The contest, which is part of the UK's 'GREAT roadshow' in Bangalore, seeks to find Bangalore's most innovative biotech or medtech company looking to expand their business internationally. In a second category, the contest also seeks to find an academic with Bangalore's best biotech business or medtech idea. The winner in each category will have an opportunity to explore Cambridge and discover why it is one of world's most vibrant innovation hubs.

While launching the contest, Francis Maude MP, Minister for the UK Cabinet Office, said, "The UK is an ideal place to start or expand an innovative business or to find an innovation partner. This is particularly apparent in Cambridge and, through this contest, the best of Bangalore will get a chance to see what Cambridge has to offer."

The contest is run by the UK Science & Innovation Network, in association with AcceleratorIndia, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bangalore, the University of Cambridge and ideaSpace, Cambridge, as part of the Bangalore-Cambridge Innovation Network.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, vice-chancellor, University of Cambridge, said, "This is a marvelous opportunity to link the innovation ecosystems of our two great cities by allowing innovators to come from Bangalore to Cambridge."

Mr Maude launched the contest during his visit to Bangalore as part of the 'GREAT Roadshow', a series of niche events aimed at fostering exchange between the UK and India to facilitate trade and investment.
The 'Roadshow' seeks to achieve this by building and developing the UK's business brand in Bangalore, translating Indian business interest by bringing in delegations, encouraging Indian companies to work with and in the UK, and highlighting UK capabilities to Indian companies.

The two winners will receive a fact finding mission to Cambridge including economy flights, accommodation and a bespoke programme to start their UK discovery in Cambridge in early 2014. In addition, they will also get a chance to experience Cambridge and its phenomenon, meeting and networking with world-class researchers, investors, incubators and partner companies and a briefing to understand what's involved, and the support available, to start the business in Cambridge or finding partners.