Kathmandu — A national biotechnology hackathon is set to take place in Nepal later this month, aiming to generate innovative solutions to the country’s food system challenges.
The three-day event, Genome Biothon 2026, will run from 23 to 25 April at Sunway College in Maitidevi, Kathmandu. Organised by the Biotechnology Society of Nepal (BSN), it will bring together students, researchers, and young innovators to develop biotechnology-driven approaches to issues such as food safety, malnutrition, and climate change impacts on agriculture.
Despite Nepal’s rich biodiversity and varied agro-ecological resources, access to safe and affordable food remains a pressing concern. Organisers say biotechnology could play a transformative role in addressing these problems.
The hackathon will focus on areas including rapid food safety diagnostics, biofortification of traditional crops, functional foods, climate-resilient agriculture, and biological preservation technologies. Participants, selected through a competitive process, will take part in a 36-hour residential challenge, working in interdisciplinary teams to produce prototypes and implementation models. Mentorship will be provided by experts from academia, research institutions, and industry.
A prize pool of NPR 200,000 has been announced, with organisers encouraging participation from disciplines beyond biotechnology, such as agriculture, engineering, IT, and management. Support for the event comes from partners including GitHub, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and Fueler.
BSN officials say the hackathon is designed not only to foster innovation but also to connect young researchers with real-world challenges, strengthening Nepal’s food systems. Registration remains open, with teams from across the country expected to compete in the final round in Kathmandu.
