India’s Biggest Bio-Entrepreneurship Competition is Back — NBEC 2025 is Now Open!

Organised by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), NBEC is more than just a competition — it’s a launchpad for life sciences innovation in India.

Do you have a game-changing idea in life sciences? Here is the stage.

The National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC), India’s largest and most prestigious national competition for bio entrepreneurs, is back with its 8th edition.

Organised by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), NBEC is more than just a competition — it’s a launchpad for life sciences innovation in India.

Launched in 2017, over seven editions, NBEC has identified and nurtured more than 100 promising entrepreneurs who are now making a significant societal impact.

Why You Should Apply

1. ₹15 Crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities up for grabs

2. Up to ₹10 lakhs prize money for top-performing student teams

3. Expert mentorship and power-packed bootcamp

Whether you are a student team, researcher, innovator, aspiring entrepreneur, startup founder, or small/medium biotech company with a bold idea in life sciences, NBEC 2025 is for you!

 Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI, said, “NBEC serves as a launchpad for aspiring entrepreneurs, with C-CAMP playing a crucial role in their success story. May it be a celebration of innovation and prosperity. Wishing you continued success in nurturing and empowering the next generation of visionary leaders.”

Dr. Renu Swarup, Former Secretary, DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI added: “This is an excellent initiative to nurture the deep tech science-based bio entrepreneurial ecosystem. The opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas to investors and industry leaders is unique, and this facilitates science ideas to be converted to enterprises. NBEC has itself grown and now reaches out to students, tier 2 and tier 3 cities. I wish NBEC great success, and I am confident that this platform will continue to be an important launch pad for many budding entrepreneurs.”

During the finale of NBEC 2024, Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT/BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Karnataka government, commented: “C-CAMP has been at the heart of Bengaluru’s bio-entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting and nurturing young entrepreneurs to innovate, incubate, and drive change. The NBEC cohort will not only foster innovative solutions but also contribute to economic growth, create jobs, and elevate India’s presence in the global market.”

"Many similar competitions exist, but what makes NBEC stand out is its sector-agnostic approach, openness to partners, sponsors and Venture Capitalists, and bright ideas irrespective of affiliation and background. This is why we are seeing an amplification of the true spirit of entrepreneurship in the biosciences from all across India and across students, researchers, clinicians, scientists, innovators, startups and even MSMEs," said Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, C-CAMP.

Focus Areas for NBEC 2025

1. Agri Tech & Molecular Biology
   NBEC 2025 invites innovations in conventional plant breeding, tissue culture and micro-propagation, molecular breeding or marker-assisted selection, genetic engineering and GM crops, molecular diagnostic tools, soil health management, and applications of AI & ML in agriculture
2. Animal Health
   Solutions related to veterinary diagnostics, therapeutics, animal nutrition, and other sub-domains that enhance animal health and well-being are key focus areas.
3. Healthcare
   NBEC is scouting for ideas across diagnostics, drug discovery, vaccine development, biologics, plant-based therapeutics, and contract research and manufacturing services (CRO/CMO/CRAMS), along with innovations targeting maternal and child nutrition.
4. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
   Innovations addressing TB, malaria, rare and neglected diseases, and other infectious diseases are a major priority, especially in the context of combating antimicrobial resistance.
5. Digital Health
   Startups leveraging AI & ML, imaging technologies, wearable devices, healthcare IT solutions, and related digital health innovations are encouraged to apply.
6. Medical Devices
   Breakthroughs in the development of novel medical devices for diagnostics, therapeutics, and healthcare management are a focus area for NBEC 2025.
7. Environment
   Ideas promoting clean and renewable energy, biofuels, air purification, and other environmental sustainability solutions are welcome.
8. Water & Sanitation
   Solutions for water treatment, solid waste management, and sustainability in sanitation are critical areas where innovative ideas are sought.
9. Industrial Biotechnology
   NBEC seeks innovations in industrial biotech covering enzymes, fermentation-based products for non-pharma applications, bioplastics, and advancements in food and nutraceuticals, including dietary supplements.
10. Sustainability, Circular Economy & Sustainable Products
    Startups creating solutions that promote sustainability, enable circular economy models, and develop eco-friendly, sustainable products are highly encouraged to participate.

 Legacy of NBEC

Since its launch, NBEC has received over 20,000 applications from across 35 States and UTs. NBEC is a unique platform that has broken the oft-mentioned issue of metro-based innovation silos in India’s biotech landscape and unlocked the potential of science-led entrepreneurship among Tier II, Tier III cities.

Winners have garnered national and global recognition, with NBEC acting as a springboard for many entrepreneurs towards venture funding and business expansion.

 Highlights of past NBEC winners:

1.Fibsol (NBEC 2017): Developed nanofiber platforms to create lightweight delivery formulations for agri-inputs such as bio-fertilisers, pesticides, and plant growth stimulants.

2. Nemocare (NBEC 2018): Introduced Raksha, an IoT-enabled smart wearable technology that monitors vital parameters in neonates for continuous health tracking and remote monitoring.

3. Bioscan Research (NBEC 2019): Created Cerebo, a near-infrared spectroscopy-based, easy-to-use handheld device for quick, non-invasive detection of intracranial haemorrhages in brain injuries.

4. Sascan Meditech (NBEC 2020): Developed Cerviscan, a medtech device for early detection of cervical cancers and biopsy guidance. Their first product, OralScan, is for screening and early detection of oral cancers.

5. Ahammune (NBEC 2021): Working on a drug to arrest the progression of Vitiligo and induce re-pigmentation of depigmented patches.

6. ADIS Technologies (NBEC 2022): Developed technology to uniquely tag animals using animal biometrics, enabling detection and authentication of livestock anytime, anywhere.

7. REVY Environmental Solutions (NBEC 2024): Providing low-cost wastewater treatment solutions that also generate electricity.

With the support of 30+ industry partners and over ₹52.8 Crore disbursed in prize money and investment opportunities, NBEC has established itself as India’s biggest innovation showcase.

 The next big success story could be yours! Don’t miss this!

Registrations for NBEC 2025 close on May 5, 2025.For more details and to apply: www.nationalbioentrepreneurship.in

Published on : 28th April, 2025