NWBI x IBIC Build a Biotech Competition 2026 - Win up to £15,000 to build your start-up!
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) in collaboration with The North-West Biotech Initiative (NWBI) is launching the annual NWBI x IBIC Build a Biotech start-up competition.
Winning teams will receive up to £15,000 cash prize to develop their start up ideas and create commercial impact.
All undergraduates, postgraduate students, PDRAs and university staff at any north-west UK university are invited to participate.
The competition involves a 2-day workshop to help develop your application and, for selected finalist teams, one-on-one mentoring to perfect your pitches for the competition!
Key 2026 Dates:
➔ Registration deadline: 1st March 2026, 23:59
◆ Registration is a simple expression of interest, where applicants get access to our business development workshops, to help build their application
◆ Registration link
➔ Business development workshops (online): 5th and 6th March 2026
➔ Application deadline: 15th March 2026, 23:59
➔ Finalists notified: 19th March 2026
➔ Mentoring session: for selected competition finalists 20th March – 13th April 2026
➔ Competition day (in person event): 14th April 2026
In parallel, on Competition day (14th April 2026) the NWBI x IBIC Build a Biotech2026 competition final will include an in-person public seminar event, “Biotech, Rewired” where the audience will have the chance to listen to a successful founder and a venture capital firm plus an amazing opportunity to network and gain insights into the world of start-ups and early product development!
At the seminar, the 10 finalist teams have the option to join an elevator pitching competition to win an additional cash prize, with attendees at the public seminar having the opportunity to hear and vote for the best Elevator pitch from the finalists of the competition.
Register by 1st March, attend the virtual workshops and complete the attached application form by midnight on 15th March (send in PDF format to manchester@nwbiotech.co.uk ).
If you do not have a team, email us at manchester@nwbiotech.co.uk to be assigned to a team.
All information on the application requirements, application form, terms and conditions and competition format is available on the website: https://www.nwbiotech.co.uk/build-a-biotech-competition-2026 [nwbiotech.co.uk].
We look forward to helping you develop your exciting biotech ideas!
Good luck on behalf of NWBI and IBIC!