BISC-E Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge - Europe
Welcome to BISC-E Austria!
We are excited to launch Austria’s first-ever participation in the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E)!
Are you ready to design an innovative bio-based solution with a diverse, multidisciplinary team? BISC-E challenges students to dive into the emerging bio-based sector by developing sustainable products or processes that can shape a more sustainable future. Are you up for the challenge?
What is BISC-E?
BISC-E is a Europe-wide student competition designed to raise awareness of the bio-based economy and its role in building a sustainable future. It invites students from all disciplines to develop bio-based products or processes that help drive the transition toward a circular economy.
The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) coordinates BISC-E on European level and holds the European finals, where the best national teams will go head-to-head to showcase their solutions.
For Austria’s first-ever participation we at the Centre for Bioeconomy of BOKU together with BIOS Science Austria serve as national coordinators and points of contact.
Discover the other countries involved in the competition by visiting this link.
Who can participate?
BISC-E is open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students, as well as first-year PhD students (European Qualification Framework Level 7). Teams of 3 to 6 students are encouraged to join, ideally bringing together expertise from different disciplines, including at least one team member with a scientific background. Team members can be from different universities or universities of applied sciences.
To participate, every team must appoint a team leader responsible for registration and communication with the organizers. Each team needs a supervisor, such as a PhD student or professor, to guide them through the challenge. Both students and supervisors can only participate in one team.
What’s the Challenge?
Teams will develop innovative bio-based products or processes that address technological, environmental, or societal challenges, wholly or partly derived from renewable biological sources. While the development of new food or feed ingredients is allowed, the production of final food and feed products is not included in the program. See regulations.
Each team will present their ideas to a jury of industry and academic experts, focusing on sustainability, technical feasibility, and economic viability. The winner of the national finals on May 15, 2025, will represent Austria at the European Finals in September 2025.
Get inspired! Watch videos from previous competitions on the BIC YouTube Channel!
Why Participate? What’s in it for You?
By joining BISC-E, you will:
- Tackle real-world challenges in the bio-based sector
- Develop key skills in teamwork, and solution presentation
- Connect with students and experts from Austria and across Europe
- Join coaching sessions with industry and start-up professio
- Receive constructive feedback from a jury of experts to improve your idea
Beyond the competition, your work can gain visibility in the bio-based sector, opening doors to potential start-up ventures, internships, or employment opportunities.
What can you win?
1st Place:
- 2,000 € Cash Prize
- Participation in the European Finals
- Professional Support for Video Submission
2nd Place:
- 1,000 € Cash Prize
3rd Place:
- 500 € Cash Prize
The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) generously sponsors 3000€ of prizes. Additional cash and non-cash prizes are provided by BOKU University and our other sponsors.
At the European final additional prizes will be awarded. Find out more here.
What’s Next?
National Competition Phase
The National Competition Phase of BISC-E Austria 2025 is now complete. Following registration, the participating teams focused on developing their innovative bio-based products or processes. Throughout this phase, teams engaged in regular check-ins with national coordinators and supervisors to track progress, explore support options, and refine their ideas in preparation for the final pitch.
To support the teams in this journey, we offered an introductory pitching session by Accent, an inspiring webinar on bioentrepreneurship with Johann Liebeton (Bioeconomy Youth Champion with the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy, IACGB), and an excursion to Lenzing, including a factory tour and presentations on R&D.
The Austrian final took place on May 15, 2025, at BOKU University. In front of a jury of academic and industry experts, each team presented their solution and answered critical questions. Proposals were evaluated based on sustainability, technical feasibility, and economic viability.
The composition of the jury:
- Michaela Amstötter-Visotschnig, BOKU:Base
- Georg Gübitz, BOKU University
- Raphaela Hellmayr, BMLUK
- Jo-Ann Innerlohinger, Lenzing AG
- Alexandra Kick, Thinkubator
- Michael Sauer, OMV AG
We are proud to present the six BISC-E Austria 2025 finalist teams and their projects:
1st Place: EcoMycoSprout – Rooted in Fungi: A Regenerative Urban Soil System
2nd Place: Team Palu – Paluboard
3rd Place: CompositeOat – A Novel Durable Material from Oat Milk Production By-products
Other finalists:
Sustinea – Eco(H)eatBox
Cyan Cycle – Cyan Cycle
Mycolation – Upcycling Fast Fashion to Reimagine Insulation
Our Partners
We are proud to collaborate with organizations that share our commitment to sustainability and innovation, offering students valuable insights and opportunities.
The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) generously sponsors 3000€ of prizes.
Accent Inkubator GmbH has been supporting innovative start-ups in Lower Austria since 2005 through the AplusB programme, collaborating with organizations like CERN and ESA. Highlights include the “CERN Venture Connect Program” and the ESA Phi-Lab NET Austria at Schwechat Airport, advancing space market products and transferring space technologies into new industries.
The accent Makerspace provides start-ups, especially academic spin-offs, with prototyping infrastructure for sustainable projects in areas like green transformation, AgriTech, and climate-resilient production. Located on a former agricultural college site, it offers co-working spaces, labs, workshops, and outdoor areas in a collaborative environment.
Lenzing supports BISC-E participants with non-cash prizes and offers an optional factory tour.
