Microbial biofilms significantly impact health, food and water safety, industrial processes, and the economy, costing an estimated US$5 trillion annually across various sectors. Despite the scale of the scientific and economic opportunities and challenges related to biofilms, a critical absence of regulatory frameworks, standardised protocols and guidelines is blocking advances and real-world implementation of biofilm control technologies.

The Biofilm Alliance is a collaborative InnovateUK-funded Regulatory Science network bringing together academia, industry experts, metrology institutes, regulatory bodies, and standardisation agencies to bridge the gap between biofilm research and regulatory science.

Focussing on the built environment, industrial processes, food, and water sectors, the Alliance works to evaluate existing methodologies, recommend models, and create a structured framework for interpreting biofilm data with the ultimate aim of developing a collection of recommended Regulatory Science tools for products and processes targeting biofilms, supported by stakeholders' consensus.

Here, we will provide an update on the Alliance’s activities and achievements so far in data collection, gap analyses and engagements with Regulators to identify shortcomings and guide interventions. Delegates will be informed about and invited to participate in ongoing Alliance activities, e.g. roundtables, surveys and other events, that are aiming to provide input for whitepapers and influencing of policy.

In summary, by fostering collaboration and supporting standardisation initiatives, the Biofilm Alliance will advance regulatory science related to biofilms to drive innovation, benefiting multiple industry sectors.