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BioQuest Hackathon 2025 | GBU BioQuest Hackathon 2025 | BioQuest Hackathon Registrations
About the Event
BioQuest Hackathon is a 40-hour intensive biotechnology and biomedical innovation challenge designed to bring together brilliant minds to develop cutting-edge solutions at the intersection of biology and machine learning. This unique decathlon-style event challenges participants to create impactful biotech solutions while engaging with industry experts and investors. The hackathon is a collaborative initiative organised by Snehshilp Foundation, Gujarat Biotechnology University, and Satani Research Centre, taking place at the Gujarat Biotechnology University campus.
CALLING ALL INNOVATORS IN BIOTECH & MACHINE LEARNING!
We are excited to announce the BioQuest Hackathon 2025, a 40-hour Biotechnology X ML innovation challenge jointly organised by Snehshilp Foundation, Gujarat Biotechnology University and Satani Research Centre.
This unique event brings together bright minds from biotech, healthcare and AI/ML to build groundbreaking solutions with real-world impact.
- UG students
- PG students
- PhD scholars
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
- Researchers & Academicians
- Biotech/healthcare professionals
- ML/AI developers & innovators
TEAM SIZE
UP TO 3 CO-LEADS
CHALLENGE THEMES
- Biomedical
- Biotechnology
- Medical
- Environmental
- Bio-Al
- Industrial
- Agriculture/Plant
- Marine
- Bioinformatics
- Biochemistry
- Other allied domains
Note: Participants must come with their own original innovative ideas (Problem Statements).
Why Participate
- 40 hours of intensive Bio * ML innovation
- Certificates for all participants
- Lab access, mentorship & expert roundtables
- Build impactful portfolio
- Direct investor pitch opportunity for winners
Prize Pool for the Best Innovators
- 1st Prize: Rs. 50,000
- 2nd Prize: Rs. 30,000
- 3rd Prize: Rs. 10,000
KEY DATES & REGISTRATION
- APPLICATIONS OPEN: 29TH NOVEMBER 2025
- SCREENING RESULTS: 03rd DECEMBER 2025
- HACKATHON DATES: 5TH-7TH DECEMBER 2025
BioQuest Hackathon 2025
Official Event Docket & White Paper
Event Timeline and Structure
The BioQuest Hackathon follows a carefully structured timeline beginning with registration and screening from November 29 to December 3, 2025. The main hackathon event commences on December 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM with an opening ceremony that includes team check-in and challenge briefing. The intensive development phase continues through December 6, featuring active project development interspersed with expert roundtable discussions. The hackathon concludes on December 7, 2025, at 11:00 AM with final submissions, judging, and results announcement. The winning teams will then advance directly to an exclusive Pitch Round scheduled for December 13-14, 2025, where they will present their innovations to investors and industry leaders.
Participant Eligibility and Team Composition
The hackathon welcomes a diverse range of participants, including undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students, professionals from biotech, healthcare, and machine learning industries, as well as researchers and academicians. Each BioHackathon project is proposed and led by a team of up to three co-leads, with in-person attendance strongly encouraged for collaborative work. The BioQuest Hackathon fosters innovation, practical development, and teamwork, bringing together cross-disciplinary expertise to tackle complex challenges in biotechnology. The organising committee expects to select between 20 to 30 teams for participation in the main event.
REGISTER FOR BIOQUEST HACKATHON HERE!
Registration Process and Fees
Interested participants can begin their application process starting November 20, 2025. The screening process evaluates all applications, with results announced by December 1, 2025. Selected teams are required to pay a registration fee of ₹1,500 per team, which becomes applicable only after confirmation of selection. This fee must be paid by December 3, 2025, to secure the team’s participation slot in the hackathon. The registration process ensures that only committed and qualified teams participate in this intensive innovation challenge.
Challenge Themes and Focus Areas
Participants have the opportunity to work on innovations across a wide range of biotechnology and life-science sectors. These include Biotechnology, Environmental, Bio-AI, Industrial, Medical, Biomedical, Agriculture/Plant, Marine, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, and other allied domains. Teams are encouraged to explore problems, design solutions, and innovate within any of these areas based on their expertise and interest. This open-domain approach allows participants to bring creative, cross-disciplinary perspectives to real-world challenges in modern biotechnology. All specific sub-themes and challenge directions will be introduced during the opening ceremony.
Deliverables and Resources
Throughout the 40-hour hackathon, teams are expected to create tangible deliverables that demonstrate their innovation and technical capability. Participants should develop a working prototype, if feasible, within the given timeframe, along with a proof-of-concept demonstration that showcases the core functionality of their solution. Teams must also prepare a comprehensive presentation that highlights their innovation, methodology, and potential impact, accompanied by technical documentation of their solution. To support these deliverables, the organising committee provides participants with access to basic facilities at Gujarat Biotechnology University, laboratory access subject to safety protocols and availability, necessary software and computational resources, mentorship from industry experts and faculty members, internet connectivity, and dedicated workspaces. This comprehensive support system ensures that teams have all the necessary resources to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Evaluation Criteria and Judging Process
All submissions will be evaluated through a rigorous assessment framework based on four equally weighted core parameters, each contributing 25% to the final score. The first criterion, Innovation, evaluates the originality and creativity of the biotechnology and ML solution, focusing on novel algorithms, unique applications of machine learning to biological data, and inventive approaches that push beyond standard methodologies. The second criterion, Scientific Rigor and Methodology, assesses the scientific and technical foundation of the project by examining well-defined methods, logical approaches, data-driven decisions, and the overall reliability and replicability of the solution in biological and machine learning contexts. The third criterion, Execution, examines the project’s implementation quality with emphasis on how effectively the solution integrates biology and ML, technical precision, functional robustness, and user accessibility. The fourth criterion, Potential Impact, considers the relevance and potential real-world impact of the solution within bioinformatics, healthcare, or biotechnology, with particular focus on meaningful applications that could address current challenges, meet unmet needs, or open new avenues in the field.
Day-by-Day Event Schedule
The hackathon begins on December 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM with an opening ceremony that runs until 5:00 PM. During this time, participants will receive a welcome address, a detailed explanation of event rules and regulations, a comprehensive challenge briefing with a Q&A session, and workspace allocation. Following the opening ceremony, the hackathon officially begins at 5:00 PM, allowing teams to start working on their projects with mentorship support available. The evening features the first expert roundtable discussion, which takes the form of an interactive session with an industry expert rather than a traditional lecture format, encouraging open dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Day 2, December 6, 2025, is dedicated entirely to active development. Throughout this full day, teams continue building their solutions with access to laboratories and resources while mentors remain available for guidance. A distinctive feature of BioQuest Hackathon is the scheduled expert roundtable discussions that occur approximately every 10 to 15 hours. These sessions feature doctors, biotech professionals, legal experts, and industry leaders who engage with participants in interactive discussions about real-world applications, challenges, and opportunities in the field, providing valuable insights that can shape and refine the teams’ projects.
On the final day, December 7, 2025, the morning hours until 9:00 AM are reserved for teams to complete their final sprint, making last-minute refinements and preparing their presentations. Project submissions and demonstration setup occur between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM, during which teams submit their technical documentation and set up for final presentations. The judging process and results announcement take place from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, culminating in the final evaluation, winner announcement, and closing ceremony.
REGISTER NOW FOR BIOQUEST HACKATHON!
Pitch Round Opportunity
One of the most exciting aspects of BioQuest Hackathon is the direct pathway it provides to investor engagement. Winner teams automatically advance from the hackathon to an exclusive Investor Pitch Round scheduled for December 13-14, 2025. This two-day event offers winning teams the opportunity to present their innovations through formal pitch presentations to investors and industry leaders. The pitch round represents a unique chance for teams to secure funding, gain incubation support, and establish industry partnerships that can help transform their hackathon projects into viable commercial ventures or research initiatives. Detailed information about the pitch round format, timing, and participating investors will be shared directly with qualifying teams following the hackathon results announcement.
While the detailed prize structure will be announced during the event, participants can look forward to numerous benefits beyond monetary rewards. All participants receive certificates of participation and achievement, recognising their contribution and effort. The hackathon provides exceptional networking opportunities with industry experts, investors, and fellow innovators from diverse backgrounds. Winner teams gain access to potential incubation and mentorship support that can help them continue developing their solutions beyond the hackathon. The experience itself offers portfolio-worthy project credentials that demonstrate practical skills in biotechnology and machine learning. Additionally, participants gain access to the broader biotech and ML professional community, opening doors for future collaborations and career opportunities.
Let’s revolutionise biotechnology together at BioQuest Hackathon 2025!
For Any Queries, Contact Us: +91 7228-975105 | [email protected]
DON’T MISS OUT!
