When Suchitha Raghunathan joined La Trobe University’s IND-AUS Catalyst program in 2025, she was exploring a question faced by many deep-tech founders: how can a scientific innovation move beyond the laboratory and create meaningful impact in global industries?
For Suchitha, the challenge was understanding how a science-led company could navigate market adoption, build industry trust and scale a solution within a highly established global sector.
Today, that ambition has reached a significant milestone.
Microbeworks’ flagship innovation, MicroBlue, has been named a winner of the Global Change Award 2026 , one of the fashion industry’s leading innovation challenges recognising solutions that can help create a more sustainable future.
The award recognises MicroBlue’s potential to address one of fashion’s most complex sustainability challenges: the environmental impact of textile dyeing.
Developed using microbial fermentation, MicroBlue is a biodegradable textile dye designed to work within existing dyeing systems, enabling manufacturers to explore more sustainable alternatives without requiring major changes to current production infrastructure.
For a deep-tech founder, this type of recognition represents more than an award - it provides global visibility, industry validation and an opportunity to accelerate the pathway from scientific innovation to commercial impact.
For Suchitha, the Global Change Award is also a catalyst for MicroBlue's next stage of growth.
"At its core, the Global Change Award means we can accelerate our innovation. The prize money will substantially advance our product development, while the recognition validates that our problem is relevant on a global scale," she said.
"Beyond funding, the award connects us to the Global Change Award network, providing systems understanding, mentorship and learning opportunities that will be critical for successfully taking MicroBlue to market. This positions us to move from innovation to real-world impact."
The achievement marks the latest chapter in Microbeworks’ growth journey, following Suchitha’s participation in La Trobe University’s IND-AUS Catalyst program and the Australian immersion experience in 2025.
Building global connections through IND-AUS Catalyst
Delivered by La Trobe University in partnership with the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre through the Bio Innovation Corridor, the IND-AUS Catalyst program supports high-potential startups by helping founders validate their ideas, strengthen their commercial capability and connect with international networks.
For Suchitha, the program became a turning point in how the team viewed both its technology and its potential to create impact beyond India.
“The IND-AUS Catalyst program was truly a catalyst for Microbeworks in multiple ways,” Suchitha said.
“It taught us to think globally about our product and helped refine our storytelling for international audiences. Most importantly, it reinforced that we’re not solving a local problem, textiles and climate change are universal challenges that demand scalable innovations.” As part of the program, Suchitha connected with researchers, industry leaders, investors and entrepreneurs across Melbourne's innovation ecosystem.
She said the experience gave the team confidence to think beyond their home market and marked the beginning of Microbeworks' global journey.
"The program was our first step toward realising our global potential, and we've seen interest in our solution surge significantly since gaining visibility through it."
Supporting the next generation of global founders
Microbeworks' journey demonstrates how international networks, industry connections and commercialisation support can help deep-tech startups progress from promising research to globally recognised innovation.
For founders considering the IND-AUS Catalyst program, Suchitha has a simple message.
"Do it," she said.
"The program will challenge you and help you build a better product and company. Having your assumptions and plans tested by diverse perspectives builds resilience and teaches you to think and work through a global lens. It's not always comfortable, but that discomfort is where growth happens, and where you'll discover your innovation's true potential beyond your local market."
Through IND-AUS Catalyst, La Trobe University continues to support ambitious founders from India and Australia as they explore new markets, build partnerships and accelerate the growth of their technologies.
Applications are now open for the next IND-AUS Catalyst cohort . If you are building a deep-tech startup with global ambitions, discover how the program can help you.
