Scientific Social Entrepreneurship Challenge

SciQuest Challenge ’25 is the flagship scientific entrepreneurship initiative designed to inspire the next generation of science-driven innovators at the University of Peradeniya. Building on the success of previous editions, SciQuest 2025 empowers undergraduates to transform scientific ideas into impactful, real-world ventures.

Organized by The Society for Industry Relations and Entrepreneurship Development (SIRED) in collaboration with the Science–Industry Interaction Cell (SIIC), Faculty of Science Career Guidance Unit (FOS CGU), and BLII–Technology Transfer Office (BLII-TTO), the programme provides a structured journey from ideation to execution through mentoring, workshops, and competitive pitching.

Programme Vision

SciQuest Challenge 2025 aims to:

• Foster scientific entrepreneurship among undergraduate students

• Bridge the gap between academic science and real-world business solutions

• Introduce design thinking, lean startup methodologies, and validation techniques

• Cultivate innovation, teamwork, leadership, and pitching skills

• Encourage students to develop science-based, socially impactful ventures

Programme Structure

SciQuest Challenge 2025 featured a comprehensive series of four capacity-building workshops designed to transform scientific ideas into viable entrepreneurial solutions, covering the full innovation journey from concept to pitch. The workshops guided participants through design thinking and problem identification, lean canvas development and market validation, understanding the entrepreneur’s mindset with a balance between persistence and adaptability, and mastering real-world testing, validation, scaling, and impactful storytelling. Led by experienced industry professionals and academic experts, these sessions provided hands-on mentorship, practical tools, and critical feedback, equipping the selected SciQuest teams with the skills, confidence, and clarity needed to refine their ideas and deliver compelling final pitches.

Impact of SciQuest Challenge 2025

• Strengthened the entrepreneurial mindset of science undergraduates
  
  

• Provided hands-on exposure to industry tools and mentorship
  
  

• Encouraged science-led problem solving
  
  

• Built a strong foundation for future startup ecosystems within the university

Organizing & Supporting Bodies

• SIRED – Overall coordination, logistics, and execution
  
  

• SIIC – Financial and strategic support
  
  

• FOS Career Guidance Unit (CGU) – Academic coordination
  
  

• BLII – TTO – Innovation and commercialization guidance