6-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OFFOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of March 2023

Commission File Number: 001-41639

SMX (SECURITY MATTERS) PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

MespilBusiness Centre, Mespil House

Sussex Road, Dublin 4, Ireland

Tel: +353-1-920-1000

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  ☒            Form 40-F  ☐

On March 22, 2023, SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company (the “Company”) issued a press release to announce that Continental has won “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing” at the prestigious Tire Technology International (TTI) Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The ‘invisible markers in tires’ joint project with Continental and the Company beat rival initiatives in the “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing” category for its contribution to greater traceability in the natural rubber supply chain.

The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 6-K and incorporated by reference herein.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 22, 2023

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

New York, Wednesday 22 March 2023

PROJECT ON INVISIBLE MARKERS IN TIRES WINS

“ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR – MANUFACTURING” AWARD

Hanover, New York March 22, 2023. Continental has won “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing” at the prestigious Tire Technology International (TTI) Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The ‘invisible markers in tires’ joint project with Continental and SMX (Security Matters) PLC (Nasdaq: SMX; SMXWW) beat rival initiatives in the “Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing” category for its contribution to greater traceability in the natural rubber supply chain.

“Our commitment to performance, sustainability and safety runs right across our organization, and it’s fantastic that once again, this has been recognized”, said Dr. Boris Mergell, Head of Research & Development at Continental Tires, who accepted the award during the ceremony at the Tire Technology Expo in Hanover, Germany.

Commenting on Continental’s success in the Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing award, Matt Ross, Editor-in-chief at Tire Technology International said: “In a closely fought category, Continental and SMX’s development of invisible markers to increase the traceability of natural rubber really impressed the judges. This technology showcases Conti’s commitment to not only improving the sustainability of its tyres, but to being part of a global supply chain that holds itself accountable to the highest levels of environmental awareness.“

Invisible markers ensure greater transparency in the natural rubber supply chain

Together Continental and SMX have developed a special marker technology for use in natural rubber. It aims at creating greater transparency along the entire value chain of tires and technical rubber products in the future. Provided with special security features, the use of the marker substances enables the invisible marking of natural rubber with information on its origin. With the aid of special reading devices and specially developed software, the information on the natural rubber can be read out.

The TTI Awards for Innovation and Excellence are considered the most important awards in the tire industry and recognize the latest developments and advances in tire technology from around the world. The awards are judged by an international jury of more than 20 journalists and leading experts from the tire industry, and were presented at the Tire Technology Expo 2023, which is taking place in Hanover from 21 to 23 March.

—Ends—

SMX	C/O-<br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br>  Arthur Cox, Mespil Business Centre, Mespil House, Sussex Road, Dublin 4,<br>Ireland,                        D04T4A6	1
PRESS RELEASE
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SMX INVESTOR RELATION ENQUIRIES

Eric Dusansky

Inflection Partners, New Orleans, USA

P: +1 917 420 1309 or +1 504 381 4603

E: [email protected]

SMX GENERAL ENQUIRIES

E: **** [email protected]

About SMX

SMX is a forward looking, B2B white label technology company which empowers companies across a variety of different industries, including timber, rubber, palm oil, cocoa, steel, gold, luxury goods, leather, plastics, and non-ferrous metals, to transition successfully to a sustainable circular economy, thus reducing their carbon footprint and waste.

SMX offers a robust, innovative, and scalable technology solution that enables supply chain authentication, traceability, and transparency, transforming businesses for participation in the circular economy. Its technology gives materials in all states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas, the ability to maintain a virtual memory of their origination, processing and supply chain journey, including the ability to authenticate provenance, as well as to track recycling loop counts and the percentage of authenticated and/or recycled materials contained. The data is recorded digitally on blockchain, and a linking molecular chemical marker is embedded in the product itself and can be read with a proprietary reader. The SMX technology has been in active operational use on a national scale by the Israeli Government for more than ten years, is environmentally sustainable and has a proven track record.

The SMX solution is an efficient, cost effective, drop-in solution within an existing supply chain, enabling substantial benefits for manufacturers, consumers, and others in the value chain – and the planet, including providing the necessary data for product recycling and re-use. In addition, the SMX technology addresses the issue of the increase in waste globally by enabling the increase in demand for verified, usable recycled materials by creating a commoditized, tradable certified asset which is the recycled material, which can be traded and sold to other players in the value chain and ecosystem.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: matters relating to the successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint project with Continental; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result

SMX	C/O-<br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br>  Arthur Cox, Mespil Business Centre, Mespil House, Sussex Road, Dublin 4,<br>Ireland,                        D04T4A6	2
PRESS RELEASE
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of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMX’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SMX	C/O-<br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br>  Arthur Cox, Mespil Business Centre, Mespil House, Sussex Road, Dublin 4,<br>Ireland,                        D04T4A6	3