NTUA Biotechnology Lab Earns Runner-Up Distinction at the GreenTech Challenge
A team from the Biotechnology Laboratory of NTUA was distinguished at the GreenTech Challenge, Greece’s largest national programme for green innovation, receiving the runner-up award in the Researchers category with the concept BioΛysis.
The GreenTech Challenge is implemented under the scientific responsibility of the UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy at NTUA and organised by Mantis Beyond Innovation, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The initiative aims to promote innovative ideas from researchers, students, and start-ups, connect them with the wider innovation and industrial ecosystem, and promote solutions that address critical environmental challenges through green and sustainable technologies.
Within this framework, the NTUA team presented BioΛysis, an innovation concept inspired by the TwInn4MicroUp project, which focuses on the biotechnological upcycling of PET plastic waste into high-value biopigments via microbial fermentation. These biopigments are bio-based, renewable, and environmentally friendly, while also exhibiting bioactive properties that make them suitable for medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.
Throughout the competition, the team was supported by their assigned mentor, Dr. Maria Tomai, who provided valuable guidance on innovation strategy, business development, and pitch preparation, contributing to the refinement and successful presentation of the concept during the final stage.
During the final pitch, the team outlined an integrated value chain combining plastic waste pretreatment, microbial biosynthesis, and downstream processing, highlighting both the scientific foundation of the approach and its market and sustainability potential. The concept was evaluated by an expert jury and received the runner-up distinction for its innovation level, environmental relevance, and alignment with circular economy principles.
The BioΛysis team comprised Konstantinos Grigorakis (PhD candidate), Zafeiria Lemoni (PhD candidate), Christina Ferousi (Postdoctoral Researcher), Niky Mitili (PhD candidate), and Zacharias Semertzidis (Undergraduate Student), all members of the NTUA Biotechnology Laboratory.
Participation in the GreenTech Challenge enhanced the visibility of TwInn4MicroUp, demonstrating how research-driven projects can inspire innovation concepts with strong societal and environmental impact, and reinforcing the role of NTUA in advancing sustainable, bio-based solutions within the national and European innovation landscape.
