Government backs innovative forensic investigation tool

Pioneering new software to help digital forensic investigations by police and cyber investigators is being backed by the Palaszczuk Government.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said Brisbane-based Schatz Forensic used $100,000 from the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund to continue the development and marketing of its groundbreaking Evimetry software to help the forensic investigation of computers.

“Globally, police, cyber security investigators and legal practitioners could save vital time forensically interrogating computers with Evimetry – a product developed right here in Queensland by forensic computer scientist Dr Bradley Schatz,” she said.

“We’re backing local startups and small to medium businesses like Schatz Forensic to commercialise innovative ideas and create new jobs.

“Evimetry reduces lengthy delays and expense, enabling faster turnaround of police investigations, legal disputes and cyber investigations.

“It will have significant flow-on effects for policing and legal outcomes, and will help in creating a safer cyber environment.

“We’re investing heavily in the tech space because we want to create the jobs of the future here in Queensland.”

Dr Bradley Schatz said: “Evimetry accelerates forensic investigation of computers, cutting hours from forensic workflows, and delivering analysis results within minutes.

“In comparison with traditional digital forensics, which requires the practitioner to wait hours per device until a trusted copy of the evidence is preserved, Evimetry enables practitioners to begin their investigation immediately.

“It achieves unprecedented speeds in preservation of evidence and allows for meaningful forensic analysis to occur at the same time.”

Dr Schatz said the funding would help the business tap into a growing share of the forensics, cyber investigation and eDiscovery market, conservatively estimated to be a US$7.5 billion international market.

Schatz Forensic already provides the software to leading multinational tech companies, corporate security teams, law enforcement and cyber security agencies globally.

“As our business grows we anticipate job opportunities in software development, forensic analysis and business administration.

“We estimate that we will add eight Queensland based high-tech jobs in the next three years, and will accelerate the growth of local capability in forensics, cyber investigation, and eDiscovery here in Queensland,” he said.

The Ignite Ideas Fund is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $513 million Advance Queensland initiative designed to develop new products and create jobs.

Schatz Forensic is one of 85 innovative Queensland companies sharing in the latest round of $10 million Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding.

The government has so far supported 203 Queensland businesses through $26.5 million of Ignite Ideas funding over three rounds of the program’s merit-based assessment process – driving more than 1000 jobs.

For more information on the program and its recipients visit the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund webpage.

Media contact: 0419 620 447