Competition Winners

BioSTART Competition Winners

A cornerstone of this year’s Forum, the BioSTART Competition embodied BioInnovation Greece’s commitment to nurturing young talent and transforming scientific ideas into viable ventures. Designed to empower university students, early-career researchers, and young entrepreneurs, BioSTART provides a platform for innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Launched in 2025, the competition attracted 31 applications from across Greek universities and research centers, covering fields from biotechnology, bioengineering, and digital health to Longevity and cancer therapeutics. Proposals were evaluated for scientific merit, feasibility, social impact, and market potential by a multidisciplinary jury of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

After one round of evaluation, 6 finalist teams (ChronoMed, Clotho, Kerberos, EnviroCopilot, Euphoresis and ZetaBio Group) were invited to pitch their ideas during the Bio³ Forum before a live audience of scientists, investors, and general audience. Their ideas reflected the creativity and scientific strength of Greece’s new generation.

From these, three teams were selected as the 2025 BioSTART competition winners:

1. KERBEROS

Team: iGEM Athens 2025

Presenter: Eleni Ntalapera

Project: A probiotic solution for microplastic detoxification in the human gut, based on genetically engineered S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii expressing surface Carbohydrate Binding Modules (CBMs) to bind microplastics. This innovation aims to address the lack of biological tools for internal microplastic detoxification, offering strong intellectual property potential.

2. EUPHORESIS

Team: iGEM Thessaloniki 2023, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Presenter: Angeliki Maria Papanou

Project: A synthetic biology-based soil conditioner and reforestation aid designed to restore ecosystems damaged by wildfires. Their biodegradable hydrogel, made from citrus-derived pectin and crustacean chitosan, enhances water retention and combats erosion in fire-hardened soils.

3. CLOTHO

Team: iGEM Thessaly

Presenters: Ioanna Kisiri and Anna Dimitra Kotsifaki

Project: A personalized gene therapy for pancreatic cancer (PDAC) using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to deliver a therapeutic transgene that activates exclusively in cancerous cells. The therapy is personalized through a software platform that generates custom circular RNA sequences based on each patient's unique genetic profile. This approach aims for higher precision, fewer side effects, and improved response rates.

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