Smart label for vaccine cold chain monitoring

Important results from the project

The purpose of this project was to create a smart label for vaccine monitoring, transfer research expertise to manufacturers, scale up and to test the labels in the field. When compared to these goals, the project has been a resounding success. The prototype created from this project matches and exceeds the original criteria set-out by MSF. The project has also proven the ability to expand to new technologies as the needs develop and interest grows. Plans for the scaling up of production are being formulated, whilst taking into account the feedback from the field tests conducted in Feb 2017.

Expected long term effects

The smart label prototype has exceeded the functionality from the original brief and has demonstrated a clear potential to be brought forward during the next stages of development. The results have been very successful, although the reliability will need further improvement. We predict that the label has the potential to be a step-change in the means of monitoring the humanitarian cold chain based on technology and predicted price. In the immediate future, the formation of a partnership of commercial interests moves us strongly towards the scale up of production and quality assurance.

Approach and implementation

The smart labels project started as a collaboration between MSF Sweden Innovation Unit and TU Delft. The team successfully moved through the stages of product development and prototyping. Much of the technical expertise came from the partnership of the project team allowing for ideas to come to life. As the project progressed, so too did the technology and its potential. With the field tests that have taken place within the MSF Holland’s mission in Bangladesh, we have gained valuable insight into how the product will fit into its sector and how to improve the design further for improved use.