been given to Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), which says it will use the money to set up a two-year technician certificate programme and a continuing education course for people already working in this area.

The project will be led by Zachery Blackburn (pictured), instructor and chair of CPCC's Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology programme, and the courses will get underway starting in fall 2016.

"We want to establish a multi-disciplinary certificate program in anti-counterfeit printing and packaging technology to address the need for technicians who understand security printing and brand protection measures," said Blackburn.

"A highly-skilled technician workforce with expertise in anti-counterfeit processes and measures will help ensure products distributed locally and globally are more secure, reduce the risk associated with counterfeit products, and maintain the competitiveness of manufacturers," he added.