Building a Strong Future for Deep Tech in Europe
In order to secure the future of deep tech in Europe, it’s clear that we need more than just funding; we need a variety of smart early-stage investors. In December 2025, the EIC-supported ESIL Annual Event brought together investors, policymakers, and innovators in Brussels to address these important issues.
Here are five key ideas that emerged from the conference:
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Co-Investment Funds: The introduction of public-private hybrid funds, like the upcoming Scale-Up Europe Fund, aims to fill the €1–3 million funding gap and support startups in expanding across borders.
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Vertical Angel Networks: There’s a move towards creating sector-specific groups, such as Defense Angels, which can gather specialized knowledge. This approach will help improve cross-border assessments in the complex deep tech space.
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“Fourth-Generation” Universities: Universities are encouraged to take minimal equity (0-2%) in tech transfers and provide clear, fast-track IP licensing. This will ensure that startups remain appealing to private investors.
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Early Integration of “Research Angels”: By placing business facilitators directly within academic research teams at early development stages (TRL 2-4), there’s a better alignment of scientific developments with market needs from the very beginning.
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Inclusive Angel Syndicates: Lowering the barriers to investment and offering structured education can empower more women and emerging investors. This approach greatly widens the pool of capital available for deep tech.
Some unique ideas discussed included:
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The “Anti-CEO” Scientist: Research indicates that academic spin-offs succeed best when the founding scientist stays involved but not as the CEO. Pushing top researchers into executive roles can slow down the process of commercialization.
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War Zones as Regulatory Testing Grounds: In times of crisis, startups can test their technologies, like drones or medical devices, in places like Ukraine much faster than the usual lengthy EU processes, sometimes within just 72 hours.
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Family Investment Committees: One successful deep tech investor openly shared that his primary investment group is his family, highlighting that their diverse knowledge is more valuable than traditional methods of due diligence.
For those who couldn’t attend the conference, detailed summaries and presentations are available online.
The journey doesn’t end here! ESIL is gearing up to host new matchmaking events, pitching sessions, workshops, and a comprehensive online course on becoming a next-gen Business Angel. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities!
