D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge
by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India
Certificate from Minister of S&T
Year-long national biotechnology innovation challenge by DBT for school students, with monthly submission cycles and government-recognized certificates.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 to 5
Duration
12 months (monthly submission cycles from November to October )
Time needed
Depends on the time taken to make the entry
Eligibility
Classes VI to XII. Teams of up to 5 students from the same school. Open nationwide to students enrolled in any Indian school. Proof of Indian nationality required.
- Grade level
- Grade 6 to 12
- Age range
- 11 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Proof of Indian nationality (e.g., Aadhaar number)
- Parental consent for participants under 18 years
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
Minister-signed Certificate of Merit
Top 10 winning entries receive Digital Certificates of Merit signed by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology. All team members of winning teams receive individually signed certificates. An additional 20-30 participants receive Digital Certificates of Appreciation.
Career pathways
Selected winning students may gain access to BIRAC's EYUVA and BioNEST incubation centres for further development of their biotechnology concepts.
Recognition
National government recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Enrollment
- Open all year
How to apply
- 1Register on the MyGov portal with personal and school details
- 2Form a team of up to 5 members from the same school
- 3Select a focus area from the six BioE3 sectors
- 4Record and upload a 60-120 second video proposal to YouTube
- 5Submit the video link through the portal between the 1st and 20th of any month
Rules and guidelines
- All team members must be from the same school and enrolled in Classes VI to XII
- Maximum of 5 members per team with one designated team leader
- Video submissions must be 60-120 seconds in landscape 16:9 format
- Only English or Hindi language narration is permitted
- AI-generated visuals or narration are not allowed in submissions
- One entry per focus area per monthly cycle is permitted
- Parental consent is mandatory for participants under 18 years
- Zero tolerance for plagiarism in all submissions
Technology requirements
- Smartphone or camera for video recording (rear camera preferred)
- YouTube account for video upload
- Internet connection for portal registration and submission
About this opportunity
The D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge is a year-long national innovation challenge launched by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The challenge invites school students from Classes VI to XII to submit concept-level ideas addressing six key areas of biotechnology including bio-based chemicals, functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture, and marine and space research.
Category 1 of the challenge is designed specifically for school students, requiring teams of up to five members from the same school to submit a 60-120 second video proposal showcasing their innovative biotechnology solution. The challenge operates through monthly submission windows.
Winning teams receive Digital Certificates of Merit signed by the Minister of State for Science and Technology. Selected students may gain access to BIRAC's EYUVA and BioNEST incubation centres. All submissions undergo a blind evaluation process ensuring fair assessment based on innovation, feasibility, societal relevance, and real-world application potential.
Rounds and format
One time online submission rounds.
How entries are judged
Evaluation based on the D.E.S.I.G.N. framework covering innovation and originality, evidence-based research, sustainability principles, cross-disciplinary integration, go-to-market feasibility, and net-positive social and environmental impact
Selection process
Top 10 entries selected from each monthly cycle through blind evaluation by expert panels with applicant identities masked
Academic details
Difficulty: Intermediate
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