By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : July 21, 2026 11:04 am
National programme aims to accelerate development of bio-butanol technologies for India's clean energy and industrial transition
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), one of India's leading bio-innovation organisations, has entered the energy sector through a strategic partnership with MC2 Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation backed by India's energy majors, to accelerate indigenous deep-tech innovation for sustainable fuels.
The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and launched the inaugural MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge, a national milestone-based innovation programme aimed at developing indigenous technologies for the production of bio-Iso-Butanol and n-Butanol.
The launch took place at the C-CAMP campus on July 17 in the presence of Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director and CEO, C-CAMP, and Sandeep Maheshwari, Director and CEO, MC2 Foundation.
The Challenge is designed to identify, support and accelerate breakthrough technologies through equity-free prizes and grant funding, while creating commercialization opportunities for innovators working on next-generation biofuel solutions.
As the convener and primary organiser, MC2 Foundation will lead the initiative, while C-CAMP will serve as the exclusive implementation and mentorship partner. Leveraging its network of more than 4,000 biotechnology startups, C-CAMP will help attract high-quality innovations from across India's biotechnology, synthetic biology and deep-tech ecosystem.
Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director and CEO, C-CAMP, said, "C-CAMP is excited to be partnering with MC2 Foundation in our first effort to position India's thriving biotechnology innovation ecosystem as a launchpad for indigenous energy innovation. India consumes around 5.6 million barrels of oil every day and depends on imports for nearly 90 percent of its requirement.”
Sandeep Maheshwari, Director and CEO, MC2 Foundation, said, "MC2 Foundation is committed to supporting deep-tech energy ventures through grants, pilot access and market opportunities. Achieving India's energy security and net-zero ambitions requires stronger collaboration between academia, startups and industry. Our partnership with C-CAMP is intended to foster such collaborations and accelerate the scale-up and commercialization of fuel technologies developed in India."
The event also featured a keynote address by Dr. Madhukar Onkar Garg, who spoke on the evolution of biofuels, the technological advancements in the sector and the opportunities for future growth.
The MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge offers total funding of up to Rs. 12.5 crore, comprising a prize pool of up to Rs. 5 crore and grant funding of up to Rs. 7.5 crore, in addition to mentorship, ecosystem support and commercialization pathways in collaboration with MC2 Foundation's public sector partners.
Applications for the MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge are open until August 15, 2026.