New Thinking for Bioweapons Verification
An interdisciplinary research project to strengthen biological arms control through modern bioprocess engineering and political science analysis.
Funded by:
Background
The Verification Gap in the Biological Weapons Convention
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) has prohibited the development, production and stockpiling of biological weapons since 1975. Unlike other international arms control treaties – for example in the nuclear or chemical domain – the BWC still lacks a legally binding verification mechanism for unannounced compliance checks. At the same time, global advances in biotechnology are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish civilian, industrial research from activities that could be misused.
The VERIBIO project addresses this intersection, exploring new approaches to reliable, up-to-date verification that create international transparency while protecting industry's intellectual property.
Recent Publications
Working Paper Nr. 1 Microbial Forensics for the BWC
VERIBIO Publications Working Paper Nr. 1 –Microbial Forensics for the BWC The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is one of the...
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How Technology and Political Science Interlock
VERIBIO's scientific methodology is based on the close integration of digital process monitoring and arms-control policy analysis, enabling up-to-date verification of biological risks.
Data-Driven Process Monitoring
The biotechnological research focuses on developing a data-driven early-warning system for industrial facilities.
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Analysis of Growth Signatures:
Using Escherichia coli bacterial strains as an example, the project examines how regular production processes differ from unauthorised activities (e.g. the cultivation of pathogens). -
Use of Machine Learning:
AI algorithms are used to analyse complex process parameters (such as oxygen consumption and growth rates) in order to detect operational anomalies automatically and at an early stage. -
Protection of Trade Secrets:
The system is designed so that monitoring (e.g. via encrypted data streams) strictly protects the confidentiality of industrial processes and companies' intellectual property.
Political Science Analysis & Arms Control
The technological development is accompanied by a comprehensive analysis of the global arms-control policy framework.
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Historical Review:
Analysis of previous, failed negotiation attempts under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) to better understand the structural and political obstacles to a new verification protocol. -
Theory of Verification:
Further development of scientific arms-control concepts that account not only for state actors but also for the growing importance of private, globally active actors in biotechnology. -
Practical Implementation:
Conducting structured expert interviews with actors from diplomacy, science and industry to align the theoretical models with the real-world requirements of the international security architecture.
