Bact-O-Connect 2026-Hybrid mode

Connecting the Bacterial Cellulose Community

April 27, 2026 | IIT Hyderabad

Commemorating the Birthday of A.J. Brown

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About the Conference

Recognizing the growing research interest in Bacterial Cellulose (BC) across diverse fields such as polymer science, textiles, biomaterials, cosmetics, and environmental engineering, Bactoconnect serves as a premier gathering for experts and enthusiasts alike.

Organized by the Cellulose and Composites Group, IIT Hyderabad.

Prof. Mudrika Khandelwal

Message from the Founder

"Welcome to Bact-O-Connect 2026. The Cellulose and Composite Group at IIT Hyderabad is delighted to announce the second edition of Bact-O-Connect - an annual conference dedicated to fostering global dialogue and collaboration around bacterial cellulose, a remarkable and sustainable biopolymer with transformative potential across industries. This event serves as a platform for leading researchers and industry experts to share insights, discuss breakthroughs, and envision the future of bacterial cellulose in science, technology, and applications. Commemorating the birth anniversary of A.J. Brown, the discoverer of bacterial cellulose, April 27th is celebrated as a special day by our group.."

Prof. Mudrika Khandelwal

Founder, Bact-O-Connect
Cellulose and Composites Group, IIT Hyderabad

Photography and Micrograph Challenge

Register for Bact-O-Connect 2026 Photography and Micrograph challenge.

Photography and Micrograph Challenge Rules and Guidelines
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Photography Challenge

Showcase the beauty and diversity of bacterial cellulose through your lens. Capture stunning images that highlight the intricate structures and applications of BC.

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Micrograph Challenge

Delve into the microscopic world of bacterial cellulose. Submit your best micrographs that reveal the fascinating details of BC's morphology and structure.

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Supported By

Thank you to our generous partners for sponsoring Bact-O-Connect 2026 Photography and Micrograph challenge.

Important Dates & Schedule

Bact-o-connect 2026: Key Milestones

Event Activity Dates
Registration for General Participation 15th Feb – 15th April, 2026
Launch of Competition 28th Feb – 15th April, 2026
Jury Decision / Final Review 27th April, 2026
Conference Day @ IIT Hyderabad 27th April, 2026

Bactoconnect 2026 Highlights

What to expect at this year's gathering at IIT Hyderabad

Upcoming
🔬

Inauguration

Piolt-scale Bacterial cellulose production Facilite.

Upcoming
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Industry Networking

Connecting academic research with industry leaders to explore the commercialization of sustainable biomaterials.

Upcoming
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Pelenary Session

A special keynote session commemorating the birthday of A.J. Brown and his contributions to cellulose science.

Our Legacy: Previous Speakers

Bactoconnect 2025

Dr. Ahu Gümrah Parry

Dr. Ahu Gümrah Parry

University of Manchester

Dame Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellow

Expert in "animate materials" and self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals to create photonic structures and sustainable bioplastics.

Dr. Valentina Guccini

Dr. Valentina Guccini

Uppsala University, Sweden

Assistant Professor

Focuses on bio-based materials for fossil-free energy applications, including lithium-ion battery separators and fuel cells.

Dr. Maribel Hernandez Guerrero

Dr. Maribel Hernandez Guerrero

UAM, Mexico

Faculty Member, Processes & Technology

Specializes in culture systems for bacterial cellulose using Kombucha consortia and sustainable food packaging solutions.

Bactoconnect 2024

Parteek Mahalwar

Parteek Mahalwar

Founder and CEO

Bioweg, CA

Prateek founded BIOWEG (formerly Cellulosic Technologies) in 2019 with a mission to eliminate intentionally added microplastics from consumer products. Under his leadership, BIOWEG has developed a proprietary platform that uses precision fermentation to convert agricultural and food industry side-streams (like potato peels and sugar by-products) into high-purity bacterial cellulose..

Zuzana Gombosova

Zuzana Gombosova

Malai Biomaterials

Co-founder & Material Researcher

Pioneer in transforming coconut industry waste into vegan bacterial cellulose leather alternatives for the fashion industry.

Dr. Vivek Verma

Dr. Vivek Verma

IIT Kanpur

Associate Professor, MSE

Researches biodegradable composites for packaging, flexible electronics, and advanced wound care.

Deepika Gupta

Deepika Gupta

Finance Professional

FP&A Professional, CA

Expert in financial planning and unit economics, bringing a perspective on business efficiencies to the cellulose industry.

Mudrika Khandelwaal

Mudrika Khandelwal

IIT Hyderabad

Professor

Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad. She is a prominent researcher s pecializing in biopolymers and sustainable materials, with a particular focus on the hierarchical organization of cellulose.

2026 Keynote & Invited Speakers

Meet the visionaries leading the discourse at IIT Hyderabad

Speaker Name
Upcoming

To Be Announced

Keynote Speaker

University / Institute Name

Wait for the reveal!

Speaker Name
Upcoming

To Be Announced

Invited Speaker

Wait for the reveal!

?

To Be Announced

Invited Speaker

Wait for the reveal!

?

To Be Announced

Industry Expert

Coming Soon

Industry Presence

Bact-o-connect proudly hosts innovators and professionals from leading global organizations.

Represented Sectors:

Biomaterials Sustainable Textiles Advanced Packaging Healthcare & Cosmetics Polymer Science

Join Us

Secure your spot at the conference to engage with leading researchers in the field of BC.

Access Registration Form

Competition Uploads

Participating in the research competition? Please upload your posters or abstracts here.

Upload Portal

Get In Touch

Have questions about Bact_O-Connect 2026? We are here to help.

📍 Location

Cellulose and Composite Group
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad
Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana 502284

📧 Email

bactoconnect@gmail.com