Technology

Smart Card Materials Market to Reach $1.7 Billion, Globally, by 2033 at 3.9% CAGR: Allied Market Research

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2025

The growth of the smart card materials market is driven by increasing demand from the telecommunications, BFSI, healthcare, and transportation sectors, alongside rising concerns over data security and authentication reliability. Stricter regulatory compliance and growing awareness about the benefits of durable, high-performance materials in enhancing card longevity and security further support market expansion. In addition, advancements in biodegradable and high-strength polymer technologies, coupled with the rising adoption of contactless and multi-application smart cards, are fueling innovation. As digitalization and smart infrastructure development continue to rise, the demand for secure, sustainable, and high-quality smart card materials is expected to drive steady growth across global markets.

WILMINGTON, Del., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Allied Market Research published a report, titled, “Smart Card Materials Market by Material Type (Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polycarbonate (PC), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyethylene Terephthalate-Glycol (PETG), Wood, Others), by Application (Telecommunications, Retail, BFSI, Healthcare, Hospitality, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033”. According to the report, the “smart card materials market” was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $1.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2033.

Prime determinants of growth  

Growth in banking and financial services, coupled with rise in adoption of smart cards in telecommunications is fueling the growth of the smart card materials market, promoting greater expansion and innovation. However, complex manufacturing processes hinder market growth. In addition, advancements in contactless payment technology present significant opportunities for the market.

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Challenges

The smart card materials market faces several challenges, including fluctuating raw material costs, security concerns, and evolving technological requirements. The primary materials used, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), are subject to price volatility due to supply chain disruptions and environmental regulations. Additionally, increasing cyber threats and data security concerns require continuous innovation in encryption and authentication technologies, raising production costs. The transition towards more durable and eco-friendly materials, such as biodegradable or recycled plastics, also adds to manufacturing complexity. Furthermore, market fragmentation and regional regulatory differences complicate standardization efforts, making it difficult for manufacturers to scale operations efficiently. These factors collectively pose significant hurdles to the growth of the smart card materials market.

Solutions:

To address challenges in the smart card materials market, manufacturers should invest in R&D activities to create cost-effective, durable, and eco-friendly alternatives such as recycled plastics and biodegradable composites. Strengthening supply chain resilience through diversified sourcing and long-term supplier partnerships can mitigate raw material price fluctuations. Implementing advanced encryption and biometric authentication technologies will enhance security while maintaining compliance with evolving global regulations. Standardization efforts across regions can be improved by collaborating with industry associations and regulatory bodies. Additionally, adopting automated and sustainable manufacturing processes can reduce production costs and environmental impact. By integrating these strategies, the industry can overcome market hurdles and ensure consistent growth in the smart card materials sector.

PESTLE Analysis Overview:

Political:

The political landscape of the smart card materials market is shaped by government regulations, trade policies, and national security concerns. Many countries, especially in Europe and North America, enforce strict data protection laws such as GDPR, influencing the use of secure materials in smart card manufacturing. Governments also promote digital identification and cashless payment systems, driving demand for high-quality card materials.

Additionally, geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions impact the supply chain, particularly for raw materials like polycarbonate and PVC. Countries with strict import/export regulations, such as China and the U.S., influence global pricing and availability. Public procurement policies and subsidies for domestic manufacturers further affect market dynamics, favoring local suppliers over international players in some regions.

Economical:

The smart card materials market is influenced by various PESTLE factors. Economically, the market is expanding due to the rising adoption of smart cards in banking, telecommunications, and government sectors. Increased digital transactions, fueled by cashless policies and financial inclusion programs, drive demand. Additionally, the falling costs of polycarbonate, PVC, and PET materials make production more affordable, supporting market growth.

However, inflation and supply chain disruptions impact material costs, especially with fluctuating crude oil prices affecting plastic-based components. Emerging economies like India and Southeast Asia are witnessing high demand due to government initiatives like Aadhaar-linked banking and transit systems. While developed markets maintain steady growth, innovation in biodegradable smart card materials is expected to reshape cost structures and competitive dynamics.

Social:

The social factors influencing the smart card materials market include the growing demand for secure transactions, digital identity verification, and financial inclusion. As cashless economies expand, especially in developing regions, the adoption of smart cards for banking, transportation, and government services is increasing. Rising consumer awareness about cybersecurity and data protection also drives demand for advanced materials that enhance card durability and security.

Additionally, urbanization and a tech-enthusiast younger population favor the adoption of smart cards for contactless payments, access control, and healthcare applications. Changing lifestyles, driven by convenience and safety concerns post-pandemic, further boost usage. However, concerns over electronic waste and sustainability are influencing material choices, pushing manufacturers toward eco-friendly and biodegradable alternatives in smart card production.

Technical:

The smart card materials market is driven by advancements in polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), offering durability, security, and flexibility. Growth is fueled by demand in banking, telecommunications, government IDs, and transportation.

Legal:

The legal landscape of the smart card materials market is shaped by stringent regulations on data security, environmental compliance, and intellectual property rights. Data protection laws, such as the EU’s GDPR and various national regulations, mandate secure storage and transmission of personal data, influencing material choices for enhanced security features. Additionally, environmental laws restrict hazardous substances in smart card production, prompting a shift to eco-friendly materials like biodegradable plastics. Intellectual property laws govern patents on chip technology and polymer innovations, creating legal barriers for new entrants. Compliance with financial regulations, especially in banking and identity verification, is crucial for market players. Overall, legal factors drive R&D investments in secure, sustainable, and regulatory-compliant materials for smart card production.

Environmental:

The environmental impact of smart card materials is increasingly under scrutiny as sustainability concerns rise. Traditional PVC-based smart cards contribute to plastic waste and pollution, leading to a shift toward eco-friendly alternatives like biodegradable PLA, recycled PVC, and even wooden smart cards. This transition is driven by regulatory pressures and corporate sustainability goals.

E-waste regulations and carbon footprint reduction initiatives are influencing material choices. Many governments and organizations are pushing for greener production methods, including reduced energy consumption and recyclable materials. However, biodegradable alternatives often face durability and cost challenges, limiting widespread adoption.

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Key Regulation Analysis:

Smart cards are primarily made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). These materials must comply with ISO/IEC 7810, which specifies card dimensions, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals, heat, and wear. Additionally, smart cards used for security applications must meet ISO/IEC 10373 for durability and testing procedures.Visa and Mastercard mandate compliance with EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) specifications, ensuring the card’s resistance to bending and external pressure. Fire safety standards like UL 94 (flammability of plastic materials) are also critical for smart card materials.To reduce environmental impact, regulatory bodies enforce restrictions on hazardous. substances in smart card manufacturing. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) in the EU and similar regulations worldwide prohibit lead, mercury, and certain flame retardants in plastics. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) ensures chemical safety in Europe, requiring manufacturers to register and disclose hazardous substances.

Key Steps to Mitigate Environmental Impacts:

Some financial institutions are shifting towards PLA (polylactic acid)-based biodegradable smart cards to meet sustainability goals, and EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) certification is gaining importance in assessing environmental impact.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage

Details

Forecast Period

2024–2033

Base Year

2023

Market Size in 2023

$1.2 billion

Market Size in 2033

$1.7 billion

CAGR

3.9 %

No. of Pages in Report

124

Segments Covered

Material Type and Application

Drivers

– Growth in Banking and Financial Services

– Rise in Adoption of Smart Cards in Telecommunications

Opportunity

Advancements in Contactless Payment Technology

Restraint

Complex Manufacturing Processes

The Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) segment is expected to lead by 2033.

In 2023, as per Material Type, the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) segment held the highest market share in the Smart Card Materials Market due to its cost-effectiveness, durability, and ease of processing. PVC is widely used in banking, telecommunications, and identification cards due to its high flexibility, resistance to wear and tear, and compatibility with printing and chip embedding technologies. Additionally, its widespread availability and low production costs make it the preferred choice for mass production. The growing demand for contactless and secure smart cards further supported PVC’s dominance in the market.

The Telecommunications segment is expected to lead by 2033.

In 2023, as per Application, the Telecommunications segment held the largest market share in the Smart Card Materials Market due to the widespread adoption of SIM cards and embedded smart chips in mobile devices. The growing demand for 5G connectivity, IoT applications, and eSIM technology further drove the need for high-performance, durable smart card materials. In addition, rising smartphone penetration, increasing mobile subscriptions, and stringent security requirements boosted the demand for advanced, tamper-resistant materials that enhance card longevity and data protection, making telecommunications the dominant segment in the market.

The Asia-Pacific segment is expected to dominate by 2033.

The Asia-Pacific region dominates the smart card materials market due to its booming digital payment ecosystem, rapid urbanization, and high adoption of contactless payment solutions in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The region’s expanding telecom industry, coupled with government initiatives promoting digital identification and financial inclusion, further boosts demand. Additionally, the presence of key manufacturers, availability of low-cost raw materials, and rising investments in advanced polymer technologies drive market growth. The increasing use of smart cards in BFSI, transportation, and healthcare further strengthens Asia-Pacific’s market leadership.

Leading Market Players: –

Eastman Chemical Company IDEMIA Infineon Technologies AG Thales CPI Card Group Inc. LG Chem. CardLogix Corporation HID Global Corporation KEM ONE Akme Cards Private Limited.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the smart card materials market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players’ Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/smart-card-materials-market/purchase-options

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of “Market Research Reports” and “Business Intelligence Solutions.” AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Technology

Zifo Transforms Ontology Engineering with AI-Powered Intelligent Automation

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Advanced AI solution speeds up ontology creation by 80%, generating structured, interoperable knowledge models for science-driven organizations.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and CAMBRIDGE, England, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zifo, the leading global enabler of AI and data-driven enterprise informatics for science-driven organizations, has developed an Intelligent Automation solution for Ontology Engineering, which is designed to seamlessly generate structured, interoperable knowledge models while accelerating ontology creation by 80%.

Overcoming the Bottlenecks of Manual Ontology Creation

Manual ontology creation in the biopharma industry has traditionally been a time-consuming process that requires specialized expertise. Organizations frequently struggle with semantic ambiguity, complex integration challenges, and limited scalability, resulting in workflows that can take weeks to complete. Zifo’s AI-powered automation tackles these challenges head-on by eliminating 80% of the manual work through automated class generation, description creation, and precise IRI mapping.

Addressing the Complexities of Semantic Knowledge

Developing comprehensive knowledge models often demands deep domain expertise to define relationships and align terminology. Zifo’s intelligent solution overcomes this by providing an AI-guided workflow featuring an intuitive interface, meaning specialized ontology engineering knowledge is no longer required. By leveraging LLM-powered generation, the solution creates precise definitions with a deep understanding of domain-specific context, while generating standardized synonyms and establishing controlled vocabulary alignment to eliminate inconsistent terminology.

A Solution Designed for Scalable Scientific Data Modeling

The AI-powered solution addresses critical format compatibility and integration points in ontology management:

Seamless Integration: Automated mapping connects directly to established ontologies, including NCIT, CHEBI, OBI, and EFO, via BioPortal and OLS APIs.Massive Scalability: Parallel processing and batch operations empower teams to execute large-scale ontology projects without performance limitations.Automated Hierarchies: The AI autonomously generates semantic relationships and parent-child hierarchies based on domain context and predefined relation vocabularies.Format Compatibility: The solution produces direct OWL/RDF exports with proper URIs, ensuring seamless downstream integration.

Unique Features include:

Multi-Source Integration: The solution combines BioPortal, OLS, and EMBL-EBI APIs to guarantee comprehensive ontology coverage.Intelligent Ranking System: The system uses AI-powered relevance scoring and justification for precise ontology mappings.Precise IRI Mapping: It ensures that each generated class is linked to the correct IRI, directly promoting semantic web compatibility.Human-in-the-Loop Design: The solution automates repetitive tasks while maintaining vital expert oversight.End-to-End Workflow: Users are guided through a complete pipeline, from initial domain knowledge input straight to exportable OWL files.Visual Knowledge Graph: An interactive graph visualization allows for intuitive relationship exploration and validation.Multi-Format Exports: Provides seamless export options in CSV, OWL, or HTML Ontograph formats for downstream use, collaboration, and visualization.

Strategic Value Across the Scientific Chain

This solution breaks down the traditional barriers of data structuring. Built on a robust backend of Python, LangChain, and leading LLM models, alongside a frontend framework using Next.js 15 and Cytoscape.js for graph visualization, the solution is highly adaptable. Furthermore, future optimization enhancements will include provisions for uploading user-defined classes or semi-ready ontologies.

About Zifo

Zifo is the leading global enabler of AI and data-driven enterprise informatics for science-driven organizations. With expertise spanning research, development, manufacturing, and clinical domains, Zifo serves a diverse range of industries including Pharma, Biotech, Chemicals, Food and Beverage, and more. Trusted by over 190 organizations worldwide, Zifo is the partner of choice for advancing digital scientific innovation.

For more information, visit www.zifornd.com; https://zifornd.com/practical-ai-blueprints/

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SOURCE Zifo Technologies

Technology

UNC-Chapel Hill establishes ‘Carolina in the Capital’ with new Washington, D.C. office

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has opened a new office in Washington, D.C., establishing an expanded presence for the University in the nation’s capital and creating exciting opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Located at 101 Constitution Avenue NW, the 10,861-square-foot space – coined “Carolina in the Capital” – will support a variety of functions, including educational programming for undergraduate and graduate students, alumni relations and engagement with government partners.

As a leading R1 university, UNC-Chapel Hill annually attracts more than $1.6 billion to the state’s economy to fund research that creates a better quality of life for all its citizens. More than 60% of UNC-Chapel Hill’s total research funding comes from federal sponsors with the majority of that federal funding coming from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is based in the Washington area.

“Carolina in the Capital is a state-of-the-art facility that reflects our commitment to creating experiential learning opportunities for our students and faculty,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “The space is designed as an immersive learning environment where students can translate classroom knowledge into hands-on experience, which has never been more important. The facility also strengthens our ability to support engagement between our staff, alumni, policymakers and partners.”

Supporting students participating in Carolina’s Washington-based academic programs is a priority. For years, students and faculty have relied on temporary or borrowed spaces across the city. The new office provides a permanent home where students can gather, learn and build community while living and studying in Washington. A robust schedule of classes and events will fill the space throughout the year.

The Washington, D.C. region is home to the largest concentration of out-of-state Carolina alumni anywhere in the country. The new office creates a dedicated space to strengthen those connections and support networking, mentorship, professional development and community-building among D.C.-based Tar Heels.

The space will also serve as a platform to bring Carolina’s research and academic expertise into closer conversation with policymakers, industry leaders and member organizations. Carolina is the nation’s 11th largest university in the country based on research volume with primary federal funding coming from NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF), both based in the D.C. area. Carolina is a proud member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU), which are both based in Washington.

The office is funded entirely through the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation and does not use any state appropriations.

You can view additional photos of the space here.

Media Contact: UNC Media Relations, 919-445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu

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SOURCE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of Communications

Technology

Investing.com Acquires Stonki to Accelerate Its Entry into the Agentic AI Era

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

The acquisition strengthens Investing.com’s AI capabilities, advancing a next-generation research assistant that can analyze markets, generate insights, and guide investors in real time

NEW YORK, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Investing.com, one of the world’s largest financial platforms used by more than 60 million investors each month, today announced the acquisition of Stonki, an AI-powered investing assistant designed to help traders turn ideas into structured, actionable trading plans.

The move marks a major step in the company’s evolution toward agentic AI, strengthening its ability to deliver faster, deeper, and more actionable market insights to a growing base of more than 300,000 paying subscribers across its InvestingPro suite, the company’s premium subscription offering for advanced market data, tools, and AI-driven insights.

Over the past 12 months, nearly 3 million users have used WarrenAI, Investing.com’s AI-powered financial research assistant launched last year, to perform market analysis, making AI a central entry point into the platform’s ecosystem. With the addition of Stonki, the company is moving beyond traditional AI tools toward agentic systems that can proactively guide users through the investment process.

“We’re entering the age of agentic AI, where the technology moves beyond just answering questions to actively helping investors think, analyze, and act,” said Omer Shvili, CEO of Investing.com. “Bringing Stonki.ai into the fold accelerates our goal of building an agentic platform that will serve as a 24/7 analyst for our users. We are developing this to be more than just a tool; it will be a partner that identifies opportunities, tracks unfolding situations, and surfaces trade ideas even when the user isn’t active—giving our users the kind of edge that was previously only available to professional investors.”

Founded in 2025, Stonki is developing a new category of ‘agentic’ AI for investing, enabling users to turn investment ideas into fully defined strategies with entry and exit conditions, risk management rules, and continuous monitoring.

“We started Stonki because, as investors and traders ourselves, we knew how much time and focus it takes to stay on top of the market and properly manage a day trade, a swing trade, an investment idea, or a portfolio,” said Ulas Bilgenoglu and Itay Verkh, co-founders of Stonki. “We set out to build AI that could carry part of that load by continuously monitoring the market, turning ideas into structured strategies, and helping users make better decisions with clear entry and exit conditions, disciplined risk management, and ongoing tracking. Joining Investing.com gives us the scale, data, reach, and strong AI foundation to accelerate that vision. Together, we can create an experience where AI helps users stay ahead of the market, manage risk, and act with greater confidence.”

The acquisition expands Investing.com’s AI capabilities across both technical and fundamental investing workflows. Stonki’s technology is built around persistent, real-time intelligence, continuously monitoring markets, tracking user-defined strategies, and alerting investors when conditions align, rather than relying on one-off prompts or static analysis.

For active traders, the platform is evolving into a real-time analysis engine designed to support high-frequency decision-making with precision and speed. For long-term investors, it is becoming a central hub for research, enabling users to evaluate opportunities, set personalized alerts, and monitor portfolios based on their individual investment strategies.

Users will be able to define specific conditions, such as a stock crossing a long-term moving average, and have the AI continuously monitor the market, analyze relevant signals, and surface actionable insights in real time. The system will also review portfolios on an ongoing basis, helping investors avoid potential losses and uncover new opportunities aligned with their strategy.

This latest step builds on Investing.com’s broader strategy of expanding its AI-powered suite, including WarrenAI, ProPicks AI, and its recently launched AI Chart Analysis, all aimed at delivering faster, more accurate and more actionable insights to investors.

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SOURCE Investing.com