Bioprocess & Industrial Biotech
Improve fermentation, downstream processing, monitoring, optimization and manufacturing.
Process automation, real-time bioreactor monitoring, yield optimization and scale-up modeling for industrial biomanufacturing.
MEGATHON 2026
BIOTECH TRACK // 36-HOUR HACKATHON
36 hours. One challenge.
Build solutions at the intersection of biology, technology and human imagination.
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ORGANIZED BY & POWERED BY
01 // THE MISSION
Biology has problems.
You have 36 hours to build solutions.
The Biotech Track brings together biotechnology students, engineers, developers, designers and problem solvers to create technology-driven solutions for real biotechnology challenges — from lab bench to living product.
01
Discover
Understand real biological and industrial problems.
02
Design
Transform scientific insight into a practical solution.
03
Build
Create a working prototype, model, platform or proof-of-concept.
04
Impact
Develop technology capable of creating measurable real-world value.
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Hours
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Teams
₹25,000
Prize Pool
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Mentors
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Challenge Domains
02 // CHOOSE YOUR FRONTIER
Where biology meets engineering.
Sustainability
Engineer solutions for sustainable food systems, agriculture, waste valorization and environmental impact.
Alt-protein development, crop resilience, waste-to-value pipelines and environmental monitoring systems.
Food Technology
Build AI-driven tools for food product development, formulation, manufacturing and supply chain.
Formulation R&D copilots, food ERP and traceability platforms, demand forecasting and quality control automation.
MEGATHON2026
BIOTECH TRACK// 36-HOUR HACKATHON
Powered by STAR(T)ECH. The problem statements below are sponsored by our Company Partners, Tiny Dot Foods, EETA Solutions and Biokraft Foods. Pick a challenge and build your solution across the 36 hours.
BIOTECH TRACK// 36-HOUR HACKATHON
Scan the QR or open the drive folder for full documents on BIO_001 through BIO_008 (scope, deliverables, evaluation notes and sample data).
OFFICIAL POSTER
MEGATHON 2026
Save it. Share it. See you there.
04 // THE 36 HOURS
A continuous build, mapped hour by hour.
Exact 36-hour flow with 3 jury rounds. Starts Day 1 · 10:00 AM · Ends Day 2 · 10:00 PM.
DAY 01
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Registration + Breakfast
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Opening Ceremony
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Problem Statement Reveal
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Industry Expert Briefing
11:00 AM
HACKATHON STARTS — HOUR 0
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Team Formation + Ideation
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Lunch
3:00 – 5:30 PM
Research + Prototype
5:30 – 6:30 PM
JURY ROUND 1 — IDEA VALIDATION
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Development
9:00 – 10:00 PM
Dinner
10:00 PM – 4:00 AM
Night Development
4:00 – 4:30 AM
Snacks
4:30 – 8:00 AM
Development
DAY 02
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Development
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 PM
JURY ROUND 2 — PROTOTYPE REVIEW
2:30 – 5:30 PM
Improvements + Testing
5:30 – 6:00 PM
Snacks
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Final Development
8:00 – 9:00 PM
JURY ROUND 3 — FINAL TECHNICAL REVIEW
9:00 – 9:30 PM
Final corrections
9:30 PM
CODE / PROTOTYPE FREEZE
9:30 – 10:00 PM
Final Submission
10:00 PM
36 HOURS COMPLETE
Your prototype doesn't have to live in a test tube.
Teams will be judged primarily on problem understanding, innovation, technical execution, feasibility, impact and presentation — the form your build takes is up to you.
AI/ML Model
Bioinformatics Tool
Web Platform
Digital Twin
Process Optimization System
Diagnostic Concept
Data Analytics Platform
Hardware Prototype
Research-Based Solution
05 // JUDGING MATRIX
How your build gets scored.
Problem Understanding
20%
Innovation
20%
Technical Execution
25%
Feasibility
15%
Impact
10%
Pitch & Presentation
10%
06 // REWARDS
Build.
Compete.
Win.
Runner-Up
₹10,000
Winner
₹15,000
Best Biotech Innovation
Best Industry Solution
Best Technical Implementation
07 // GUIDED BY EXPERTS
Learn from people who've built the field.
Meenakshi Bhoopalan
Co-Founder, EETA Sustainable Solutions — Environmentalist · Incubated at NSRCEL, IIM-B
Industry Mentor
Dr. Gnana Moorthy Eswaran U
Assistant Professor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Bioprocess Expert
Dr. Indumathi C
Assistant Professor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Biotech & Food Tech ExpertYou don't need to know everything.
Build a team that does.
Megathon welcomes students from every discipline that touches the future of biology.
Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Biomedical Engineering
Computer Science
AI & Data Science
Chemical Engineering
Food Technology
Electronics
Design
Business / Management
Cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged.
08 // RULES
The essentials.
2–4 members.
36 continuous hours.
Projects must be developed during Megathon.
Open-source tools, APIs and datasets may be used with proper attribution.
Teams must submit their prototype, presentation and required documentation before the deadline.
Decisions of the judging panel are final.
09 // FAQ
Questions, answered.
No. Teams are strongest when they mix biology knowledge with engineering, design and data skills.
Yes, absolutely. Computational skills are core to most Biotech Track challenges.
A working prototype or proof-of-concept is strongly encouraged and factors into judging.
Yes, with proper attribution as outlined in the rules.
Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged and often perform best.
Details on datasets and resources will be shared closer to the event alongside problem statements.
Problem statements will be revealed at the start of the event. See the Industry Challenge section for status.
To be announced. Check back for updates.
To be announced. Check back for updates.
The clock is waiting.
36 Hours.
One Problem.
Build Something
That Matters.
Register on Unstop
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