SusChem GR is happy to co-organize the European-wide competition BISC-E (Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe) this year as well. BISC-E is a student competition that seeks to raise awareness and involve students in the transition towards a bio-based economy. This initiative embodies our commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and recognizing academic excellence among students.

The competition encourages young researchers with an entrepreneurial mindset, to form interdisciplinary groups from universities across Europe, in order to showcase innovative business ideas aimed at social sustainability. BISC-E offers participants the valuable experience of a collective effort to create solutions that will set the stage towards a sustainable future.

More specifically, the BISC-E competition aims to activate groups of young students/researchers to design and present at a national level, an innovative business idea, introducing a bio-inspired service/application, that faces the environmental, technological or social challenges of modern society.

The first winner group of each country will then compete at the European level claiming a monetary prize, but also the diffusion of the idea in the European and global space.

This initiative promotes innovation by addressing environmental, economic, and societal challenges with bio-based solutions. It offers Greek students the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and compete for a €5,000 prize!

Building on the success of last year’s event, the competition encourages students from all universities in the country who have an entrepreneurial mindset to form interdisciplinary teams and apply by February 28, 2025.

Competition Goal: The goal is to develop and present an innovative bio-based product, service, or application that addresses the environmental, technological, or societal challenges of today. Teams will propose a bio-inspired solution to real-world problems, which will be presented at the national level, in Greek or English.

Who Can Participate: The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students from Greek educational institutions, with a minimum team size of 3 members and a maximum of 6. Students from different universities, including Applied Sciences and Basic Research institutions, can form a team. Each team must be supported by a faculty member or postdoctoral researcher, who will act as a supervisor.

Prize: Participants will have the opportunity to interact with leading scientists in academia and industry in the bioeconomy sector. The winning team will receive Samsung tablets for each team member. The winning team will then compete at the European level, where they can win a cash prize and gain exposure for their idea on a European and global stage.

Deliverables: The deliverables must include the following sections:

• Brief description of the innovation (max 150 words)
• Introduction and explanation of the innovation, including sustainability aspects (max 500 words/1 A4 page)
• Technical explanation of the innovation (max 2 A4 pages)
• Description of positive environmental impacts (max 2 A4 pages)
• Economic sustainability of the innovation (max 2 A4 pages)

Important Dates:

• February 28, 2025: Deadline for team registration.
• May 30, 2025: Final date for submission of work, including team presentations and supporting documents to the Competition Coordinator.
• June 2025: National final – announcement of the national winner.

European Final Dates:

• September 2025: European final for national winners (1st Round) and the 5 runner-up teams (2nd Round).

Ideas for videos and presentations from previous years of the BISC-E competition, you can find them here.

Apply by February 28, 2025.

SusChem GR supports the student challenge which contributes to SusChem’s mission to initiate and inspire European chemical and biochemical innovation to respond effectively to society’s challenges by providing sustainable solutions.