Sixteen startups and six student teams were announced as the winners of the C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms) National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) 2025, held here with support of the Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, Startup Karnataka and K-tech Biotech.The winning startups received a total of around ₹40 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities, while student-led teams secured ₹9 lakhs in cash prizes across various awards presented at the Grand Finale. Select winners would also receive mentorship through partnerships with key industry leaders.The winning projects addressed various challenges across diagnostics, drug discovery, water and sanitation, and agriculture. From developing novel cancer drugs using AI, to transforming carbon emissions into biochemicals and creating naturally degradable batteries.According to C-CAMP, India’s premier research and innovation hub in the biosciences and one of the largest life sciences incubators, this year’s competition attracted almost 3100 applications from 34 states and Union Territories, including a significant number from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.Speaking on the occasion, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson, Biocon Group, highlighted the power of Artificial Intelligence and said everything was possible today thanks to the power of computational biology and technology, and data science. “Today, we can connect immunology with metabolic disease, with microbiome, with genomics, and so on.’‘Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, C-CAMP said, “NBEC began as a small leap of faith to see and test the power of ideas. Now it has grown into a nationwide movement, enabling innovators from across India to bring forward transformative ideas in health, agriculture, environment, and more.’‘The jury panel was chaired by Dr. Murali Ramachandra, CEO, Aurigene Oncology said, over the years, NBEC has spotlighted new entrepreneurs and enabled cross-pollination of ideas across therapeutics, diagnostics, patient care, and more.“Many of the ideas showcased today hold potential for making a global impact. With continued mentorship and learning, every participant has the potential to be a winner and take these ideas forward into impactful businesses,’‘ he added.Published - August 23, 2025 11:58 pm IST