The Department of Biotechnology has recently made headlines with the launch of the fifth edition of the National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC). Operating under the umbrella of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) Regional Entrepreneurship Centre, this competition is hosted by the highly acclaimed Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), in partnership with BIRAC.
About BIRAC and C-CAMP
BIRAC is a Public Sector Enterprise, established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), while C-CAMP serves as one of the leading centres for tech-based innovation and entrepreneurship in the realm of life sciences. Affiliated with the DBT, it focuses on the development of avant-garde technologies, while also providing training on these technologies to academic circles and industry professionals.
The National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC)
Against the competitive backdrop of India’s entrepreneurial landscape, the NBEC stands tall as the country’s largest and most distinguished competition for bio-entrepreneurs. First introduced to the public in 2017, the NBEC has quickly gained recognition as a flagship platform for India’s bio-entrepreneurs and innovators. It offers participants an opportunity to display their science-driven concepts, and has had significant influence and impact since its inception.
The Aim of the NBEC
Organized annually, the NBEC seeks to identify and nurture groundbreaking business ideas rooted in deep scientific research. These ideas must be relevant to the life sciences sector and have the potential to address societal challenges in novel ways.
Rewards and Investment Opportunities
Demonstrating a firm commitment to nurturing promising bio-entrepreneurs, this year’s NBEC is offering an unprecedented total of Rs 8.5 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities to winners.
Investment Partners
The competition continues to attract the interest of investors and industrialists alike, with over 30 industry and investment partners throwing their support behind the event this year. These partnerships aim to encourage and foster bio-entrepreneurship in the country through NBEC.
Notable Achievements
Over the past four years, the NBEC has been instrumental in creating a repository of over 1,000 carefully scrutinized and expert-selected business ideas that cover all sub-domains of life sciences. The competition has consistently prioritized sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and the environment, while simultaneously focusing on emerging areas like digital health, maternal & child health, antimicrobial resistance, water sanitation, green chemistry, and personal care. Through such efforts, the NBEC has successfully built a steady pipeline of innovative technologies which have proven commercial viability.