Deep Tech Atelier 2026 programme framework
Deep Tech Atelier 2026 is built around a single conviction: deep tech is not a sector – it is a horizontal force reshaping every industry, with AI acting as the accelerator across all of them. Structured across three stages and an extended ecosystem programme, it covers the full innovation lifecycle – from research and commercialisation to capital strategy and market entry – with every track aligned to RIS3 (Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategy) fields as the strategic backbone connecting deep tech development to Europe’s regional innovation priorities. This is a framework; a detailed programme will be published soon.
Meanwhile, you can also have a look at last year’s DTA Agenda to get a broader sense of what we’re about. See it here.
DEEP TECH STAGE
The Deep Tech Stage decodes how Europe builds technological power – from capital allocation to commercialisation at scale. It connects funding systems, policy frameworks – including RIS3 as a foundational layer for regional prioritisation – and market execution into one strategic view. The focus: turning scientific excellence into deployable, investable and globally competitive deep tech.
Systemic Capital
Explores how capital, policy and ecosystems align to drive deep tech growth. Focuses on funding structures, system design and long-term competitiveness.
| European Deep Tech Opportunity | Maps Europe’s position in the global tech power shift driven by AI, defence and advanced industries. Explores how talent, capital and policy converge to define competitiveness. |
| Funding Instruments & Capital Allocation | Breaks open how billions in European funding are structured, distributed and accessed. Focuses on who captures value — and why. |
| Next EU Innovation Framework | Unpacks the architecture of Europe’s next innovation cycle. Explores how future funding will shape deep tech dominance. |
| Ecosystem Blueprint & Development Models | Deconstructs how high-performing deep tech ecosystems are engineered. Focuses on scalable models that align research, capital and industry. |
| System Navigation & Public Funding Access | Explores how to actually win within complex public funding systems. Focuses on strategic positioning, timing and execution. |
Dual-Use Commercialization
Focuses on how technologies move from research into real-world applications across defence and civilian markets. Emphasizes commercialization, regulation and scaling.
| Dual-Use Technology Pathways | Examines how technologies seamlessly transition between defence and civilian markets. Focuses on unlocking exponential value through cross-sector deployment. |
| Export Control & Compliance | Breaks down how regulation shapes the trajectory of deep tech innovation. Focuses on operating at the edge of compliance without losing speed. |
| Deep Tech Exit & Success Cases | Dissects how deep tech companies scale to liquidity events. Focuses on capital strategy, timing and execution behind successful exits. |
| Lab to Market Challenges | Exposes the structural gap between research and commercialisation. Focuses on why breakthrough science fails — and how to fix it. |
AI Horizon
Positions AI as the foundational layer across industries and systems. Focuses on infrastructure, strategy and real-world application.
| AI as a Horizontal Accelerator | Positions AI as the core infrastructure layer across industries. Explores how it rewires defence, healthcare and industrial systems. |
| European AI Strategy | Examines Europe’s strategic positioning in the global AI race. Focuses on regulation, sovereignty and competitive advantage. |
| Smart Sensors & Interfaces | Explores the next generation of data capture through sensors and wearables. Focuses on real-time intelligence and human-machine interaction. |
| Data Infrastructure & Sovereignty | Defines data and compute as the new strategic resources. Focuses on control, scalability and geopolitical implications. |
| Startup Competition: Final Pitch & Awards | Top startups compete for recognition and ecosystem support. |
Investor & Deal Flow
Connects startups with investors through structured interactions and insights into capital strategies.
| Investment Thesis Sessions | Investors present priorities and market focus areas. |
DEEP FRONTIER STAGE
The Deep Frontier Stage showcases how deep tech operates under real-world pressure — in defence systems and healthcare environments. It focuses on deployment, not theory: technologies that must work in complex, high-risk conditions. The result is a clear view of how dual-use innovation drives resilience, security and human impact.
Defence
Explores technologies shaping security, resilience and strategic autonomy. Focuses on deployment, scalability and real-world performance.
| Defence Transformation & Sovereignty | Defines how technology is reshaping defence capabilities at scale. Drives sovereignty, speed and strategic autonomy. |
| Autonomous Systems & Robotics | Deploys autonomous platforms from drones to robotic systems in operational environments. Advances efficiency, coordination and mission execution. |
| Infrastructure Resilience & Security | Designs critical systems to operate under disruption and failure. Strengthens resilience, redundancy and survivability. |
| Space Infrastructure & Strategic Advantage | Positions space technologies as core infrastructure for defence and security. Enables communication, navigation and real-time intelligence from orbit. |
| Quantum Computing in Defence | Pushes computational boundaries in simulation, encryption and secure communication. Unlocks new levels of defence capability. |
| Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure | Protects systems against evolving cyber threats and hybrid warfare. Secures data, networks and critical infrastructure layers. |
| Defence Innovation & Scaling | Scales defence technologies from prototype to deployment. Aligns funding, procurement and ecosystem acceleration. |
Medicine
This track follows the full lifecycle of health innovation – from decoding biology to engineering interventions and scaling them in real systems. Spanning the RIS3 fields of Biomedicine & Health Technologies, Digital Technologies & AI, Bioeconomy & Life Sciences and Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, it connects genomics, AI-driven diagnostics, engineered biology and clinical environments into a single pipeline. The focus is on making health technologies precise, deployable and globally scalable.
| Next-Gen Diagnostics & Biological Data | Translates genomics, biomarkers and advanced diagnostics into high-resolution biological insight. Enables earlier detection and deeper understanding of complex systems. |
| AI & Predictive Health Systems | Applies AI to diagnostics, drug discovery and biosecurity. Drives predictive models, real-time monitoring and faster decision-making. |
| Regenerative Medicine & Advanced Therapies | Combines biomaterials and engineered biology to repair and restore human tissue. Advances next-generation therapeutic approaches and recovery outcomes. |
| Engineered Biology & Drug Discovery | Integrates AI, genomics and biological systems to develop new treatments. Accelerates discovery cycles while increasing precision and success rates. |
| Smart Medical Technologies & Interventions | Develops next-generation devices and intervention systems for clinical use. Improves precision, integration and performance in treatment delivery. |
| From Lab to Clinic | Moves health technologies from research into real clinical environments. Aligns validation, regulatory pathways and practical implementation. |
| Investment, Partnerships & Scaling in Health | Connects startups, investors and industry to bring innovations to market. Enables de-risking, funding access and scalable growth strategies. |
GROWTH STAGE
The Growth Stage is where early-stage deep tech ventures connect with capital, partners and practical know-how to scale. It combines startup competition, investor access and hands-on sessions designed to accelerate real business outcomes. The focus is on execution — turning technology into investable, scalable and market-ready companies.
Startup Competition
Highlights emerging deep tech startups in defence, med-tech and AI — and connects them with investors and ecosystem players from RIS3 fields spanning Biomedicine & Health Technologies, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, and Digital Technologies & AI. Showcasing ventures at TRL 4 (TRL 3 for AI), it bridges the critical gap between validated prototypes and market-ready solutions.
| Semi-Final Pitch Sessions | Selected startups present solutions across key deep tech sectors. |
Technology Showcases
Presentation sessions featuring selected startups and research teams, showcasing their technologies, prototypes, and solutions to investors, industry partners, and the wider ecosystem.
| Technology Pitch Sessions | Startups and research teams introduce their solutions and key applications. |
Workshops & Practical Sessions
Provides hands-on knowledge and tools for building and scaling deep tech ventures.
| Accessing European Innovation Support | Funding, acceleration and support mechanisms for startups. |
| From Research to Industry | Building scalable production and value chains. |
| Energy Systems & Infrastructure | Managing complex energy systems in a changing environment. |
| Pitch & Communication Skills | Improving startup presentation and investor readiness. |
| Policy & Export Control | Understanding regulatory frameworks for deep tech. |
SIDE EVENTS & ECOSYSTEM PROGRAMME
Extended programme enabling networking, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
| Research & Innovation Visits | Hands-on visits to laboratories, universities and research centres at the frontier of deep tech – where foundational science meets the RIS3 sectors shaping Europe’s next wave of innovation. |
| Industry & Technology Summits | Focused discussions on semiconductors, IP and emerging technologies. |
| Networking & Community Events | Informal formats for ecosystem engagement and collaboration. |
| RIS3 roundtable discussion – industry with policy makers | A closed roundtable bringing together policymakers and industry representatives to align innovation priorities with RIS3 smart specialisation strategies. |
DEMO ZONE
The Demo Zone is a hands-on environment where startups present functional prototypes and applied technologies. It prioritizes real use, technical validation and direct interaction over static showcasing. The space connects builders with investors and partners through live, working solutions.