15 Bioscience Startups Win Rs 35 Crore
C-CAMP's National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition saw over 3200 registrations from 34 states and union territories in India, with 40% of applicants being women
C-CAMP has selected 15 bioscience startups and four teams for its National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) 2026, providing a total of Rs 35 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities to the winners.
The competition saw over 3200 registrations from across 34 states and union territories in India, with 40% of the applicants being women. The winners were selected from 25 finalists who were judged based on their novelty, scalability and business potential.
Student-led teams secured Rs 4 lakh in cash prizes, while the winning startups received the majority of the funding. This is the 9th edition of NBEC, a flagship platform of C-CAMP that aims to identify future bioscience entrepreneurs.
Over the past eight years, C-CAMP has provided more than Rs 90 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunities to over 130 winners. Past winners have raised over $125 million in venture capital funding and launched more than 300 products.
## Why it matters The current size of India's bioeconomy is $195 billion, with the goal of lifting it to $2.6 trillion by 2047. The National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition is a key platform for identifying and supporting innovative bioscience startups, which can contribute to the growth of India's bioeconomy.
The competition has demonstrated the potential for bioscience innovation in India, with solutions developed including next-gen cancer pathology, screening of kidney injury through quantum sensing, affordable insulin patch pumps, and bioformulations. The funding and support provided by C-CAMP can help these startups to scale up and bring their products to market, ultimately contributing to the growth of India's bioeconomy.
