Advancing Asbestos Detection: Flawless Photonics and Prof Nigel Spooner Secure BRII Grant

The Regulatory Technology round of the Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII) is providing a $5 million grant to help develop new digital technologies in a bid to solve challenges faced by Australian businesses.  In conjunction with the University of Adelaide’s Prescott Environmental Luminescence Laboratory (PELL), Flawless Photonics Pty Ltd (Flawless) has been awarded $999,690 to further develop the project ‘Hand Portable, Non-contact, Real-time Fluorescence-based Asbestos Sensor’ asbestos testing technology. 

The collaborative project, led by Prof Nigel Spooner at PELL and Rob Loughan from Flawless, commenced its first stage in February 2022. Leveraging Flawless's breakthrough sensor technology, Novel Fluorescence (NF), the PELL team identified new optical signatures from various asbestos minerals. The project aligns with the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency's (ASEA) goal for real-time and accurate asbestos detection, as part of the BRII - Regulatory Technology (RegTech) Round.

Prof. Spooner, along with the PELL team, including Dr Jillian Moffatt, Dr Alexandra Chapsky, Dr Tom De Prinse, and Dr Tom Payten, delivered a successful outcome during the initial phase, contributing to the recent awarding of the BRII grant. A/Prof. Sharyn Gaskin from the School of Public Health provided expert advice in Occupational & Environmental Health.

The grant secures further funding to advance this groundbreaking technology, demonstrating the potential for significant advancements in real-time asbestos detection, making it more accurate and less intrusive overall. This achievement highlights the ongoing commitment of Flawless Photonics and the University of Adelaide to drive innovation and address critical challenges in occupational health and safety.