A positive highlight of the COVID-19 situation has been the large number of grassroots-level innovations brought forth by Indian start-ups, entrepreneurs, and researchers to counter the pandemic. A thriving culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is necessary to nurture this spirit. In this regard, the fourth edition of the National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) is currently open for applications.

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in regulating human metabolism and health. Bug Speaks, a new initiative by the bioinformatics company Leucine Rich Bio, aims to utilize information gleaned from assessing the gut microbiome to predict disease susceptibility and provide personalized health recommendations.