The Erasmus+ funded DEEPBIOTECH project reached a major milestone this month as Yaşar University in Izmir, Turkey hosted a five-day hackathon from 8–12 December 2025, bringing together students from life sciences, technology, and business for an intensive week of interdisciplinary innovation.
From Ideas to Impact
Over five days, participants collaborated across disciplines to transform ideas into concrete project concepts at the intersection of biotechnology and entrepreneurship. The hackathon format pushed teams to move fast — from ideation to a pitch-ready concept in under a week. A multidisciplinary jury drawn from both academia and industry evaluated the final presentations.
The Winners
The Awards & Certification Ceremony capped off the event with three standout teams:
- 1st Place — FoodGuard (Yaşar University): Tackling food safety and quality through biotech innovation.
- 2nd Place — Waste2Biotech (University of Ankara): Turning waste streams into biotechnological opportunities.
- 3rd Place — MEATIQ (Yaşar University & Ege University): A cross-institutional collaboration exploring the future of food technology.
Why It Matters
Events like the DEEPBIOTECH Hackathon demonstrate the power of Erasmus+ funded initiatives in creating real, hands-on learning experiences that bridge the gap between academic knowledge and entrepreneurial application. By bringing together students from different fields and institutions — both on-site and online — the project fosters exactly the kind of cross-pollination that drives innovation in the life sciences.
Congratulations to all participating teams for their creativity, teamwork, and commitment. Stay tuned for more from the DEEPBIOTECH project.