India’s biotechnology ecosystem is entering a new phase of innovation driven by sustainability, design thinking, and problem solving at scale. At the center of this push is the BioE3 Challenge, a national innovation initiative aligned with the government’s BioE3 policy. For students, researchers, clinicians, engineers, and early stage innovators, this challenge offers a structured platform to convert ideas into nationally visible biotechnology solutions.
This article explains what the BioE3 Challenge is, why it matters, who can participate, and how to apply.
The BioE3 Challenge, officially titled D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3, is a nationwide biotechnology ideation and design challenge hosted by Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council under the Department of Biotechnology.
The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council functions as the overarching institutional framework for India’s biotechnology innovation ecosystem, while the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council operates as its industry facing implementation arm supporting translation, funding, and scale up of select innovations.
The challenge is anchored in the BioE3 Policy, which stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment. The policy aims to strengthen India’s bioeconomy by encouraging sustainable biomanufacturing, climate conscious innovation, and job creation through biotechnology driven solutions.
Unlike conventional research grants, the BioE3 Challenge focuses on ideas and design frameworks, not laboratory data or completed prototypes.
Biotechnology today sits at the intersection of healthcare, agriculture, climate science, industry, and digital technology. Many critical problems remain unsolved not due to lack of tools, but due to lack of scalable, well designed solutions.
The BioE3 Challenge addresses this gap by:
Encouraging early stage innovation and systems thinking
Lowering entry barriers by allowing concept based submissions
Connecting innovators with national biotechnology institutions
Aligning ideas with India’s long term sustainability and employment goals
For students and young professionals, it provides early exposure to policy linked innovation. For professionals, it offers visibility and pathways to funding and mentorship.
Participants can submit ideas across a wide range of biotechnology domains. Broad thematic areas include:
Sustainable biomanufacturing and green chemistry
Climate resilient agriculture and food systems
Functional foods, smart proteins, and nutrition biotechnology
Precision biotherapeutics and diagnostics
Enzymes, bio-based materials, and industrial biotech
Carbon capture, waste to value, and environmental biotech
Marine, space, and futuristic biological research
Ideas are expected to demonstrate relevance to real world problems, scalability, and alignment with environmental and economic priorities.
The BioE3 Challenge is open to all Indian nationals.
Eligible participants include:
Undergraduate and postgraduate students
PhD scholars and postdoctoral researchers
Medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and life science professionals
Engineers, designers, and interdisciplinary teams
Start up founders at the idea stage
Participation can be individual or in teams of up to five members. No prior funding, institutional affiliation, or intellectual property is required.
The challenge runs in monthly cycles over a one year period.
Key structural features include:
One submission per participant or team per month
Fresh themes and evaluation every month
Independent evaluation of each cycle
Opportunity to reapply in future months with new ideas
There is no single annual deadline for the BioE3 Challenge, as submissions are accepted on a rolling monthly basis throughout the year.
This rolling format allows participants to refine ideas and re-engage without long waiting periods.
As per the official BioE3 Challenge guidelines, participants are permitted to submit only one proposal per month. However, applicants may choose to submit a revised version of the same idea or a completely new concept in subsequent monthly cycles.
Once a proposal is submitted, team details and submission information are locked and cannot be edited. Participants are therefore advised to finalize team composition and proposal details carefully before submission.
All submissions must be original and plagiarism-free. Any proposal found to be copied or substantially derived from existing sources is liable for outright disqualification.
Participants can submit either:
A written concept proposal, typically outlining the problem, proposed biotechnology solution, feasibility, and potential impact
Or a video submission explaining the idea and design approach
Importantly, no laboratory work or experimental data is required. The emphasis is on clarity of thought, innovation, and applicability.
The BioE3 Challenge follows a clearly defined structure for written concept proposals. According to the official guidelines, proposals should be concise, structured, and limited to approximately 1500 words, divided into specific sections.
A standard BioE3 concept proposal includes:
Concept Summary (up to 250 words)
A brief overview of the problem being addressed and the proposed biotechnology driven solution.
Design Logic and Rationale (up to 300 words)
An explanation of how the idea works, including scientific reasoning, system design, or workflow logic.
Potential Use and BioE3 Linkage (up to 200 words)
Clear articulation of how the idea aligns with the BioE3 goals of economy, environment, or employment.
Feasibility and Safety Considerations (up to 250 words)
Discussion of implementation feasibility, safety aspects, and potential constraints.
Sustainability, Impact, and Vision (up to 300 words)
Long-term impact, scalability, and societal relevance of the proposed solution.
Novelty and Innovation Potential (up to 200 words)
Explanation of what makes the idea original and how it differs from existing approaches.
This structured format allows evaluators to assess clarity, innovation, and relevance consistently across submissions.
Each monthly cycle recognizes top performing ideas.
Selected participants receive:
A monetary appreciation award
National level visibility through official platforms
Access to expert mentorship and guidance
Potential pathways to research and development funding to convert ideas into proof of concept projects
For many participants, the challenge acts as a gateway into the broader DBT and BIRAC innovation ecosystem.
Visit the official BioE3 Challenge portal (https://www.bric.nic.in/bioe3challenge/)
Review the current month’s theme and guidelines
Register as an individual or team
Prepare your concept proposal or video
Submit within the specified monthly window
Applicants are advised to clearly articulate the problem statement, the biotechnology driven solution, and its relevance to economy, environment, or employment.
Submissions must be completed within the designated monthly submission window, and late entries are not accepted. Applicants are encouraged to submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
One proposal per person or team per month
Team details finalized before submission
Proposal structured according to official word limits
Clear BioE3 relevance stated
Original, plagiarism-free content
Submitted within the monthly deadline
The challenge is supported by India’s biotechnology policy and innovation framework, with implementation support from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology.
This institutional backing ensures that selected ideas are not isolated exercises but part of a larger national vision for biotechnology growth.
Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC). “D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge.” Government of India. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://www.bric.nic.in/bioe3challenge/
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. “Cabinet Approves BioE3 Policy for Biotechnology Led Growth.” Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://pib.gov.in/
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). “About BIRAC.” Government of India. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://birac.nic.in/
Innovate India. “BioE3 Innovation Challenge.” MyGov, Government of India. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://innovateindia.mygov.in/
(Rh/MSM)
