Global Biofuel Alliance Selects 15 Researcher Fellows

The Global Biofuels Alliance inducted 15 early-career researchers as the first cohort of Global Biofuel Champion Fellows on 30 June 2026 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Each fellow will receive a research grant of up to US$15,000 and will serve as a GBA Ambassador for two years.

Global Biofuels Alliance

The Global Biofuels Alliance is a coalition of 34 member countries and 14 international organisations. It was launched at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023.

Global Biofuel Champion Fellowship

The Global Biofuel Champion Fellowship is a programme for early-career researchers in biofuels. It aims to support biofuel innovation, research-driven solutions, and leadership development in the biofuels sector.

Selection and Institutional Representation

The fellows were selected through a multi-stage international evaluation process from applicants across 32 countries. The selected researchers are associated with institutions such as the University of Michigan, University of Manchester, Monash University, Polytechnique Montréal, the University of Sheffield, Imperial College London, and IIT Madras.

Important Facts for Exams

• Biofuels are fuels produced from biomass, including plant material, agricultural residues, and organic waste.
• Common biofuels include ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel.
• The G20 Summit is a forum of major economies that meets annually.
• The India Habitat Centre is a major conference and cultural complex in New Delhi.

Programme Features

The fellows will act as GBA Ambassadors for two years. The programme also included a “Voices of the Champions” segment in which fellows presented practical solutions for the biofuels industry.

Institutional Context

Dr. Neeraj Mittal is the Interim Director General of the Global Biofuels Alliance and Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the nodal ministry for petroleum and fuel-related policy in India.