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ABOUT
BioSTART Competition is a Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Competition launched by BioInnovation Greece in 2025. Its aim is to identify and support innovative ideas and projects from across academia, including researchers, faculty, and students, that have the potential for real-world application and startup formation. The competition highlights teams whose projects demonstrate exceptional promise in commercialization, scalability, and societal impact, fostering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs. The BioSTART competition will evaluate and select teams with the most translatable projects, which can successfully transition from lab-based innovation to a successful startup addressing critical real-world challenges in biotechnology, healthcare, environment, and beyond.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and award the most translatable biotech projects based on their feasibility, commercialization potential, and societal impact. The competition aims to accelerate the transition from early-stage research to viable business ventures by providing expert guidance, mentorship, and exposure to key industry and investment stakeholders.
ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, PIs, and innovators who are in the pre-startup phase or at the very early stages of company formation. This includes:
Individuals and teams developing biotech innovations in healthcare, environmental sciences, agri-tech, and related fields, whether as standalone advancements or at the intersection of disciplines such as engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies.
Undergraduate and graduate students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, PIs, research scientists, and early-career entrepreneurs.
This competition is not for advanced startups or companies that have already received seed funding or beyond.
PROCESS DEADLINES & KEY DATES
Nomination Deadline - June 1st, 2025. Nomination for the competition must be submitted before June 1st, 2025, here.
Nomination Acceptance - Within One Week of Submission: Applicants will receive notification of their nomination acceptance or rejection no later than one week after submission.
Full Application Submission Deadline - July 1st, 2025. Complete applications, including all required materials, must be submitted by this date. Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.
Finalist Selection Notification - September 1st, 2025. The best teams will be invited to present their ideas at the Bio3 BioInnovation Forum.
Winner Announcement - September 19th, 2025. Final winners will be announced on the last day of the Bio3 BioInnovation Forum.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR FULL APPLICATION
Project Idea Description (300-500 words)
Project idea Presentation (5-10 mins video summarizing the project)
All applications will be evaluated by the BioSTART evaluation committee, composed of experts in the fields of Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Investment, and the results will be announced on the day of the Entrepreneurship Competition during 2025 Bio3 Forum.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUTATION
Commercial Viability: Projects will be assessed based on their market potential, demand, and feasibility to attract investment. ( 20%)
Innovation and Scalability: How novel is the solution, and can it scale to meet global challenges? (20%)
Societal Impact: The potential of the project to solve pressing issues, improve quality of life, or protect the environment. (20%)
Technical Feasibility: The robustness and readiness of the technology for development beyond the prototype stage. (20%)
Entrepreneurial Readiness: The team’s ability to engage with investors, form partnerships, and launch a successful startup. (20%)
PRIZES & OPPORTUNITITES
Acceleration: All teams entering the competition will be invited to join Eurobank’s egg – enter grow go, a leading business accelerator. Participants will gain access to the pre-acceleration platform, where they can further develop their projects into viable startups. This initiative provides essential support, resources, and guidance to help transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
Selected teams will be invited to present their projects during the 2025 Bio3 Forum.
In addition, the winning teams will receive:
Mentorship: Access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs, biotech experts, and investors who will provide guidance on scaling the business.
Networking Opportunities: Exclusive invitations to pitch at biotech venture forums, innovation summits, and investor meetings.
Cash Prize. A total of 1,500€ will be awarded to the top three winning teams.
BioSTART COMPETITION STRUCTURE
● Organization: BioInnovation Greece
● Pre-Application Review: BioInnovation Greece
● Evaluation Committee:
○ Fay Christodoulou, CSO, INTEGRA Biosciences, USA
○ Arianna Ioannidou, Community Manager, egg – enter grow go, Eurobank
○ Victoria Kimonides, Entrepreneur, BioInnovation Greece, Greece (Chair)
○ Leda Kourita, Entrepreneur, BioInnovation Greece, USA
○ Simos Simeonidis, Kos Biotechnology Partners, USA
○ Ioanna Soufleri, Chief Editor, VIMA, Greece
○ Lina Nikolopoulpou, MINDVIEW Strategy & Research, Greece
○ Eleni Zika, Head of Scientific Impact, ERC, Belgium
● Information Contact Points:
○ Irini Liepouri, Senior student of Biology, University of Patras
○ Isidora Liepouri, Senior student of Pharmacy, University of Patras
○ Panagiotis Michailidis, MSc Student, Democritus University of Thrace
● Contact: biostart.competition@bioinnovation.gr
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION
Applicants guarantee that the submitted proposal is not the result of work done under an employment contract, consulting agreement, or any other formal arrangement that grants full ownership or control to another entity. The applicant must not be restricted by prior commitments that would give another party (such as a university, a research center or a company) full ownership or control over the submission. The goal is to ensure that the applicant has legal rights to the submitted business, idea proposal, or presentation and guarantees unrestricted copyright over it, without any claims or restrictions from a third party. This ensures no other party, like an employer or university, can claim full ownership or impose restrictions on its use.
The BioSTART Competition Committee consists of members selected by BioInnovation Greece.
The decision of the evaluation committee is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. The decision will be published on BioInnovation Greece websites. Finalists will be contacted at the email address provided in the submitted application and winners will be announced at the Bio3 Forum.
Applicants must disclose any personal or professional relationship with a member of the Evaluation Committee or BioInnovation Greece in their submission. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
BioInnovation Greece has the right to publish the awarded ideas/proposals/presentations submitted (either in full or in part), including but not limited to publication in the conference BioInnovation proceedings and/or website and/or other BioInnovation Greece relevant publications. In all such cases, the author's name(s) will be appropriately acknowledged.
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