ABLE has been successfully conducting the Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Student Teams (BEST) program to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship among biotech students since 2009, with the support of the Department of Biotechnology.

This program has been encouraging young graduate, post-graduate and doctoral students in developing their entrepreneurial skills by exposing them to issues involved in the commercialization of biosciences and bringing out an idea to present in front of an eminent jury. Over the past decade, at least 20 companies have been formed by BEST graduates that together have garnered more than Rs 400 crore in investment and have created 180 high value jobs. Startups like Sea6Energy, Pandorum Technologies, and KB Cols, which have emerged from the BEST program, have won many laurels for the country over the years.

The zonal rounds were organized with the support from our academic regional partners. The West zone on 8th September at DY Patil University, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The East zonal round was conducted online on 22nd September with the support from KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The South zonal round was conducted at Sastra University in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu on 6th October followed by the North zonal round on 13th October at Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The National Finale witnessed fierce competition, with the winners from Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, represented by V. Swetha, A. Santhosh, and G. Snekha followed by 1st runner-up title to the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, represented by Pooja Todke, Esha Attar, and Sanjivani Pathak and Chandigarh University, Kharar, Punjab represented by Neha, Ramya Rai and Srestha Mukherjee securing the 2nd runner-up position.

The BEST 2023 winner is Rajalakshmi College of Engineering, Chennai