Biodesign Sprint: Ocean Futures
October 1st – December 5th, 2025
Watch the final presentations live on December 5th between 9am-4pm below!
Welcome
Welcome to the Biodesign Sprint, a program powered by Biodesign Challenge to explore the innovation potential of biology, design, and technology.
The Sprint offers participants from across the globe the chance to envision and create products and processes that help create a future where everyone can thrive.
The 2025 edition of the Biodesign Sprint, Ocean Futures, is a two-month design program and competition that extends an abbreviated version of the Biodesign Challenge to a new cohort of institutions invested in cutting-edge design and the preservation of the world’s oceans.
See the 2022 Winners
See the 2021 Winners
Biodesign Sprint: Ocean Futures is a thematic entry point to the world of biodesign where student teams from around the world will develop and present a design project that uses biological principles to envision a more sustainable Anthropocene Ocean. Suitable projects include practical solutions and prototypes, bioart responses to oceanic phenomena, and speculative design projects that address complex systems.
Over the course of two months, students will develop projects that illustrate how biologically informed design can be leveraged to address pressing environmental and social issues related to the oceans, ocean life, and aquatic industries. Students and instructors enrolled in the program will benefit from access to a curated resource library, special webinars, and the broader Biodesign Challenge network, in addition to competing for special prizes and recognition for their projects. At the end of the program in December, students will present their ideas before a judging panel composed of international experts in design, biology, and the bioeconomy.
What is the Biodesign Sprint?
In the future: The environment is not just what’s outside. We are a guest at its table.
How it works
Each participating team is asked to create a video and presentation that explains the project and how it responds to the design theme. During the Semifinals, teams share their presentations and participate in a live Q&A with the judging panel. The top teams from each track will present at the Finals to all the judges.
Projects will be evaluated based on our Judging Criteria, which emphasizes life cycles, the environment, and cultural impacts.
