CASE STUDY

Industrial Biotech Innovation Challenge

Breakthrough biology exists. What’s missing is cost-competitive production and real-world deployment at scale.

The Industrial Biotech Innovation Prize Challenge attracted technology solutions that overcome these barriers in bioindustrial manufacturing.

Ten (10) finalists presented their technology solutions live at the Bioeconomy Summit before industry leaders, investors, and government stakeholders focused on deployment in September of 2026. Learn more about Challenge outcomes by downloading the case study below.

SOLUTION TOPICS

  • Cost-Competitive Bio-Based Production
    Bio-based products or processes that can compete with conventional alternatives on cost, performance, and scalability in real-world markets

  • Scalable Biomanufacturing and Process Innovation
    Biomanufacturing methods, systems, or technologies that improve efficiency, reliability, or throughput from pilot to commercial-scale production environments

  • Feedstocks, Inputs and Circular Conversion
    Utilize diverse, low-value, or waste inputs to create valuable products through biological processes, enabling more sustainable and circular industrial systems

  • Industrial Integration and Deployment Pathways
    Enable practical deployment of bioindustrial solutions within existing infrastructure, supply chains, or industrial operations, reducing barriers to adoption and scale

Timeline

  • Application Period: May 11 – June 26, 2026

  • Virtual Semifinalist Pitches: July 22, 2026

  • Live Finalist Presentations: September 22 at Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit

  • Long-Term Engagement: Innovator tracking and KPI monitoring

REVIEW PANELISTS

headshot

Ken Barrett

Chief Business Officer, Arzeda Corp.

Jen Greenstein

Senior Director, Evaluation, Focused Initiatives, North Carolina Biotech Center

Greg Jaffe

President, Jaffe Policy Consulting LLC

Nazish Jefferey

Founder and Principal, Helix Advisory

Jon Mercado

Principal, First Bight Ventures

Brent Wells

Senior Project Manager and Research Analyst, Advanced Technology International (ATI)

WINNERS

First Place

$25,000
Capra Biosciences

SECOND PLACE

$15,000
C16 Biosciences

THIRD PLACE

$10,000
Hydrosome Labs

FINALISTS

  • Airobes LLC
  • Arava Bio
  • Aura Life Science
  • BrightCharm Proving Ground LLC
  • Chakra Techworks, Inc./University of California San Diego
  • Ecoatex
  • Ruby Bio, Inc.

FINALIST BENEFITS

  • Full conference pass to Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit

  • Visibility to industry, government, and ecosystem leaders focused on deployment

  • Eligibility for a $50,000 total prize pool

  • Connection to a growing ecosystem advancing U.S. bioindustrial capacity

  • One free year of engineering software and support from MathWorks

In collaboration with

In partnership with