Most biotechnology companies are young companies developing their first products and depend on investor capital for survival. According to BioWorld, biotechnology attracted more than $24.8 billion in financing in 2007 and raised more than $100 billion in the five-year span of 2003-2007.
How To Apply
PLEASE NOTE ONLY INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPETITION.
United States:
Students should visit the Biotechnology Institute’s website to view the Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) located all over the United States. If you live in an area where there is a Local BioGENEius Challenge, you should apply to the appropriate challenge. (Example: I am located in Philadelphia, PA. I will apply to the Pennsylvania BioGENEius Challenge.) Complete an online application. Submissions must be completed at this site by April 15, 2012. If there is no Local BioGENEius Challenge located in your area please apply to the At-Large BioGENEius Challenge.
The At-Large BioGENEius Challenge is a competition available to students who are not in areas from which the local competitions draw. These students will apply directly to the Biotechnology Institute through the online application process. Complete an online application. Submissions must be completed at this site by April 15, 2012.
NOTE: You must apply to either the At-Large Challenge or a Local BioGENEius Challenge to be considered for advancement to the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge.
Please view the list below to choose the appropriate Local BioGENEius Challenge in your area. Current Local BioGENEius Challenges, as of August 2011, consists of the following states:
Additional Local BioGENEius Challenges are TBD in October 2011. Please check back to view additional information about each Local BioGENEius Challenge.
For more information regarding the BioGENEius Process, please click here.
Student Eligibility:
1. Students must be enrolled in biology or science-related courses (Grade 9 to 12) in any public or private school within the United States.
2. Project must have a biotechnology application. For the purposes of this program, we will use the following definition of biotechnology: "Biotechnology is the use of the knowledge of biological systems to produce goods and services."
3. Individual Students Only, may submit ONE project for this competition.
- We will accept projects that have a group component only if the student individually completed a major component of the project. The student will be allowed to mention the group component but is not allowed to report on other students' findings.
4. Research presented in 2012 must be NEW research. Projects may be continued research from previous years. Any project conducted in a similar area of research as previous projects should be considered a continuation. If the project is a continuation, explain as completely as possible how the project differs from previous years and what is the significant progress. Explain when the actual experimental procedure (not the background literature review) will begin and end because ONLY a 12-month project that occurred within the last 18 months before this year’s International BioGENEius Challenge, in June is allowed.
5. Students in Canada and Western Australia may visit www.sanofibiogeneiuschallenge.ca and www.westernaustralia.com respectively for information on how to participate.
Definitions:
- International BioGENEius Challenge is a competition which encompasses ten (10) U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge finalists, two (2) Canadian, Sanofi BioGENEiius Challenge Canada finalists and two (2) Western Australia BioGENEius Challenge finalists. Each finalist will compete in the International BioGENEius competition in conjunction with the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Annual International Convention.
- U. S. National BioGENEius Challenge is a competition in which selected winners of both the At-Large and Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) compete and present their research posters and oral presentations in front of a panel of biotech judges. The top ten (10) winners of the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge will advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge
- Local BioGENEius Challenge is competition hosted by the Biotechnology Institute’s Local Partners. Each Local Partner will host separate BioGENEius competitions. All Local BioGENEius Challenge competitions will take place at different locations throughout the United States. Up to three (3) winners from each Local BioGENEius Challenge will be selected to present their research poster and oral presentations at the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge held in Boston, MA prior to the BIO convention.
- The At-Large BioGENEius Challenge is a competition available to students who are not in areas from which the local competitions draw. A panel of biotech judges will select 15 student delegates. The selected 15 students will join the winners of each Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) to present their research poster and oral presentations and advance to the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge held in Boston, MA prior to the BIO convention.
Canada
The top two finalists of the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (formally SABC) are invited to compete at the International BioGENEius Challenge. Please visit www.sanofibiogeneiuschallenge.ca.
Two finalists from the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada compete in the International BioGENEius Challenge (link to sponsor page) preceding the 2011 BIO Convention. Click here for more information.
Western Australia
To enter the International BioGENEius Challenge, follow this path:
Step 1
Visit Western Australia information page by clicking here.
Step 2
Contact WA to learn how to apply. The WA sponsor is the Government of Western Australia, Department of Industry and Resources. Please visit www.westernaustralia.com.
Two finalists from the International BioGENEius Challenge of Western Australia compete in the International BioGENEius Challenge preceding the 2011 BIO Convention. Click here for more information.
Questions: Please email biogeneius@biotechinstitute.org.
