A new Alliances for Innovation project, DT Launch Pad is set to enable the European Deep Tech community by creating support services, building Deep Tech talent capacity in partner universities, encouraging international knowledge exchange and providing the opportunity to initiate and sustain Deep Tech start-ups.
The research project which launched in Delft, The Netherlands on 4th March 2024 is led by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) which is known for its focus on engineering and technology. TU Delft has a robust program to support entrepreneurship among students and researchers with a specific Delft Entrepreneurs program that promotes the creation of startups and provides access to workspaces, seed funding, and guidance.
The partnership of nine organisations from seven countries represents all drivers of Deep Tech entrepreneurship in European regions. It includes two Technological Universities, TU Delft and Munster Technological University, Ireland which bring extensive expertise and experience in fostering Deep Tech entrepreneurship; three comprehensive universities (Institut Mines-Télécom Business School in France, Ege in Turkey and University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) providing alternative expertise and will cascade Deep Tech knowledge to European comprehensive universities. An incubator Accent from Austria will bring on-the-ground knowledge of the start-up process while two business partners (Crazy Town, Finland and Momentum, Ireland) enhance the reach of the project, community development and sharing of outputs; and a university network, education and training provider, the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) from The Netherlands to provide high-quality staff training.
There will be many opportunities for the partners to get involved and benefit from DT Launch Pad. Elif Çelik Project Co-ordinator, TU Delft explains, “DT Launch Pad unites many organisations including higher education institutions, their leaders, students, staff and researchers, policymakers, existing Deep Tech entrepreneurs and investors. It’s an exciting time to bring these experts together and use their expertise and diverse perspectives in deep tech and education to add value to develop a comprehensive training and services pack specifically for Europe’s emerging deep tech talent.”
Over the next three years, DT Launch Pad will examine the needs and opportunities for Deep Tech at the participating HEIs and incubators through research and asset mapping. The project will implement a ‘Deep Tech to Market Services’ pack, which includes a tailored training program, mentorship opportunities, and peer-to-peer exchanges. The DT Launch Pad platform will aggregate deep tech opportunities to promote international team building and resource sharing. The project will culminate in a Europe-wide Fundraising Fair, providing a stage for deep tech talent and trainees to showcase their innovations to potential investors.
DT Launch Pad is funded under the Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation programme which aims to strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity by boosting innovation through cooperation and flow of knowledge among higher education, vocational education and training and the broader socio-economic environment, including research.
