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BioCarbon Initiative
Featured Signature Project

BioCarbon Initiative

Accelerating global carbon capture with high-efficiency marine microalgae photoreactors.

The Problem

Traditional carbon capture technologies are highly energy-intensive and cost-prohibitive, making large-scale deployment unfeasible. As global carbon emissions continue to rise, we urgently need scalable, natural biological systems that can capture and sequester carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere without requiring vast amounts of energy or land.

Why does this matter?Global Challenge

Our Approach

Atria University is pioneering a high-rate marine algae photoreactor that maximizes carbon absorption through optimized light distribution and nutrient delivery systems. Unlike conventional methods, our bioreactor utilizes a proprietary local strain of microalgae capable of growing ten times faster than terrestrial plants, creating a highly efficient, compact, and scalable carbon sink that can be integrated into urban infrastructure.

What AU is doing differentlyFirst-of-its-kind Innovation
Project Journey

Progress & Milestones

Track our completed achievements and upcoming milestones as we develop our high-efficiency bioreactor system.

September 2024completed

Project Initiation & Team Formation

Assembled a multidisciplinary team of marine biologists, chemical engineers, and student researchers.

January 2025completed

Seed Grant Awarded

Received a INR 25 Lakh research grant from the Department of Biotechnology for bioreactor design.

June 2025completed

First Lab-scale Prototype Built

Constructed and deployed a 50-liter automated photoreactor with smart lighting controllers.

November 2025completed

Research Paper Publication

Published study on 'Accelerated Photosynthetic Kinetics of Marine Microalgae' in the Journal of Clean Energy.

Q3 2026upcoming

Pilot Scale Implementation (Upcoming)

Scaling up to a 500-liter system on the Atria campus to test real-world carbon capture from campus utility plants.

Applications & Impact

Real-World Reach & Relevance

Our research goes beyond lab environments to directly solve critical national and global climate priorities.

Decarbonizing Campus & Cities

Climate & Environment

Enables high-speed local carbon capture. Deployed units can absorb up to 80% of localized CO2 emissions directly from urban hot spots.

Aligns with Make in India

Industry & Economy

Creates local manufacturing opportunities for bioreactor components. Converts captured algae biomass into valuable bio-fertilizers and bio-plastics.

NEP 2020 Hands-on Learning

Policy & Education

Provides a living laboratory for Atria UG students. Integrates biology, engineering, and digital tracking directly into our transdisciplinary curriculum.

Our Research Team

The Minds Behind the Innovation

A collaborative group of principal investigators, student researchers, and industry experts.

Dr. Ananya Rao
Principal Investigator

Dr. Ananya Rao

Ph.D. in Marine Biotechnology with 12+ years of research in carbon capture systems. Formerly senior researcher at CSIR.

Core Team Members

  • Prof. Rajesh KumarMechanical Engineering Lead
  • Sneha PatelResearch Associate
  • Vikram SinghStudent Researcher (UG Class of 26)

External Collaborators

  • Indian Institute of Science (IISc)Bio-Systems Department
  • CleanTech Labs IndiaSensor Integration Partner
Funding & Support

Partners & Funding Agencies

This project is supported by competitive grants and strategic industry sponsorships. All collaborations adhere to strict research guidelines and ethical compliance frameworks established by Atria University and funding agency regulations.

Active Grants

DBT Bioprocess Seed Grant

Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India

INR 25 Lakhs
Atria Sustainability Fellowship

Atria Foundation

INR 10 Lakhs

Academic & Industry Partners

IB
IISc BangaloreAcademic Partner
CL
CleanTech LabsIndustry Partner
GoK
Govt. of KarnatakaState Supporter
BF
BioSphere FundResearch Sponsor
Media & Coverage

In The News

Recent publications, press coverage, conference presentations, and awards recognizing this research.

Press ReleaseMay 12, 2025

Atria University Unveils Localized High-Capacity Carbon Sequestration Bioreactor

Bengaluru Tech Chronicle Read
ConferenceAugust 18, 2025

Presenter at International Green Energy & Sustainability Symposium

IGESS 2025 (Singapore)Read
AwardOctober 05, 2025

Winner of 'Innovation in Academic CleanTech' National Award

CleanTech India ForumRead
Join the Initiative

Get In Touch

Whether you are an industry partner looking to collaborate or a prospective student eager to do hands-on research, we want to hear from you.

Collaborate With Us

Explore partnership opportunities, pilot deployment locations, and joint research ventures for industry scaling.

Industry Partnerships

Study With Us

Join Atria University as an undergraduate or fellow and work directly on leading projects in our Signature Labs.

Apply For Admissions

For academic research inquiries, contact the Principal Investigator at:

ananya.rao@atria.edu