Ten innovative solutions emerging from the November 2025 window of the D E S I G N for BioE3 Challenge were felicitated at a national event organised at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in New Delhi, reinforcing the Government of India’s emphasis on empowering youth to deliver biotechnology driven solutions for economic environmental and societal challenges.
The D E S I G N for BioE3 Challenge is a flagship initiative aligned with the BioE3 Biotechnology for Economy Environment and Employment policy approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024. The policy promotes convergence between biotechnology engineering and digitalisation to enable green clean and high performance biomanufacturing while advancing the national vision of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Launched in August 2025 following the Prime Minister’s call for deeper youth participation in nation building the challenge carries the theme Empowering Youth to Solve Critical Issues of their Times. It is structured as a year long rolling competition opening on the first day of every month until October 2026 and is jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council.
The challenge is open across two categories. One category invites school students from Class 6 to Class 12 through the Innovate portal of MyGov while the second category is open to all Indian citizens and is hosted on the BRIC platform. The design ensures participation from students researchers faculty startups and independent innovators fostering grassroots innovation and early stage ideation across the country.
A total of 852 proposals were received during the November 2025 window reflecting strong national interest. All entries were evaluated through a blinded peer review process in which applicant identities and institutional affiliations were masked to ensure fairness and merit based assessment. An expert committee reviewed the submissions and selected the top ten winning solutions for the month.
The winners were felicitated on December 30 2025 by the Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology who is also Director General of BRIC and Chairman of BIRAC. Each winning team received a cash award of one lakh rupees supported by BIRAC through the Grand Challenges India programme. The ten selected teams have also been given the opportunity to submit a full proposal to BIRAC within three months to seek a Research Development and Innovation grant of up to twenty five lakh rupees to convert their design ideas into proof of concept.
Addressing the gathering the DBT Secretary described the initiative as a unique platform to nurture grassroots innovation and build a pipeline of future ready biotech entrepreneurs. He noted that the BioE3 policy has accelerated high performance biomanufacturing in India and that the D E S I G N for BioE3 Challenge plays a central role in translating policy intent into youth led action. He encouraged all participants including non winners to remain engaged refine their ideas and continue contributing to India’s bioeconomy journey.
The event witnessed participation from senior officials of DBT and BIRAC along with faculty and students from leading national biotechnology institutions including ICGEB and various BRIC centres highlighting a strong collaborative ecosystem supporting youth led innovation.
Winning Teams November 2025 D E S I G N for BioE3 Challenge
1 Komal Birader BRIC NIAB Hyderabad
2 Mukunda BV Aignoz Healthcare Solutions Private Limited
3 Pankaj Suman Ankita Das Deepali Rawat Muskan BRIC NIAB Hyderabad
4 Simran Motwani Somya Bhandari BRIC NII New Delhi
5 Trivima Sharma Faculty of Agriculture Allied Sciences and Technology KKIASR Ganpat University
6 Akash Suresh Paresh Sharma BRIC NIAB Hyderabad
7 Monika Kumari BRIC NII New Delhi
8 Annie Premaja Adisharla Independent Innovator
9 Manya Sahu BRIC THSTI Faridabad
10 Analabha Basu BRIC NIBMG West Bengal
The diversity of institutions geographies and innovation profiles among the winners highlights the expanding reach of the BioE3 framework and its ability to attract talent from across India. The challenge continues to act as a catalyst for transforming creative ideas into impactful biotechnology solutions that support sustainable growth employment generation and scientific self reliance.
