Suzhou – October 19, 2026 -- MegaRobo Technologies has launched Poreva Open, a global AI protein design competition that will put more than 10,000 designs through standardized wet-lab experiments and offers US$250,000 in cash prizes.
Megalaxy Lab to run double-blind validation of every submission
Teams from academic institutions, research organizations, university laboratories, and biotech and AI companies can enter. Participants may use any models, algorithms or design methods. All submissions go through double-blind experimental evaluation at MegaRobo's Megalaxy Lab.
Results and experimental data, including data on unsuccessful designs, will be published after the competition. Publication is subject to intellectual property and compliance requirements.
Five challenges start with EGFR, TNF-α and GLP-1R targets
The first three challenges target EGFR, TNF-α and GLP-1R. Two more will be announced in the second round. Validation metrics include binding affinity, thermal stability, cross-species reactivity, pH selectivity, nonspecific binding and cellular function. Selected candidates may advance to testing in biological models, including organoids.
Prize pool of US$250,000 comes with US$150,000 in free lab credits
Megalaxy Lab will add US$150,000 (RMB 1 million) in wet-lab validation credits at no cost to participants. The cash prizes total RMB 1.7 million. The top 10 participants may have opportunities to secure up to US$1.5 million in potential investment.
The competition is supported by Tencent Cloud, Twist Bioscience, Galatek, Vazyme, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Digital Technology, Future Capital and Innoangel Fund, among others.
Submissions run from Oct. 19, with results due in April 2027
Registration and submissions for Challenges 1-3 run Oct. 19 to Nov. 18. Submissions for Challenges 4-5 run Nov. 9 to Dec. 8. Experimental validation is scheduled to finish by March 2027. Results and data will be published in April 2027, when a team roadshow and awards ceremony will also take place.