BIOPAT is non-profit-making association set up to raise funds, through donation, for use in studying biodiversity, systematically describing it, and supporting its preservation.

BIOPAT was founded in 1999 by an international group of scientists and institutions and sponsored by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The concept was initially proposed by Dr. Frank Glaw and Dr. Jörn Köhler in 1998 based on an idea of Professor Gerhard Haszprunar of the State Zoological Collection in Munich.

It has also been the subject of a paper by the United Nations Environmental Programme [1] The majority of BIOPAT’s income comes from benefactors who provide funds in exchange for a species being named after them by scientists.

All members of the Association, including the Scientific Advisory Council, provide their service on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.