BIOSPARK INNOVATION HACKATHON

Where Nature Fuels the Next Generation of Innovation

Participation : PAN India
Starting On: 6th Mar 2026
Duration : 2 weeks
Registration : ₹1,500 (per team)

Open to UG & PG students from
all disciplines
(No prior research
experience required)

Register
  • Climate resilience and environmental engineering

  • Sustainable energy conversion

  • Food systems and regenerative agriculture

  • Healthcare innovation and biosystems

  • Biomaterials and circular manufacturing

  • Smart infrastructure and urban systems

Core Learning Pillars

✔ Work on future-tech problems that matter

✔ Learn bio-innovation by doing

✔ Build engineering, scientific modelling, and problem-solving skills

✔ Gain a portfolio project valued by R&D labs and innovation ecosystems

✔ Collaborate across disciplines

✔ Win certificates, awards, and recognition

Why Students Should Join

✔ Mentorship Sessions

✔ PAN India Participation

✔ Guidance by Industry experts

✔ Showcase 

✔ Jury Judgement 

✔ Multiple host locations

Highlights

Competition Structure

Round 1

  • Focus Areas:

    • Problem landscape analysis
      Understanding the full context of the problem — where it occurs, who is affected, and what gaps exist in current solutions.

    • Biological analogues & inspiration mapping
      Searching for natural organisms or systems that already solve similar challenges and documenting how they do it.

    • System-level problem diagnostics
      Breaking down the problem into smaller components to see how different factors interact or cause the issue.

    • Opportunity spotting
      Identifying potential areas where a new solution, approach, or biological principle could create impact.

  • Focus Area:

    • Bio-to-tech translation
      Explaining how a biological mechanism can be converted into a usable engineering concept.

    • Design principle extraction
      Identifying the core working principle from nature that can guide the design.

    • Functional modeling
      Sketching or modelling how the solution will function from input to output.

    • Early prototype architecture
      Planning the basic structure or layout of what the prototype might look like.

    • LO-Fi prototype development
      Creating a lo-fi prototype for validating the solution and concepts.

    • Material and component feasibility
      Checking what materials, parts, or tools might be needed and whether they are practical.

  • Must Include :

    1. Sprint Deliverables
      What understanding did you earn after sprint 1 & sprint 2.

    2. Technical Problem Background
      Why the problem exists and its scientific/technical context.

    3. Proposed Bio-Inspired Solution
      A simple, clear explanation of the idea based on nature.

    4. Biological Mechanism Breakdown
      How the chosen natural system works and why it fits the problem.

    5. Process Flow / Prototype Blueprint
      A diagram showing the step-by-step functioning of the concept.

    6. Required Tools, Components & Materials
      What will be needed if the prototype is built later?

    7. Sustainability & Real-World Impact Assessment
      How the idea can help the environment or solve community-level challenges.

Round 2

  • Focus Areas:

    • Mechanism refinement
      Improving the design based on how well the biological principle is translated.

    • Prototype detailing (POC Prototyping)
      Adding clarity to structure, components, mechanics, and system performance.

    • Validation setup & metrics
      Planning how the idea would be tested and what measurements would prove it works.

    • Risk and hazard analysis
      Understanding possible failures, safety issues, or limitations.

    • Cost modelling & scalability
      Early thinking on manufacturing costs, resources, and how the idea scales.

    • Pathway-to-implementation considerations
      What steps or approvals might be needed to take this idea closer to real use?

  • Must Include :

    1. Enhanced Design Specification
      Final improved version of the solution with detailed diagrams and logic.

    2. Scientific Validation & Testing Plan
      What experiments, tests, or simulations are needed to prove the design?

    3. Risk & Safety Assessment
      Possible operational risks and safety considerations.

    4. Economic Viability & Cost Projection
      Expected cost of materials, building, and future scaling.

    5. Regulatory / Compliance Considerations
      Relevant standards, guidelines, or approvals for future deployment.

    6. Future Development & Deployment Roadmap
      Short-term and long-term steps to bring the idea to real-world testing.

    7. Optional: In-Silico Simulation / Modelling
      Computer-based modelling to support the concept (optional bonus).

Final Round

  • Focus Areas:

    • Technical storytelling
      Explaining the entire concept in a clear and engaging technical narrative.

    • Visual prototype demonstration
      Using diagrams, mock-ups, or digital visuals to show the design clearly.

    • Impact communication
      Highlighting how the solution helps people, communities, or the environment.

    • Scalability pitch
      Explaining how the solution can grow, expand, or be adopted in the real world.

    • Jury Q&A technical defence
      Answering judges' questions with clarity, understanding, and confidence.

  • Important Pitch Points :

    • Problem Discovery: How the team identified and framed the specific problem, including context, stakeholders affected, and gaps in existing solutions

    • Concept Development: How biological principles were translated into an engineered concept, including options considered and final selection rationale

    • Prototyping Process: Lo-fi prototypes built, specific questions tested, key observations made, and design changes resulting from experimentation

    • Feasibility Decisions: How materials, costs, manufacturability, and practical constraints influenced design choices and trade-offs

    • Impact Assessment: Expected environmental, social, or technical benefits and how they guided development priorities

    • System Integration: How the solution fits into real-world contexts, what it replaces or enables, and adoption pathways

    • Next Steps: Concrete follow-on actions (POC refinement, testing, partnerships, scaling) based on learnings from the full development process

Important Dates

Judging emphasizes creativity, scientific depth, and practical feasibility.

Criterion Weight

Problem Understanding 15%

Creativity & Innovation 25%

Technical Depth & Feasibility 25%

Impact & Sustainability 20%

Documentation Quality 15%

Important Dates

Activity Mode Tentative dates

Ideathon Launch & Trailer  Online 7th Feb

Registration Deadline Online 5th March

Problem Statement Release Online 6th March

Round 1 Start Online 8th March

Mentorship Session  Online 9th March

Round 1 Submission Deadline Online 12th March

Selection list for Round 2 Online 14th March

Round 2 Start Online 15th March

Mentorship Session Online 16th March

Round 2 Submission Deadline Online 18th March

Finalist Announcement Online 20th March

Demo & Interview Price Distribution Offline (Host Locations) 29th March

This is not just a fest—it's a launchpad for bio-driven innovation and future tech leadership.

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