Unlocking Europe’s Full Deep Tech Innovation Potential

Europe holds immense potential – but continues to fall short when it comes to scaling deep tech. Despite world-class research, strong entrepreneurial talent, and vibrant early-stage innovation, too few deep tech startups grow into global leaders. This persistent scaleup gap weakens Europe's competitiveness and reflects deeper structural barriers that must be addressed.

In response, the EU has launched the Startup and Scaleup Strategy and is preparing the European Innovation Act – two major initiatives aimed at making Europe the most attractive place for deep tech founders, talent, and investors.

The ASCEND conference supports these ambitions. Through high-level dialogue and concrete proposals, the conference focuses on what it takes to turn Europe’s breakthrough technologies into globally scalable companies. ASCEND will explore how to implement key elements of the Startup and Scaleup Strategy and help set the direction for the upcoming Innovation Act.

Stephen Ezell gave a presentation on the steps Europe needs to take to unlock its deep tech innovation potential at the Advancing Strategic Competitiveness & European Innovation in Deep Tech (ASCEND) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 25, 2025.