By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : May 04, 2026 7:31 am
India’s largest life sciences entrepreneurship competition opens applications for startups, innovators and student teams nationwide
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has officially launched the 9th edition of the National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC 2026), one of India’s largest platforms for life sciences innovation and entrepreneurship.
The competition was launched on May 1, 2026, at the C-CAMP campus in the presence of Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka, along with senior government officials, industry leaders, and biotechnology innovators.
Other dignitaries present at the launch included Dr Manjula N., IAS, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka; Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Director, Department of Electronics, IT and BT and Managing Director of KITS; Vijay Chandru, Co-Founder and Director of Strand Life Sciences and CrisprBits; and Taslimarif Saiyed, Director and CEO of C-CAMP.
Since its inception in 2017, NBEC has emerged as a major national platform supporting startups, innovators, entrepreneurs, and students working in the life sciences sector. Across its first eight editions, the competition has received more than 21,000 applications and supported over 130 winning ideas through cash awards and investment opportunities collectively exceeding Rs 40 crore.
For NBEC 2026, C-CAMP has announced up to Rs 20 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities for selected startups, innovators, and student teams, making it one of the largest biotech entrepreneurship competitions in the country.
Applications for NBEC 2026 are now open and will be accepted until May 31, 2026.
Speaking about the launch on social media platform X, Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted Karnataka’s growing leadership in biotechnology and innovation.
“Over the past eight editions, NBEC has seen 21,000-plus applications from across the country and supported more than 130 winning ideas with over Rs 40 crore in prizes and investment opportunities. Karnataka stands at the forefront of biotechnology and through focused bio-entrepreneurship programmes we are ensuring that cutting-edge innovations translate into impactful solutions,” he stated.
Commenting on the launch, Dr Taslimarif Saiyed said NBEC has evolved into a strong platform for nurturing early-stage biotech entrepreneurship, with several participating ventures gaining international visibility and recognition.
“With expanding partnerships and increased funding support, this year’s edition aims to attract transformative ideas from across India. We are excited to continue building NBEC as a national platform for innovation-driven biotech entrepreneurship,” he said.