TechTour

The 2026 Tech Tour Growth Award Winners Announced

Tech Tour — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:45:58 +0000

Spotlighting Europe’s most ambitious and transformative tech growth companies.

Yesterday, Tech Tour was proud to announce the 2026 Tech Tour Growth Award Winners, nominated among Europe’s 500 top scaling tech companies and voted and selected from the 2026 Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe List by some 70+ of Europe’s most active investors. This year’s winners exemplify cutting-edge innovation, rapid market expansion, and the bold ambition to redefine the future of their respective sectors.

The Tech Tour Growth Europe List and report stand as the definitive benchmark of excellence, compiled through a rigorous selection process that evaluates revenue growth, market potential and global scalability, technological development, and investor backing. A distinguished panel of over 70 leading growth investors meticulously voted, reviewed and selected the winners, presided by Falk Mueller-Veerse of Stifel and with key industry leaders Philippe Laval of Jolt Capital (Digital), Remy de Tonnac of ETF Partners (Sustainability) and Sebastien Woynar of LBO France (Health) lending their expertise to identify the companies shaping the next wave of European innovation.

Tech Tour Growth Award Digital

Multiverse Computing (Spain) focuses on helping organizations run secure, production-ready artificial intelligence while reducing compute costs and energy usage. The company develops AI model compression and quantum-inspired software that allows advanced AI systems to run on existing hardware, cloud infrastructure, or edge devices, enabling faster inference, lower infrastructure requirements, and greater control over data and deployment environments.

Tech Tour Growth Award Health

BIOSerenity (France) develops connected medical solutions designed to help diagnose and monitor patients with chronic diseases in areas such as neurology, sleep disorders, and cardiology. The company combines physiological sensors, IoT platforms, applications, and AI to detect digital biomarkers and enable remote diagnostics, working with hundreds of hospitals and supporting large numbers of patient diagnoses each year through data-driven healthcare solutions.

Tech Tour Growth Award Sustainability

Flyability (Switzerland) is a leader in indoor drone inspection technology, developing flying robots to keep humans out of hazardous environments and make inspections safer and more efficient. Founded as a robotics spin-off from EPFL, the company designs collision-tolerant drones used by industrial companies worldwide to inspect confined or dangerous spaces, collect visual and spatial data remotely, and improve safety, reduce downtime, and lower inspection costs.

The 2026 Tech Tour Growth50 Europe Summit, hosted in Paris yesterday, provided an unparalleled stage for the celebration of these groundbreaking achievements. Co-hosted with EuroQuity Bpifrance and supported by strategic partners Stifel, Jolt Capital, Silverpeak, Switzerland Global Enterprise, the EIC Scaling Club, as well as with support by Dealroom and Global Corporate Venturing, the event convened Europe’s most visionary investors, pioneering entrepreneurs, and industry thought-leaders.

For further information, please check Tech Tour Growth50 Europe 2026 or contact:

Maya Filadska [email protected]

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Tech Tour GreenCity 2026 Top Presenters

Tech Tour — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:02:57 +0000

Tech Tour GreenCity 2026 brought together 32 presenting companies on 16 March 2026. The event welcomed more than 100 attendees and generated 100+ one-to-one meetings, highlighting the strength of innovation shaping greener and more resilient cities.

The programme showcased ventures tackling key urban challenges across urban development and management, urban energy, sustainable construction, built environment decarbonisation, mobility and accessibility, and healthy urban neighbourhoods. Selected companies presented their solutions before leading investors, corporates and ecosystem players.

Top Presenting Companies

Adaptavate Ltd develops carbon-negative construction materials as a form of Carbon Capture and Utilisation. Its solutions, including Breathaboard and Breathaplasta, offer practical alternatives to conventional building materials.

Cartesian AS develops thermal energy storage technology for commercial buildings and district heating and cooling. Its Thermal Box reduces energy costs, cuts emissions and helps unlock more flexible grid capacity.

Echo Silence develops advanced acoustic solutions to reduce harmful low‑ and mid‑frequency noise in urban and industrial environments. Its metamaterial-based technology supports healthier neighbourhoods and more liveable urban spaces.

Latitudo 40 uses AI and satellite data to deliver climate intelligence for urban development. Its platforms help cities, businesses and governments assess climate risks, model actions and improve resilience.

LignoSphere develops high-performance bio-based adhesives and coatings from lignin, a natural side stream of the pulp industry. Its patented technology enables fossil-based materials to be replaced without compromising performance.

Sustonable creates sustainable surface materials from recycled PET bottles, pre-consumer glass and raw materials. Its products combine premium design, durability and a strong circular-economy proposition.

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Tech Tour AI for Health 2026 Top Presenters

Tech Tour — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:07:00 +0000

The Tech Tour AI for Health 2026 Investment Programme concluded with an event on 11–13 March 2026 in Bochum, Germany. More than 30 selected companies presented their innovations to a room of leading investors and healthcare experts. Across the programme’s core tech tracks, Drug Discovery, Prevention and Virtual Care, entrepreneurs demonstrated how artificial intelligence is transforming diagnostics, treatment and patient care.

Seven companies were recognized by the Expert Jury for their outstanding presentations.

Top Presenting Companies

Ebenbuild develops AI-powered digital twins of the lungs, combining physics-based simulation and patient data to improve treatment decisions in respiratory diseases, enable in-silico trials for drug development and support clinicians in optimising mechanical ventilation strategies.

expressTEC develops AI-enabled RNA-based companion diagnostics that improve how cancer patients are matched to targeted therapies. Its platform combines proprietary RNA assays and decision-support software to identify tumours compatible with specific pathway inhibition treatments.

ImageBiopsy Lab transforms routine X-rays into actionable surgical intelligence using AI-powered musculoskeletal imaging analysis. Its platform helps clinicians improve diagnostic precision, optimise surgical decisions and detect conditions such as osteoporosis earlier.

Innocens develops AI-driven clinical decision support systems for intensive care. Its Intellicens Data and AI Platform predicts neonatal sepsis risk using real-time patient data, enabling earlier interventions, improved outcomes and shorter ICU stays.

INTA develops portable diagnostic devices for detecting traumatic brain injuries through blood analysis. Its flagship product, NanoAnalyzer, is an AI-powered multiplex biosensor system that detects multiple biological analytes simultaneously, enabling rapid and cost-effective diagnostics.

SOENIA® by BrainCare Oy develops remote neurological monitoring solutions for patients with neurological disorders. Its technology includes a subscalp EEG for long-term seizure monitoring in refractory epilepsy and ongoing neuromodulation research.

Synagen develops an oncology-focused agentic AI co-pilot that supports cancer care teams with tumour board preparation, treatment planning and clinical trial matching. The platform transforms hospital data into structured patient insights to help deliver faster, more consistent and personalised care.

Don’t miss out on our upcoming events and the latest industry innovations — explore the next Tech Tour programmes.

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European Deeptech Week: EuroQuity’s Gilles Le Cocguen on Building the Networks Europe’s Deeptech Needs to Scale

Tech Tour — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:01 +0000

As Europe prioritises technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness, connecting breakthrough innovators with capital, partners, and markets is more vital than ever.

This March 16-20, Paris will host a pivotal gathering of the continent’s deeptech ecosystem during European Deeptech Week, organised by Bpifrance. As part of this strategic week of collaboration, the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe summit will convene Europe’s top 50 ‘soonicorns’ together with leading investors, corporates and industry experts.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Gilles Le Cocguen, Head of EuroQuity at Bpifrance, who shares how curated platforms and trusted networks help deeptech founders navigate the journey from research lab to global impact — and why building stronger European connections is key to shaping the continent’s next generation of technology leaders.

TT: EuroQuity has been connecting startups, investors, and partners for nearly two decades. Why is a trusted, curated matchmaking platform like EuroQuity especially critical today for scaling European deeptech companies?

GLC: Deeptech founders often come from research backgrounds. They are outstanding scientists and engineers, but they are not always trained to communicate with investors or navigate the business side of building a company.

At EuroQuity, we support them on several levels. We provide guidance and training on fundraising and investor readiness, but we also help them build the right network around their company. In coordination with Bpifrance’s Deeptech team, we connect founders with potential co-founders, board members, and advisors through initiatives such as Tango and Tandem that we are deploying internationally.

EuroQuity also plays a key role in connecting startups with the right investors and opening access to European and international opportunities, including funding programs from the European Commission. As a National Contact Point myself, I work with the team to support companies seeking European funding. We have also built dedicated communities on EuroQuity, such as EIC Accelerator France, to help these startups navigate these opportunities.

Finally, EuroQuity works closely with innovation agencies and private and public stakeholders, across Europe, in Canada, Africa and GCC countries. These relationships help companies access the right ecosystems and expand beyond their home market. All of this contributes to creating connections that deeptech companies need to grow.

TT: Tech Tour Growth50 Europe brings together Europe’s top scale-ups and growth investors. In your view, what enables European companies to successfully make the leap from scale-ups to global leaders?

GLC: If I had to highlight one factor, it would be connections.

The right introductions to investors, partners, and experienced entrepreneurs can dramatically accelerate a company’s trajectory. Being embedded in strong ecosystems where these interactions happen naturally makes a significant difference. Companies that succeed globally are often those that are well-connected to the right networks at the right time.

TT: European Deeptech Week reflects a strong ambition around sovereignty and competitiveness. How does this initiative help better align innovation, capital, and industry across Europe?

GLC: Innovation ecosystems only work when all parts of the value chain interact.

You need policymakers who shape the regulatory framework, investors who provide capital, industry experts who bring market perspective, and startups that create the technology. European Deeptech Week brings all these actors together in one place for an entire week.
Having the full ecosystem around the same table makes a real difference. It creates dialogue, builds trust, helps share good practices, and accelerates collaboration across sectors and countries.

TT: With Europe’s technological sovereignty now a strategic priority, what role do platforms like Tech Tour and EuroQuity play in helping European companies scale while staying anchored in Europe?

GLC: For deeptech companies, access to capital remains the key challenge.

Platforms like TechTour and EuroQuity help address this by facilitating connections with investors and by enabling collaborations between companies that can lead to strategic partnerships or alliances.

Cross-border collaboration is also essential, if Europe wants to build technologies with real continental impact. EuroQuity, for example, is a founding member of the Defence Angel Ecosystem Network (DAEN), a pan-European network of business angels that brings together investors across 16 countries to support early-stage defence and security technologies. The goal is to enable cross-border investment and strengthen Europe’s strategic capabilities.

Ultimately, building strong coalitions and alliances across Europe is essential. Moving alone may be faster, but moving together allows us to go further.

___

As Europe enters what many call a decisive decade for innovation and industrial leadership, the message is clear: scaling deeptech requires not simply capital, but also trusted networks, shared ambition, and strong cross-border collaboration.

Through platforms like EuroQuity, and gatherings such as the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe summit during European Deeptech Week, Europe’s founders, investors, and industry leaders are creating the alliances needed to accelerate growth and position European deeptech on the global stage.

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Tech Tour Resilient Ag 2026 Top Presenters

Tech Tour — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:48:36 +0000

Tech Tour Resilient Ag 2026 took place on 4–5 March 2026 in Monheim am Rhein, Germany, bringing together investors, corporates, founders and ecosystem leaders focused on strengthening agricultural resilience.

Over two intensive days, 33 selected companies presented their technologies to more than 200 participants, generating over 400 requested one-to-one meetings. The programme combined start-up pitches, expert discussions and thematic workshops, creating a curated environment for investment conversations and practical recommendations to accelerate the adoption of resilient agricultural solutions.

Six companies were recognised as Top Presenting Companies for the strength of their technology, market potential and the quality of their presentations.

Top Presenting Companies

BugBiome develops AvidX, an integrated phenotyping platform for microbial insecticide discovery. It combines metabolic fingerprinting, automated behavioural analysis and machine learning classification to identify effective biological crop protection solutions faster.

Cordon Technologies brings precision spraying to specialty farms such as vineyards, orchards and horticulture. Its Loop mixer system helps farmers reduce chemical inputs and labour while improving spraying efficiency.

Micropep Technologies develops biological crop protection products using micropeptides — short natural molecules that regulate plant gene expression. These enable highly targeted and sustainable solutions for controlling major crop diseases.

NitroCapt develops SUNIFIX®, an electrified process that produces nitrate fertiliser directly from air using renewable energy. The technology enables decentralised and more energy-efficient fertiliser production.

Pertinent Eco-Solutions develops nature-derived pest control technologies. Its formulation science enhances the insecticidal power of plant compounds, providing effective and sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Trapview provides AI-driven pest monitoring and forecasting through automated smart traps and advanced analytics. Farmers can track pest populations in real time and optimise crop protection decisions.

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Backing the Quantum Leap: Søren Hein on Industrialising Quantum Computing at IQM

Tech Tour — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:01 +0000

When Søren Hein first backed IQM Finland Oy (IQM Quantum Computers) as a venture partner at MIG Capital, quantum computing was still largely a promise. Today, as COO and Deputy CEO of one of Europe’s fastest-growing deep-tech companies, he is helping turn that promise into industrial reality.

A long-standing member of the Tech Tour community and a Growth Award Winner at the 2022 Tech Tour Growth50 Europe Summit, IQM Quantum Computers has become a flagship example of what European ambition, talent, and patient capital can achieve together. With more than $600M raised, 21 quantum systems sold, and customers all across the globe, the company builds and delivers full-stack quantum computers that customers own and operate — more deployed systems than any other manufacturer in the world.

In this conversation, Søren shares lessons from his journey across boardrooms and venture investments into operational leadership, why IQM is positioned to scale now, and what Europe’s founders can learn from a company building the future of computing from the ground up.

TT: You’ve seen many deep-tech companies from the investor and board side. What convinced you that IQM Quantum Computers is one of the few quantum companies ready to scale globally right now?

SH: I was with MIG Capital in 2019, when we made the initial seed investment [into IQM]. My colleague Axel Thierauf and I were championing the deal, and of course it was a visionary investment at the time. We did the best diligence we could and I think, in retrospect, we were very pleased. There were some details in the business plan that were modified subsequently, but IQM always wanted to be a full-stack quantum provider, and I think we got the big picture right.

TT: Quantum is moving from research to real-world use. From your perspective as an investor at MIG Capital, what matters most today when judging whether a quantum company is truly creating value?

SH: We can divide quantum companies into full-stack and more specialised companies. Within the full-stack category, there is some selection going on, and as a result of the continuous funding needs of all these companies, none of them are profitable yet. And I think what has really helped IQM through this period is the focus on commercial success. IQM is the commercial leader in terms of systems sold globally. I think that has fed a virtuous cycle, where we’ve been able to raise the money and then create the results, and to hire the people for the next scaling, so to speak.

Within full-stack, a number of companies are now achieving the large rounds, and some are not, or at least have not yet. So within full-stack, it is important to really be able to deliver certain things that customers value today, within the more specific part of the value chain. The challenge is sometimes for those companies that may have identified one important component – which can be quite different from customer to customer, and there aren’t that many customers yet – so the real challenge is to come up with something generic enough that can be sold to a number of people and generate revenue already today. Many of those companies are accomplishing that, and are therefore also achieving the funding that they need. But a targeted company has to pick its battles.

TT: IQM is building and delivering real machines, not just research prototypes. What are the toughest challenges in turning cutting-edge quantum technology into a reliable commercial product?

SH: IQM is focusing on one specific modality, one specific way of making quantum computers, called “superconducting qubits”. That is also the technology chosen by some of our competitors. But of course there are other modalities as well: trapped ions, photons, spin qubits, and so forth. Within superconducting qubits, it really is a matter of industrialising and scaling technologies, rather than inventing new physics.

Therefore, it is increasingly becoming also an industrialisation and manufacturing challenge. IQM was early to the game, building our own fabrication facility and assembly line in Finland. This enables IQM to have faster innovation cycles, where we can try out our designs in our own manufacturing facility.

The other thing is that “the stack,” as we call it – all the technologies that fit together into a complete quantum computer – is/are becoming quite heterogeneous. It is no longer a single piece of silicon at the bottom of the stack and quantum processor; it is becoming chiplets or tiles, so multiple chips that have to be connected coherently. That introduces new challenges in manufacturing as well. So increasingly it is becoming about 3D integration, and also about cost and efficiency – not just on the chip level, but across the whole stack, electronics, cabling and so forth. In that sense, it is becoming an engineering challenge, at the same time as it is a physics challenge.

TT: Where do you see this technology going 20 years from now?

SH: I think 20 years from now it will be a very well-established technology that has its role in the computing landscape. I think by then also the algorithms will be much further advanced and new algorithms that are very suitable for quantum computing will have been discovered.

That is happening as we speak, but I think when the technology becomes more ubiquitous, it also becomes accessible to a number of people and industries. At the moment, it’s researchers and early groups within industrial players who are looking at it, but that is always the case [for new technologies]. Also, we see it in open source. When you have enough people applying their intellect to something, then great things happen that we probably cannot predict today.

TT: Europe is strong in science but often weaker at scaling companies. What has IQM done differently, and what should European founders learn from that?

SH: I think the early commitment to selling complete products was absolutely right and has also fed into this virtuous cycle that I talked about earlier, which I have also seen as a venture investor for many years. The other thing is that IQM had the ambition from the beginning, [whereas] I think some venture companies perhaps set themselves more gradual targets and are more concerned about meeting those, rather than going for the big success. In a field like quantum computing, it is certainly not a winner-take-all, but it is a field where there is an enormous pressure to be at the forefront – and IQM always had that mindset. As a result, IQM was also able to hire many of the best people, and has been able to build on that.

So it is really about how this mindset inspires both the funding, the hiring and the execution. I think you have to decide, as a company, are you going to run some significant risk, but go for the big prize? Or are you aiming for an attractive return for your investors, and perhaps also managing the risk a little bit more? IQM has always had the ambition and the fearlessness, and that is also what we see in many U.S. companies.

TT: As IQM enters its next phase of global growth, what operational priorities made this the right moment for you to step in as COO and Deputy CEO — and what do you see as your most important focus in the role?

SH: While I was on the board of IQM, I already focused on technology and operations, and in that sense it was actually a natural continuation. So, after my initial surprise, I was very pleased when I was asked to join in that capacity, and now I’m able to focus fully on it. I have background in semiconductors and operations, also from being on the board of many companies.

What we talked about earlier – the scaling, the execution, the partnerships – is exactly what IQM needs at this point. Even a company with 350 people, and growing rapidly, still needs to leverage all the other technologies out there. And even though the revenue potential is enormous at the moment, the volume is still aspirational. As a result, we need to find partners with the same mindset as ours, who want to be big winners in this race.

I’m hopeful that, also with my industry background, I can contribute to that. I think it also just shows my passion about this company. I had a life as a board member and a venture investor — and in the end IQM excited me so much, that I made this transition. I feel like the team is just incredible, and I can contribute to our industrialisation and our professionalisation as a company, going forward. So this is definitely what I wanted to do at this stage.

___

At Tech Tour, we are privileged to have within our community inspiring leaders like Søren Hein, whose perspective underscores our shared conviction: Europe’s deep-tech champions are here to scale.

IQM’s journey reminds us that building transformative technologies demands long-term partnerships between entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and ecosystems like Tech Tour. As quantum computing moves from research to real-world impact, we are proud to stand alongside innovators shaping Europe’s future global tech leaders. To celebrate the next generation of soonicorns, join us at Tech Tour Growth50 Europe in Paris this coming March 17th.

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PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 Builds on €81M Investment Momentum

Tech Tour — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:46 +0000

The first edition of the PhotonHub Scaling Club 1.0 has officially concluded with a remarkable milestone: €81 million in investments secured by participating companies during the programme itself. This powerful validation of the model demonstrates how focused mentorship, investor access, and strategic guidance can accelerate Europe’s most promising photonics scale-ups.

Building on this success, PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 has been relaunched by Tech Tour and PhotonHub, to fast-track the next generation of high-potential photonics companies toward industrial and commercial scale.

Meet the New Cohort

The new edition brings together an exciting group of innovative companies operating at the forefront of photonics and deep tech: Qubitrium, Enantios, Faradaic, Photosynthetic, G2-Zero, Phanofi, Morphotonics, Rotonium, Perciv AI, Astrape Networks and Pilot Photonics.

Together, these scale-ups represent the strength and diversity of Europe’s photonics ecosystem, from quantum and AI-driven photonics to advanced materials and optical networking.

16 Exceptional Industry Experts Driving Strategic Growth

A core pillar of the programme is its mentorship network. This year, 16 exceptional industry experts will work closely with the selected companies. The industry experts and founders will collaborate intensively to define development priorities, refine go-to-market strategies, strengthen investment readiness, and accelerate international growth trajectories.

This hands-on, relationship-driven approach was a key driver behind the €81M achieved in PHSC 1.0 and remains central to the Scaling Club’s methodology.

Official Launch in Brussels on 25 February

PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 has officially launched at the Kick-off Event in Brussels on 25 February, co-hosted with PhotonHub. The event brought together companies, mentors, investors, technology partners and ecosystem leaders to mark the start of the new programme and set the strategic direction for the months ahead.

Programme Highlights

PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 is a focused initiative supporting 11 high-potential photonics scale-ups that are ready to transition from technological excellence to industrial and commercial scale.

The programme offers:

Strategic guidance and tailored mentoring
Investor and corporate roadshows
Access to 30+ leading technology partners
Go-to-market refinement and investment readiness support
The opportunity to submit technical upscaling projects starting from TRL 4
Up to €250,000 in co-funding (covering 85% of project costs), supported by the European Commission

The club targets companies that have already raised €1M+ in the past three years and are preparing for international expansion. By combining financial leverage, expert guidance, and high-level investor access, PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 is designed to strengthen both the technological and business foundations of Europe’s next photonics leaders.

After the proven success of PHSC 1.0, the second edition aims not only to replicate but to amplify that impact, accelerating Europe’s photonics champions onto the global stage. Stay in the loop on the PHSC 2.0, as well as other exciting developments – sign up for our newsletter below.

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A Decade of Tech Tour Impact: Connecting Europe’s Innovators with the Capital They Need

Tech Tour — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:30 +0000

For more than 27 years, Tech Tour has worked at the heart of Europe’s innovation economy, supporting the continent’s visionary founders and connecting them with forward-thinking active investors. Unveiling its latest Impact Data report, which covers a decade from 2016 to 2025, Tech Tour, as Europe’s preeminent investor community, illustrates a remarkable story of championing success. The comprehensive analysis examines 4,285 companies unique companies that participated in Tech Tour programs from 2016 to 2025.

Tech Tour programmes showcased entrepreneurs who have historically raised over €59.5 billion in investments, up until the end of 2025, with four out of five companies securing funding after their Tech Tour pitch. This exceptional success rate demonstrates the high quality of attendees selected to take part in Tech Tour programmes, and is a testament to the pivotal role our community plays in fostering investment connections.

“Europe’s future depends on its innovators. Tech Tour connects them with the capital and partners they need to scale globally and strengthen Europe’s leadership in the technologies that matter most.”

– William Stevens, CEO & Founder, Tech Tour

Key Highlights

The comprehensive data updated to cover the past decade [see full report] uncovers a range of fascinating highlights in relation to companies, investors and the broader Tech Tour community.

Undisputed market validation is demonstrated by company funding: A solid 83% of companies selected for Tech Tour programmes secured funding, with a 10-year average investment of €16.8 million per company, reflecting strong investor confidence. This success rate undeniably demonstrates the superior quality of companies that are consistently selected to join our invitation-only programmes.

A network that delivers capital at scale: A robust network of 5,998 active investors has fueled the success of Tech Tour alumni, with highest numbers of investors coming from the U.S., Germany and United Kingdom. The investor base spans venture funds (63%), corporates (25%), and government/non-profit organizations (11%), demonstrating the diversity of funding sources.

Converting visibility into investment: Some 79% of total capital raised by our companies came after their first Tech Tour presentation, showing our platform’s real impact in unlocking growth, scale, and follow-on investment. As a powerful springboard for startup visibility, our platform connects entrepreneurs with investors at the perfect time.

Balance of investor interest and diversity of potential across sectors: With noticeable advantage, 40% of total funding flowed into digital technologies, reaffirming its role as a dominant sector. Reflecting a growing commitment to green innovation, some 35% of investments were directed towards sustainability, while close to 25% of funding supported health advancements, driving progress in MedTech and life sciences.

Superstars on the horizon: Among of the standout companies that raised the most funding in 2025 are Energy Vault, IQM Quantum Computers, Distal Motion, Fastned, Axelera AI, Healthily, and Cailabs.

Sovereign investors consistently back the highest number of companies: The EIC leads far ahead of others, with over 660 companies invested in. Significant numbers of companies were also backed by EIT Health, Innovate UK and the EIC Fund.

In gender representation, there is progress yet to be made: While strides have been taken, only 14% of executives in Tech Tour companies are women, highlighting the continued need for greater diversity in leadership.

For more detailed insights, see the full report here.

Celebrating Our Impact

The data from the past decade confirms the power of connection within Tech Tour’s collaborative community. By giving startups critical visibility, access to capital, and strategic guidance, our network has helped Europe’s innovators scale globally. Today, as Europe faces intensifying technological competition and a renewed focus on economic resilience and sovereignty, this work is more essential than ever. We remain committed to strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity, accelerating deep-tech leadership, and building a more inclusive ecosystem that ensures Europe’s ideas, technologies, and talent thrive on the world stage.

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SpaceVantage Project Officially Kicks Off

Tech Tour — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:07:00 +0000

Building future-ready skills and innovation for Europe’s space sector

We are pleased to announce the official kick-off of SpaceVantage, a new EU-funded Erasmus+ project that brings together leading universities, innovation organisations, and industry partners from across Europe to address critical skills gaps in the rapidly evolving space sector.

Running over 36 months, SpaceVantage focuses on strengthening Europe’s downstream space ecosystem—particularly in Earth observation, navigation, and integrated space applications—by aligning education, training, and entrepreneurship more closely with real industry needs

Europe’s space sector is growing fast, yet a significant mismatch persists between labour market demand and available skills. According to project analysis, a large majority of space companies struggle to recruit professionals with the right mix of digital, green, and deep-tech competences, including areas such as AI-driven satellite data analysis, sustainable space systems, and emerging quantum applications.

Call to Space Companies: Help Shape Europe’s Future Space Skills

As part of the newly launched SpaceVantage project, we invite space companies across Europe to take part in a short but impactful industry survey aimed at identifying current and future skills needs in the space sector.

Your input will directly inform the design of:

future space-focused curricula and micro-credentials
work-based learning and talent pipelines
entrepreneurship and innovation support for downstream space applications

Survey link: SpaceVantage Survey

Survey deadline: 15 February

By participating, you help ensure that Europe’s future space workforce is equipped with the skills your company actually needs.

What the project will deliver

SpaceVantage is structured around four strategic pillars:

Space skills intelligence: development of a comprehensive skills and competency framework aligned with European standards.
Innovative curricula and micro-credentials: modular learning programmes integrating digital, sustainability, and deep-tech skills for downstream space applications.
Entrepreneurship and incubation support: targeted education and mentoring for space-related start-ups and innovators.
Industry–academia collaboration: exchanges, career events, and challenge-based competitions to strengthen talent pipelines and knowledge transfer

Tech Tour role

As a project partner, Tech Tour contributes its expertise to ensure that project outcomes remain relevant, practical, and industry-driven. By actively engaging in curriculum design, innovation activities, and collaboration with education providers, we help bridge the gap between training and real-world space-sector needs.

Our involvement in SpaceVantage reflects our continued commitment to innovation, skills development, and the long-term competitiveness of Europe’s space economy.

Looking ahead

The SpaceVantage consortium brings together partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Denmark, and Norway, creating a strong pan-European alliance for skills and innovation. Over the coming months, the project will launch its first research activities, stakeholder engagements, and collaborative initiatives.

To follow project developments and upcoming activities, visit the official project website: https://spacevantage.eu/.

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FIERCE Open Calls Now Open: Funding & Advisory Support for Innovative SMEs

Tech Tour — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:07:00 +0000

The FIERCE project is pleased to announce the launch of two Open Calls, designed to support innovative SMEs developing space-enabled solutions for green and digital transformation. We invite companies to apply directly and investors, accelerators, and ecosystem partners to share these opportunities with their portfolio companies.

1st OPEN CALL FOR THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM

Deadline for applications: 31/3/2026

This call provides financial support to selected SMEs to accelerate the development, scaling, and market uptake of space-enabled solutions. Beneficiaries will receive targeted funding to advance their innovation activities and strengthen their path to commercialisation.

Apply here: https://1st-financing.project-fierce.eu/

2nd OPEN CALL FOR THE ADVISORY SERVICES PROGRAM

Deadline for applications: 31/3/2026

In parallel, FIERCE invites SMEs to apply for tailored advisory services, offering hands-on support from experienced experts. The programme focuses on business development, market access, investment readiness, and strategic growth, helping companies address key challenges at different stages of maturity.

Apply here: https://2nd-advisory.project-fierce.eu/

Why FIERCE?

FIERCE connects funding, expertise, and ecosystems to help SMEs unlock the value of downstream space data in sectors such as sustainability, circular economy, raw materials, and digital innovation.
Investors and innovation intermediaries are warmly encouraged to share these calls with relevant companies in their networks.
Don’t miss the opportunity — applications close on 31 March 2026.

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From Lab to Market: Nils Wuytens of VITO4STARTERS on Catalysing Europe’s Circular and Climate Tech Innovation

Tech Tour — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:01 +0000

Turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable circular businesses requires more than great technology — it takes capital, infrastructure, and the right ecosystem around founders. Ahead of Tech Tour Circular 2026 in Ghent this coming May 11-12, we spoke with Nils Wuytens, Programme Director of VITO4STARTERS, about how their integrated accelerator model helps startups bridge the gap between lab-scale innovation and industrial application. In this interview, Nils shares insights on building investable circular deep tech ventures, leveraging world-class research infrastructure, and why ecosystem-driven investment programmes like Tech Tour Circular play a critical role in accelerating real-world impact.

TT: How do you see the value Tech Tour Circular creates, and how does it align with your organisation's mission to accelerate sustainable deep tech ventures?

NW: The Tech Tour Circular investment programme provides a vital bridge between promising innovators and the European investment community. This is exactly the kind of ecosystem connection that helps early-stage technologies grow into impactful solutions.

For VITO4STARTERS, the Tech Tour ecosystem approach aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate sustainable deep tech ventures that drive the transition towards a climate-neutral, circular economy. The curated matchmaking between startups, investors, corporates and public actors complements our approach of de-risking early-stage technologies and supporting scale-ups. Through Tech Tour, we amplify our reach and help entrepreneurs increase their visibility, connect with key partners, and attract the investment needed to bring lab innovations to market. It’s a crucial step in turning scientific excellence into real-world impact. Tech Tour is also a valuable asset in creating our tailored deal flow for our accelerator program.

TT: Your programme combines funding, technological expertise and strategic support — a powerful mix that goes well beyond a classic accelerator. Can you share how this integrated model helps founders in circularity and sustainability-focused sectors accelerate faster and build stronger businesses?

NW: VITO4STARTERS goes beyond traditional accelerator programmes. It’s a bridge between cutting-edge technological research, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and strategic business guidance. We combine early-stage funding with access to VITO’s world-class infrastructure, technical expertise, and extensive industry network. This approach helps startups validate technologies faster, build robust business models, and attract follow-on investment.

Especially in circular and sustainability-driven sectors, where deep tech validation can be capital-intensive and complex, this integrated support model is key to reducing time-to-impact and de-risking growth. VITO4STARTERS was designed to meet the unique needs of deep tech founders active in domains such as circularity, energy, and sustainable materials. By blending our research capabilities with strategic and financial support, we help founders bridge the notorious “valley of death” between lab-scale innovation and industrial application. The result: faster technology validation, stronger ventures, and scalable impact.

TT: VITO4STARTERS offers startups access to VITO’s unique labs, test infrastructure and research experts. How do these resources set your programme apart from others in Europe, and what kind of breakthroughs have you seen emerge from this collaboration between startups and VITO’s scientists?

NW: Few accelerators in Europe can offer what VITO4STARTERS does, which is providing direct access to a leading research organisation with state-of-the-art labs, pilot installations and scientific expertise. Through our programme, startups can work hand-in-hand with VITO researchers to co-develop, test and validate technologies under real-world conditions.

Our facilities span advanced infrastructure for bio-based materials, carbon capture and reuse, battery technology, water reuse, and digital sustainability. What truly sets us apart is the depth of collaboration: our scientists don’t just open doors to labs; they actively engage with founders in solving complex technical challenges.

This approach has already led to tangible breakthroughs. Multiple deep tech ventures have worked closely with VITO experts to advance CO₂ conversion, battery recycling, and biotechnological processes — moving from proof-of-concept to demonstration scale in record time. The cross-pollination between entrepreneurial agility and VITO’s applied research consistently accelerates innovation cycles and boosts technology readiness levels. Few accelerators do what we do.

TT: The circular economy is one of your key investment domains — from bio-based materials to smart energy and water reuse. What trends or technologies are you most excited about right now, and where do you see the biggest potential for startups to make a real difference?

NW: At VITO, we see the circular economy not as a separate pillar, but as the engine of a broader industrial transformation that unites circularity, bioeconomy, and digital innovation. These domains are increasingly intertwined; shaping how regions and industries collaborate to build a competitive, climate-neutral Europe. Our current focus is on three strategic value chains that anchor this transition: circular chemistry and plastics, low-carbon and bio-based construction materials, and critical and strategic raw materials. Together, they form the backbone of Europe’s next industrial wave, one driven by renewable carbon, material reuse, and system efficiency.

A key enabler of this transformation is the convergence of digitalisation and circularity. Technologies such as AI, digital twins, and material passports enable real-time insight into material flows and environmental performance. They turn sustainability data into actionable intelligence, hereby supporting investment decisions, regulatory alignment, and closed-loop operations. Digital circularity is what will make the circular economy scalable and investable.

In parallel, bioeconomy is emerging as a cornerstone of circular industry. Flanders, with its strong R&D infrastructure and industrial clusters, is uniquely positioned to convert biomass, industrial residues, and captured CO₂ into new materials and chemicals. Advances in biopolymers, carbon capture and utilisation, and bio-derived construction components are creating entirely new, low-carbon markets while reducing fossil dependence and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.

The next leap will come from transregional collaboration. Under the European Clean Industrial Deal, Flanders is shaping a West-European Transregional Circularity Hub, in which we’re connecting industrial regions across Belgium, the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Northern France. These hubs act as living laboratories, where industry, governments, and research partners jointly accelerate circular innovation, infrastructure planning, and market creation.

The startups that will make the biggest impact are those combining technological excellence with system value, for instance by transforming waste streams into new resources, enabling data-driven resource optimisation, or scaling bio-based production. VITO supports them with scientific validation, data modelling, and access to industrial ecosystems, helping turn sustainability performance into a tangible competitive advantage.

TT: Finally, as we look ahead to the 2026 edition of Tech Tour Circular in Ghent, what can startups expect from meeting the VITO4STARTERS team there, and what advice would you give to founders hoping to join your programme in the coming year?

NW: At Tech Tour Circular 2026, startups can expect to meet a dynamic team from VITO4STARTERS. We are a partner that speaks both the language of science and entrepreneurship. We’ll be there to explore collaborations, discuss funding and validation opportunities, and help founders understand how science-based innovation can accelerate their business growth and impact.

Our advice: come well-prepared. Take time to understand where VITO’s expertise can boost your journey. Whether that’s in advanced materials, sustainable chemistry, energy systems, water reuse, or digital tools for circular design. Knowing where the synergies lie will make your engagement far more effective.

Arrive with a clear sustainability vision, a solid technical foundation, and a scalable business logic that connects your innovation to real market needs. The strongest founders are those who can articulate how their technology transforms sustainability challenges into market opportunities. At VITO4STARTERS, we’re looking for entrepreneurs ready to co-develop, scale, and turn innovation into measurable impact. Together we move the needle on Europe’s circular transformation.

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Meet Nils and the VITO4STARTERS team in person at Tech Tour Circular 2026 on 11-12 May in Ghent, where Europe’s leading circular startups, investors and corporates come together to shape the next wave of sustainable industry. Discover how science-backed innovation, smart capital and the right partnerships can accelerate your journey — and be part of Europe’s circular transformation.

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The Tech Tour Growth50 2026 Listing Spotlights the Scale-ups Building Europe’s Next Era of Sovereign, Industrial-grade Innovation

Tech Tour — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:00:30 +0000

This year’s Growth50 companies historically raised an impressive €6.8 Billion (or €135.4 Million on average per company), of which 80% was raised just in the past 4 years, demonstrating the momentum of the Listing’s companies.

Today, Tech Tour announced the 2026 edition of the Tech Tour Growth50 Listing, highlighting Europe’s new generation of strategic tech champions and a prospect list of future European unicorns, as selected by the continent’s leading growth investors. Now in its twentieth year, the Listing showcases scale-up companies building the core digital, health, and sustainability technologies that will define Europe’s competitiveness and resilience in the decade ahead. The 2026 cohort is distinctly deep-tech-driven, reflecting strong investor conviction in companies translating scientific excellence into large-scale commercial impact. (See the Tech Tour Growth50 List below, FULL REPORT HERE.)

Europe’s Deeptech Potential Takes Center Stage

Thе 2026 Growth50 Listing was shaped by a panel of more than 70 leading growth investors, who jointly nominated and voted on the selected companies. The Programme is presided by Falk Mueller-Veerse of Stifel, with sector leadership provided by Philippe Laval of Jolt Capital (Digital), Remy de Tonnac of ETF Partners (Sustainability), and Sebastien Woynar of LBO France (Health).

“In recent years, we have seen primarily US companies that have attracted investments in a global market in an almost unlimited amount. Nevertheless, this year’s Tech TourGrowth50 list impressively shows that international investors are also looking very specifically at Europe and its often global category leaders. We see a remarkable number of highly innovative European technology companies that continue to raise funding from increasingly selective investors,“ Falk Mueller-Veerse said. “Almost half of this year’s Top 50 companies have been on the list before. Thus, it is increasingly becoming a ‘the winner takes it all‘ situation in various industry sectors.“

– Falk Mueller-Veerse, Stifel, President, 2026 Tech Tour Growth 50 Europe

Analysis of the Growth50 List and underlying data [SEE REPORT] highlights several positive trends and offers valuable insights into the state of European technology entrepreneurship and investment:

Deeptech is no longer niche — it is Europe’s primary scale-up engine: The 2026 Growth50 is decisively deep-tech-led, with a concentration in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, photonics, quantum, robotics, space and energy systems — signaling that investors increasingly see science-driven companies as Europe’s most credible path to global category leadership.

A more selective funding environment: The cohort has collectively raised €6.8 billion to date (€135.5 million on average per company), with 80% of total funding secured over the past four years. While aggregate funding levels return closer to those observed in 2024, the concentration of recent capital highlights a more selective investment environment and sustained investor conviction in scale-ups with clear paths to category leadership and future unicorn outcomes.

Europe is building strategic tech, not just venture-scale software: Across Digital, Health and Sustainability, the selected companies are addressing foundational capabilities — trusted AI, resilient supply chains, sovereign data, energy security and climate resilience — positioning technology as critical infrastructure, rather than discretionary innovation.

Sovereign and public investors remain central to Europe’s scale-up financing: European public and sovereign institutions continue to play a pivotal role in the 2026 Growth50 Listing, led by the European Innovation Council (21 companies) and supported by the European Investment Bank and national development agencies, underscoring Europe’s sustained commitment to scaling strategically important technologies across deep tech, sustainability and health.

Photonics, semiconductors and compute form a visible investment cluster: Multiple companies in the Listing operate across the photonics and semiconductor value chain, highlighting strong investor confidence that Europe can play a decisive role in the hardware layer underpinning AI, connectivity and next-generation computing.

Investor conviction clusters around long-term platforms, not short-term cycles: Across sectors, the 2026 Growth50 reflects investor preference for companies with long product cycles, high barriers to entry and structural relevance — indicating confidence in durable value creation, despite macroeconomic uncertainty.

The Growth50 companies will convene in Paris on March 17, 2026, for the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe Summit, alongside the members of the Selection Panel investor community. The event is organised by Tech Tour and co-hosted by EuroQuity Bpifrance, as part of European Deeptech Week, with support from partners Stifel, Jolt Capital, Silverpeak, Switzerland Global Enterprise, the EIC Scaling Club and Dealroom. The three winners of the 2026 Tech Tour Growth Awards — across Digital, Sustainability and Health — will be announced during the Awards Dinner.

For further information, please check Tech Tour Growth50 Europe 2026 or contact:

Maya Filadska [email protected]

Mariela Mihaylova [email protected]

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Tech Tour Energy & Decarbonisation 2025: Connecting the Innovators that Drive Europe’s Energy Transition

Tech Tour — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Tech Tour Energy & Decarbonisation 2025 took place on 26–27 November 2025 in Essen, Germany. The event brought together over 250 senior-level participants, including 60 selected companies and more than 140 seasoned investors for two days of high-level exchanges and targeted networking.

Investors participating in the programme have contributed to €196+ billion in total investments, while the selected companies have already raised €538 million to date. See more event data here.

The event combined deep market insights with practical investor perspectives through a keynote on solving the scaling funding gap and a panel discussion on secure, digital and dual-use infrastructure for Europe’s energy transition. Participants engaged in more than 300 curated One2One meetings, and companies pitched across nine tech tracks spanning 9 tech tracks, including Advanced Mobility, Battery Value Chain, Carbon Management Services & AI, Future Grid, Green Energy Production and Storage, Hydrogen Economy & Industry Offtake, Renewable Carbon, and Industrial Heat Recovery.

Eleven companies were recognised as Top Presenters for their outstanding pitches and innovation leadership.

Top Presenting Companies

ACT Blade develops ultra-light, modular wind turbine blades using a patented tensioned-textile design that reduces weight and increases blade length. This innovation boosts energy output and lowers manufacturing footprints, enabling more sustainable and cost-efficient wind energy generation.

Co-reactive pioneers CO₂ mineralisation technology to produce carbon-negative supplementary cementitious materials. It transforms captured CO₂ into high-performance construction materials that strengthen concrete, store carbon permanently, and enable low-carbon building at industrial scale.

EExion Energy develops molecular-carbon battery technology that eliminates reliance on rare metals, offering a local, scalable, recyclable and geopolitically resilient alternative to LFP. Its functionalised carbon chemistry enables safe, low-cost, high-performance batteries with potential applications in other climate-critical systems.

FluoRok creates breakthrough fluorochemical manufacturing processes that eliminate hazardous reagents and use industrial fluorinated waste. Its technology cuts CO₂ emissions and costs while enabling local, sustainable production of critical materials for batteries and other energy-transition applications.

H2SITE provides on-site hydrogen production, purification and recovery using palladium–silver alloy membrane reactor technology. It reduces transport and storage needs by cracking carriers like ammonia and methanol directly at the point of use.

HyperHeat delivers an all-electric industrial heater capable of reaching 2,000°C. It offers a scalable, efficient and cost-competitive alternative to fossil-fuel-based high-temperature process heat for heavy industries aiming to decarbonise.

K2 Mobility offers an AI-powered platform for electrified commercial fleets, optimising charging operations across depots, hubs and routes. It improves reliability, enhances energy efficiency and strengthens cost management for logistics and transit operators.

NeoCarbon is an integrated carbon capture company that helps industrial sites turn waste heat into value through on-site CO₂ capture. It focuses on applications in datacenters, desalination and e-fuels, providing CO₂ supply for these and similar uses.

Ore Energy develops iron-air long-duration energy storage systems using abundant, low-cost materials. Its technology delivers up to 100 hours of clean energy storage, offering an ultra low cost, critical raw material free solution for grid-scale resilience.

Prets provides embedded financing infrastructure for home energy upgrades, enabling homeowners to calculate ROI and compare subsidies and financing options. Its neutral, multi-provider platform allows applications to be completed directly within retailer and installer checkout flows.

SiriNor develops zero-emission electric jet propulsion systems for aviation and advanced mobility. Its technology aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions while reducing operational costs across aircraft, UAV, eVTOL and next-generation transport vehicles.

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Transforming Agriculture: Bayer’s Karl D. Collins on Innovation, Ecosystems & Europe’s Resilient Ag Breakthrough

Tech Tour — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:55:01 +0000

At the upcoming Tech Tour Resilient Ag 2026, host partner Bayer is set to welcome a uniquely curated group of innovators and investors to Monheim am Rhein, Germany on 4–5 March 2026. Over two days, the programme will bring together 30+ selected companies, 60+ seasoned investors, and facilitate more than 100 One-to-One meetings, creating one of Europe’s most concentrated environments for accelerating high-impact agri-innovation.

Ahead of this fascinating gathering, we sat down for an interview with Karl D. Collins, Director Innovation Ecosystem, Europe (Open Innovation), at Bayer, whose work focuses on enabling breakthrough science, empowering startups, and strengthening collaboration across the agricultural value chain. In this interview, Karl shares Bayer’s perspective on the technologies, partnerships, and mindsets that will drive resilience and transformation in global agriculture — and why connecting talent, capital, and science at Monheim is so critical now.

TT: Tech Tour ResilientAg 2026 highlights innovation and investment in sustainable farming. How does this investment programme align with Bayer’s mission and the goal to advance resilient and sustainable agriculture?

KDC: At Bayer, our mission is clear: Health for all, Hunger for none. We are committed to addressing the pressing challenges of our time, including growing and aging populations and the strain on our planet’s ecosystems. Enabling farmers to become more resilient and to produce more, while restoring nature and scaling regenerative agriculture, is our vision for the future of farming, and accelerating innovation as well as transforming the agricultural landscape is key to achieving this. Because innovations in agriculture are inherently complex and the knowledge and science driving these innovations are increasingly localised — often in highly specialized startups — it is crucial to foster the development of these innovations and create interfaces between startups and companies like ours to make these innovations accessible to farmers. It requires partnerships at all levels and funding, and Tech Tour ResilientAg 2026 can play a key role in pairing resources and expertise, driving investment in those breakthrough technologies, as well as building such partnerships.

We are excited to be hosting this event at our headquarters in Monheim am Rhein, as it brings increased visibility to this hot spot of foundational research, innovation and industry for agriculture bridging Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Our ambition is to further enhance the visibility and impact of this ecosystem, further connecting researchers, founders, corporates, and investors to help shape both Europe’s journey in agriculture and impact on a global scale.

TT: Across the investment programme’s focus areas – from regenerative practices to digital and biological solutions – which technologies or approaches do you see as most transformative for the future of farming?

KDC: Every farm is different and, so are their needs. The future of farming is about having a comprehensive and adaptive toolbox, as the response to fast-changing conditions in agriculture and farmer needs. Right now, our global food systems stand at a pivotal moment. Climate change, soil degradation, and other challenges are resulting in a rapid loss of arable land. Productivity gains worldwide are being diminished by changing climate, pest, and disease pressures.

In terms of technologies, the core of productivity, sustainability and economic viability comes down to innovation in seeds and crop protection — in all forms. For example, the last decade has seen a rapid evolution of our understanding of genetics and genomics and has led to scientific breakthroughs in genome editing methods, which are creating huge potential for agriculture. Innovations in gene editing, as well as precision breeding and the development of next-gen solutions in synthetic or biological crop protection, are the foundation, and it is critical we drive innovation in all these areas.

What will be game-changing on farm in the next decade are the technologies that facilitate decision-making — sensor technologies, systems biology, the microbiome, artificial intelligence, to name just a few. They all have a huge role to play in supporting farmers to make the best use of the tools they have available, and it is critical that we develop these areas, while not forgetting the core of farmers’ needs.

TT: Startups are key drivers of agri-tech innovation. In this space, Bayer’s LifeHubs have become a strong platform for startup partnerships. Can you share more about how Bayer is fostering open innovation and how these collaborations are creating real-world impact?

KDC: Bayer’s LifeHubs located in Europe, North America, and Asia form our global open innovation platform committed to transforming agriculture through innovation and dialogue. We are providing expertise, market insights, and knowledge to the innovation ecosystem to help—especially startups—ensure they are developing products which match an acute market need, and critically, are affordable and accessible for farmers. We are offering lab space to startups in our on-site or partner incubators in Woodland, California and Monheim, Germany, in which the support and guidance go beyond formal collaborations.

Personally, the most exciting example has been our recent Golden Ticket challenge in Europe. By design, the programme enables the scaling and real-world validation of breakthrough technologies, centred around driving innovation through co-development and co-location. In the coming months, four companies will embark on proof-of-concept studies, developed collaboratively and aligned with the short-term strategic needs of both the startup companies and Bayer, offering great value to both teams. Furthermore, it is critical for us that we do not tie these companies to Bayer through restrictive agreements or IP, enabling them to take their learnings and continue to grow even if a long-term partnership does not evolve. This is how we build effective ecosystems. That is impact.

TT: You’ve led multiple innovation initiatives — from the Bayer Foundation to LifeHub Monheim, and now as Open Innovation & Ecosystem Lead Europe. What lessons have you learned and what advice would you give to startups joining Tech Tour ResilientAg 2026?

KDC: The most important lesson I have learned — and it’s an open secret in the innovation landscape — is that people are what matter most. People, their passion, and their dedication to make a difference matter even more than technology. As a scientist, it was natural for me to simply look for the best research or idea, but when it comes to translating that into market potential, it’s the people that count.

When looking for partners, I now place just as much importance on the team itself as on the technology, and that is an important message that I convey both within Bayer and to start-ups. Hiring the right people and investing in nurturing relationships with your partners is fundamental. Setbacks in research, missed milestones, or new requirements due to changing conditions are much easier to deal with when you have a great team with a shared vision working on both sides.

My other tip for startups working with corporates is focus. What problem can you solve better than anyone else? With new potential partners, we need to be clear about the core value proposition from the get-go, to quickly identify the right experts with the corresponding challenge. That way, we can both learn rapidly — about the technology and the team. It’s a win-win situation.

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The upcoming Tech Tour Resilient Ag 2026 spotlights a sector in transformation — one where scientific progress, entrepreneurial energy and cross-border collaboration converge. As Karl emphasises, building a resilient agricultural future hinges not only on technology, but on the people and partnerships driving it forward. We look forward to welcoming innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders to Monheim am Rhein next March 4-5, as we jointly accelerate solutions that will define the next generation of global agriculture. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to shape the future of resilient agriculture — get your pass now.

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Tech Tour and PhotonHub Europe Relaunch the PhotonHub Scaling Club to Accelerate Europe’s Photonics Scale-ups

Tech Tour — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:46 +0000

Tech Tour and PhotonHub Europe announced the launch of PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0, an exclusive initiative designed to advance the development and market readiness of photonics scale-ups across Europe. The programme provides a structured environment that enhances access to funding, strengthens industrial partnerships and supports business development, helping companies progress toward key valuation milestones and broaden their commercial reach within the fast-evolving deep tech landscape.

Building on the success of its first edition, the new cycle will support 15 high-potential photonics scale-ups, fast-tracking their go-to-market strategies and investment readiness. The initiative combines expert strategic guidance with in-person and online investment and partnering roadshows, enabling participating companies to engage with cornerstone investors, corporates, technology leaders and innovation clusters. Members will also have direct access to more than 30 leading technology partners across Europe.

A key component of the programme is the opportunity to propose technical upscaling projects for companies seeking to advance their technology from TRL 4. Eligible projects may receive up to EUR 250,000 in co-funding, representing 85% of project costs supported by the European Commission. This approach allows companies to accelerate technological progress while gaining targeted support aligned with their growth objectives.

The PhotonHub Scaling Club’s vision is to advance the next generation of deep tech photonics solutions by empowering Europe’s most promising scale-ups to strengthen both their technological and commercial capabilities. Its mission is to provide selected companies with structured access to investment opportunities, strategic partnerships and potential co-funding, supported by an extensive network of experienced experts and technology partners. This coordinated effort reinforces Europe’s photonics ecosystem and supports the emergence of future industry leaders.

The PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 offers a comprehensive set of benefits tailored to the needs of ambitious photonics innovators. The programme brings together seasoned experts who offer guidance on investment readiness, partnership development and co-funding pathways. Participants also draw on a broad network of investor communities and industry groups, with structured opportunities that support progress toward commercial scaling.

Companies considered for the PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 must fit the programme’s innovation scope, demonstrate strong potential for international scale-up and have secured more than €1 million in funding within the past three years. Candidates should also be positioned to advance their technology from TRL 4, indicating readiness to progress from laboratory validation towards industrial upscaling with the support of dedicated technology partners.

The deadline for company applications is 10 December, with submissions to be made via the online form.

About PhotonHub Europe
PhotonHub Europe is a pan-European innovation hub created to help companies unlock the power of photonics — the science and technology of light. Photonics is a key digital technology shaping Industry 4.0 and enabling breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare, sustainable energy, agrifood, security, smart mobility, construction, and communications. It is also vital for transforming European manufacturing to stay competitive in a globalised market.

PhotonHub aims to accelerate the adoption of photonics by European industry — especially SMEs and mid-sized companies — to drive innovation, new business models, and sustainable growth. By acting as a single entry point to world-class expertise and infrastructure across Europe, the hub made it easier for companies to test, develop, and scale photonics-based solutions.

About Tech Tour
Tech Tour is the largest tech entrepreneur and investor community in Europe. Each year, over 1,000 of the most promising tech companies are selected by approximately 1,000 investment, corporate, and industry experts actively involved in 25 specialised Investment Programmes. These programmes culminate in annual events, covering all of Europe and spanning all tech sectors, including digital, health, and sustainability.

With over 25 years of experience, our entrepreneur alumni, selected through Tech Tour, have reported more than €33.9 billion in investments over the past eight years. 80% of the companies selected for Tech Tour programmes have secured funding. 74% of the total funding raised throughout a company’s lifecycle was committed after its first presentation at a Tech Tour event. See impact data.

For further information, please visit the PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 webpage or contact Iliana Kostadinova at [email protected].

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Building the Economy of Trust: Unlimitrust’s Pascal Marmier on the Future of AI, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust

Tech Tour — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:55:01 +0000

As Lausanne strengthens its position as a leading European hub for AI, cybersecurity, and digital trust, Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025 brought together top startups, investors, and experts for two days of high-value exchange. Among the key contributors was Pascal Marmier, Director of the Unlimitrust Campus and a central figure in Switzerland’s growing Economy of Trust.

In this post-event interview, Pascal explains what makes the region so attractive for innovation, how ecosystems such as Unlimitrust and Trust Valley open real opportunities for entrepreneurs, and where he sees the biggest opportunities and challenges ahead for trust-tech and AI.

TT: Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud are gaining recognition as a hub for digital trust and AI. What makes this region so attractive for innovation and investment?

PM: There are obvious advantages such as the central location in the middle of Europe, the strong local academic centers and a very highly skilled workforce. In addition, Lausanne benefits from being home to many multinationals and within 30 minutes of leading international organizations. These are the most sohpisticated possible users of solutions in digital trust and AI. They contribute to building the high level of solutions expected.

TT: Through Unlimitrust Campus, you lead an ecosystem uniting startups, corporates, and academia. How does this initiative translate into real opportunities for entrepreneurs?

PM: The ecosystem is working closely together so entrepreneurs can easily understand and make good use of the value chain of innovation in the field. From academic centers – the center for digital trust at EPFL with over 40 labs is a rich source of tech ideas – to incubators lilke the Trust Village, entrepreneurs will find the resources and support needed to grow their ventures. Once they scale, they will find business and investments opportunities within a growing community of globally-minded organisations.

TT: Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025 gathered top startups, investors, and experts. What have participants gained this year, and what makes the event stand out?

PM: Participants benefit from the growth of the ecosystem, both locally and internationally. Unlimitrust is now home to 80 companies from early-stage startups to global companies such as SGS or SAP. In parallel, Trust Valley has also grown its partnerships around the world putting the spotlight on key events such as the Tech Tour. All these efforts mean that the quality of both investors and entrepreneurs was very high.

TT: Trust-tech spans AI, cybersecurity, and legal tech. Looking ahead, where do you see the most pressing opportunities and challenges for startups?

PM: There is, first of all, a large opportunity around explainable and trustworthy AI. As AI systems pervade decision-making, demand is rising for transparency, bias mitigation, audit trails, and user recourse mechanisms. Second, identity frameworks built on cryptographic proofs and minimal friction (e.g., verifiable credentials, DID) will be key building blocks of future trust stacks, especially in regulated domains (health, finance, public services). Third, enabling organizations to share data under controlled, privacy-preserving regimes (e.g. encrypted computation, multiparty computation, synthetic data) is a high-leverage frontier.

Challenges are common to deeptech startups with long sales cycles, difficulties to raise funding, scarce talent in advanced tech like cryptography. Overall, the need for trust must be also transformed into decision-making at the leadership level of all organisations.

TT: Beyond funding and networking, how can events like Tech Tour influence the broader conversation on digital trust in society and policy?

PM: Beyond funding and networking, Tech Tour serves as a powerful convener that shapes the broader conversation on digital trust. By bringing together startups, corporates, , and civil society, it bridges technical innovation with societal values and regulation. The investment programme helps align standards, inspire responsible business practices, and promote credible examples of trustworthy AI and cybersecurity. In doing so, it not only drives collaboration, but also strengthens public confidence and positions Switzerland as a global reference for the emerging “economy of trust.”

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Pascal Marmier’s perspective reinforces what became clear throughout Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025: trust is no longer a supporting layer of the digital economy, but is fast becoming its foundation. As trust-tech solutions scale across finance, health, manufacturing, public services, and AI governance, Lausanne’s innovation ecosystem is proving to be an essential catalyst for companies shaping a safer, more transparent digital future.

We extend our warm thanks to Unlimitrust and all hosting partners for helping create an environment where deep-tech entrepreneurs, global corporates, and investors can collaborate meaningfully. The momentum built this year sets the stage for even stronger partnerships, cutting-edge ventures, and new investments. Check out the top presenters onsite here.

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The post Building the Economy of Trust: Unlimitrust’s Pascal Marmier on the Future of AI, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust appeared first on TechTour.

Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025 Showcasing the Future of Secure and Trusted AI

Tech Tour — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:00:46 +0000

The Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025 event took place on 5–6 November in Lausanne, Switzerland, bringing together leading minds driving the future of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and trusted digital infrastructures.

30 selected companies presented their innovations before an audience of more than 40 seasoned investors, alongside a series of high-level discussions and over 50 curated one-to-one meetings. The agenda explored corporate demand for trustworthy AI, deep tech investment trends, and hands-on lessons in scaling and fundraising.

6 standout companies were recognised as top presenters for delivering exceptional pitches that demonstrated impactful innovation across AI, cybersecurity, and digital trust.

Top Presenting Companies

QuoIntelligence empowers organisations with tailored Threat-Intelligence-as-a-Service, combining multidisciplinary expertise and AI-augmented tools to deliver actionable risk insights and strengthen cyber, geopolitical, and physical threat mitigation.

Recarta offers a SaaS platform for large property owners, using Document AI to extract insights from high-volume real estate documentation, boosting productivity, increasing portfolio performance, and reducing risk across the building lifecycle.

Saporo provides identity security posture management using proprietary graph algorithms and AI to map complex identity relationships, enabling organisations to eliminate critical attack paths and continuously harden their infrastructure.

SHAREKEY Swiss AG delivers a fully encrypted, Swiss sovereign collaboration platform for executive communication and file exchange, ensuring absolute confidentiality through app-to-app encryption and zero access to user keys.

Veintree SAS introduces post-biometric, post-quantum authentication using contactless multispectral vein scans, enabling zero-trust, database-free identity verification across enterprise, healthcare, and Web3 applications.

Sovalue transforms financial valuation into a live, conversational product, using AI agents and rigorously vetted models to generate real-time, audit-ready valuation scenarios with seamless integration of company data.

The event was hosted by the Canton of Vaud, Innovaud, Unlimitrust Campus, Trust Valley, partnered with Lenz & Staehelin, Logitech, EIC Scaling Club, and Edwards & Praly.

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Tech Tour Bio-based Industries 2025 Featuring the Next Generation of Sustainable Solutions

Tech Tour — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:46 +0000

The Tech Tour Bio-based Industries 2025 Programme culminated in a one-day event on 13 November 2025 in Wuppertal, Germany. The participating investors have made over 3,500 investments to date, contributing to €170 billion in total investments.

This event showcased the next generation of companies advancing a sustainable, circular, and bio-based economy. The programme featured a dynamic mix of content, from an inspiring keynote on scaling the bioeconomy to a thought-provoking panel on funding scale-ups. Entrepreneurs delivered sharp pitches demonstrating breakthrough bio-based innovations, while the information session on scaling and co-funding opportunities in NRW & Flanders offered practical guidance for the next stages of growth.

38 handpicked companies pitched their solutions across bio-based chemicals, products and materials, biomanufacturing and biorefining, waste valorisation and circular technologies, wood-based products and materials, agriculture and food/feed products, and sustainable packaging. The selected companies have already collectively raised more than €225 million. Discover more key data about participants here.

8 companies were distinguished with Top Presenter awards, recognising the excellence of their innovation and presentations.

Top Presenting Companies

Bactolife develops precision Binding Proteins that neutralise harmful microbial toxins without disturbing beneficial microbiota. Designed for food, beverage, and supplements, their technology supports global gut health and antimicrobial resistance reduction, with a first US product launch planned for 2026.

COLIPI transforms industrial CO₂ emissions into high-value Climate Oil using engineered microorganisms. Their sustainable oils replace palm oil, cocoa butter, and other ingredients across cosmetics and chemicals, supported by strong partnerships and a scalable biorefinery licensing model designed for profitability and climate impact.

Mycolever discovers and develops fungal biocompounds to replace fossil-based and unsustainably sourced animal- and plant-based ingredients. Combining biodiversity, bioinformatics, and fermentation, Mycolever delivers high-performance ingredients that are biodegradable, consistent, and tailored for personal care and cosmetics, food and other industrial applications.

PFx Biotech uses engineering biology and precision fermentation to produce bioactive human milk proteins for advanced nutrition. Their proprietary manufacturing platform enables large-scale, cost-competitive production of non-allergenic, structurally identical proteins for infant, women’s, sports, medical, and elderly nutrition.

Seprify creates cellulose-based functional materials that replace polluting ingredients such as titanium dioxide and fossil polymers. Their ultra-white, plant-derived pigments support safer, sustainable formulations across cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, coatings, and inks through a scalable deep-tech platform.

Twig Bio engineers microbes using AI, robotics and bioengineering to produce sustainable ingredients that replace fossil and animal-derived compounds. Their automated design-build-test-learn platform rapidly develops new bio-based chemicals for everyday life, accelerating the shift to affordable and scalable bio-based alternatives.

Unibio converts methane and carbon-rich gases into Uniprotein using a patented Vertical Loop Bioreactor. Their scalable, resource-efficient fermentation technology delivers sustainable, non-GMO protein for animal feed and future food systems, reducing dependency on land- and water-intensive agriculture.

Zeopore develops next-generation mesoporous zeolite catalysts for refining and petrochemical applications. Their technology enhances catalyst accessibility and performance while remaining cost-efficient, enabling significant process improvements and supporting cleaner, more efficient industrial operations.

The event was hosted by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and Circular Valley, partnered with NRW.Global Business, NRW.Bank and Bayer, and supported by the Fierce Project.

The gathering may have lasted only one day, yet the impact of the connections forged and insights shared will continue to resonate well beyond the event.

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Defence Innovation Takes Centre Stage at Tech Tour Defence 2025 in Paris

Tech Tour — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:07:46 +0000

The second edition of Tech Tour Defence 2025 took place on 30–31 October in Paris, hosted under Bpifrance’s European Defence Week. The event gathered over 60 of Europe’s most promising Defence and Dual-Use technology companies alongside 80+ active investors, corporates, and institutions — all united under one mission: strengthening Europe’s security through innovation, collaboration, and speed.

The 63 selected companies have already raised a total of €1.35 Billion in investments from 588 investors. More key data about the event here.

Top minds from across the ecosystem shared powerful insights on Europe’s innovation race, the dual-use mindset, and the importance of collaboration to scale defence tech efficiently and strategically.

Top Presenting Companies

ATMOS Space Cargo designs and manufactures returnable space capsules to bring cargo from orbit back to Earth, enabling microgravity research and payload recovery. Its first demonstration mission took place in 2025.

Axelera AI delivers a revolutionary AI-native hardware and software platform that accelerates edge AI performance. With R&D hubs across Europe, the company is redefining the speed and efficiency of intelligent computing.

FibreCoat pioneers affordable, high-performance composite fibres for industrial and consumer applications. Its aluminium-coated filaments enable cost-efficient electromagnetic shielding and sustainable materials for a connected world.

Hybrid Air Vehicles develops Airlander, a hybrid aircraft combining endurance, flexibility and low emissions. Designed for cargo, surveillance and passenger transport, it represents the future of zero-carbon aviation.

HyImpulse Technologies brings sustainable, safe and affordable access to space through hybrid propulsion. Building on German Aerospace Center heritage, it’s scaling small satellite launch and in-space mobility.

OQ Technology is the world’s first satellite telecom operator for global IoT connectivity using 5G protocol to provide connectivity anywhere, especially in remote and rural areas. The company also provides intelligent bespoke solutions and technical consultancy in the field of telecommunications and big data.

PowerUP Energy Technologies delivers clean, portable hydrogen fuel-cell generators that replace diesel units across sectors from telecom to defence, providing reliable and emission-free backup power.

Quside creates advanced quantum random number generators for secure, high-performance data processing. Its quantum technologies enhance cybersecurity and efficiency across connected devices and infrastructures.

Tusk IC designs high-frequency mmWave chips and modules for satellite communications. Its proven CMOS technology enables cost-effective, compact, and robust connectivity solutions for harsh environments.

Ubitium develops a universal RISC-V microprocessor merging AI, signal processing, and operating systems on one chip. Its architecture delivers ultra-low latency and autonomy for next-generation intelligent devices.

The event was hosted by EuroQuity, partnered with the EIC Scaling Club, Stifel, Sheffield Haworth, and supported by the PhotonHub Scaling Club.

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Alcyon Photonics: Making Photonic Design as Scalable and Reliable as Electronics

Tech Tour — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:55:01 +0000

Alcyonic Design as Scalable and Reliable as Electronics on Photonics: Making Phot

Alcyon Photonics, based in Madrid, Spain, is redefining how companies design, develop, and deploy integrated photonic circuits. With a mission to make photonics design as accessible and scalable as electronics, the company is bridging the gap between academic innovation and industrial adoption — helping partners bring photonic technology to market faster and with greater reliability.

Jimena García-Romeu, CEO of Alcyon Photonics, shared the company’s vision: “At Alcyon, I’ve had the privilege of working with an exceptional team that’s bridging the gap between integrated photonics research and real-world applications. We help companies design and deploy high-performance photonic circuits more efficiently, turning complex technology into practical, scalable solutions.”

A new approach to accelerating photonics development

Alcyon Photonics helps companies accelerate photonic product development through foundry-validated design IP, custom circuit development, and integration support with major semiconductor foundries. “Our approach combines deep technical expertise with strong industry collaboration,” explained Jimena. “Using our proprietary photonic IP library and advanced simulation workflows, we enable customers to create robust, fabrication-ready circuits that perform reliably across different foundries and manufacturing conditions.” By uniting deep design know-how with close foundry and EDA partnerships, Alcyon makes photonics development faster, easier, and more predictable — a key step toward industrial scalability.

From R&D to commercialization

Alcyon is now moving from pure R&D into early commercialization, expanding its engagement with tier-1 customers and foundry partners to turn its validated IP library into tangible product opportunities. “Strategically, we’re advancing our design automation tools and fabrication-aware workflows to make photonic development faster and more predictable,” said Jimena. “We’re also deepening collaborations across the European and global semiconductor ecosystem to ensure Alcyon remains a trusted bridge between photonics innovation and industrial deployment.”

Backed by strong validation and recognition

In a short time, Alcyon has achieved major milestones — from building a validated library of photonic IP to partnering with world-class foundries such as Tower Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries. The company has also been recognized and supported by the European Innovation Council and Spain’s NEOTEC program. “These milestones are strong validation of our vision and technology,” said Jimena. “But more than anything, I’m proud of the team behind Alcyon — a group of people who combine deep technical expertise with real passion.”

PhotonHub Scaling Club: Strengthening the ecosystem

Joining the PhotonHub Scaling Club marks an important step in Alcyon’s growth journey. “We joined the PhotonHub Scaling Club because we believe scaling innovation in photonics requires a strong, connected ecosystem,” said Jimena. “As a company bridging advanced design technology and industrial adoption, being part of a network of peers, investors, and enablers is invaluable. It’s not just about visibility — it’s about collaboration and contributing to how photonics innovation reaches the market faster and more efficiently.”

Built for impact

Rooted in technical depth and driven by a shared vision, Alcyon Photonics is helping shape the future of integrated photonics — turning what was once a niche research field into a cornerstone of next-generation connectivity, computing, and sensing.

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TechTour

The 2026 Tech Tour Growth Award Winners Announced

Tech Tour Growth Award Digital

Tech Tour Growth Award Health

Tech Tour Growth Award Sustainability

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European Deeptech Week: EuroQuity’s Gilles Le Cocguen on Building the Networks Europe’s Deeptech Needs to Scale

TT: EuroQuity has been connecting startups, investors, and partners for nearly two decades. Why is a trusted, curated matchmaking platform like EuroQuity especially critical today for scaling European deeptech companies?

TT: Tech Tour Growth50 Europe brings together Europe’s top scale-ups and growth investors. In your view, what enables European companies to successfully make the leap from scale-ups to global leaders?

TT: European Deeptech Week reflects a strong ambition around sovereignty and competitiveness. How does this initiative help better align innovation, capital, and industry across Europe?

TT: With Europe’s technological sovereignty now a strategic priority, what role do platforms like Tech Tour and EuroQuity play in helping European companies scale while staying anchored in Europe?

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Tech Tour Resilient Ag 2026 Top Presenters

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Backing the Quantum Leap: Søren Hein on Industrialising Quantum Computing at IQM

TT: You’ve seen many deep-tech companies from the investor and board side. What convinced you that IQM Quantum Computers is one of the few quantum companies ready to scale globally right now?

TT: Quantum is moving from research to real-world use. From your perspective as an investor at MIG Capital, what matters most today when judging whether a quantum company is truly creating value?

TT: IQM is building and delivering real machines, not just research prototypes. What are the toughest challenges in turning cutting-edge quantum technology into a reliable commercial product?

TT: Where do you see this technology going 20 years from now?

TT: Europe is strong in science but often weaker at scaling companies. What has IQM done differently, and what should European founders learn from that?

TT: As IQM enters its next phase of global growth, what operational priorities made this the right moment for you to step in as COO and Deputy CEO — and what do you see as your most important focus in the role?

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PhotonHub Scaling Club 2.0 Builds on €81M Investment Momentum

Meet the New Cohort

16 Exceptional Industry Experts Driving Strategic Growth

Official Launch in Brussels on 25 February

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A Decade of Tech Tour Impact: Connecting Europe’s Innovators with the Capital They Need

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Celebrating Our Impact

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SpaceVantage Project Officially Kicks Off

Building future-ready skills and innovation for Europe’s space sector

Call to Space Companies: Help Shape Europe’s Future Space Skills

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Tech Tour role

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FIERCE Open Calls Now Open: Funding & Advisory Support for Innovative SMEs

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From Lab to Market: Nils Wuytens of VITO4STARTERS on Catalysing Europe’s Circular and Climate Tech Innovation

TT: How do you see the value Tech Tour Circular creates, and how does it align with your organisation's mission to accelerate sustainable deep tech ventures?

TT: VITO4STARTERS offers startups access to VITO’s unique labs, test infrastructure and research experts. How do these resources set your programme apart from others in Europe, and what kind of breakthroughs have you seen emerge from this collaboration between startups and VITO’s scientists?

TT: The circular economy is one of your key investment domains — from bio-based materials to smart energy and water reuse. What trends or technologies are you most excited about right now, and where do you see the biggest potential for startups to make a real difference?

TT: Finally, as we look ahead to the 2026 edition of Tech Tour Circular in Ghent, what can startups expect from meeting the VITO4STARTERS team there, and what advice would you give to founders hoping to join your programme in the coming year?

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The Tech Tour Growth50 2026 Listing Spotlights the Scale-ups Building Europe’s Next Era of Sovereign, Industrial-grade Innovation

Europe’s Deeptech Potential Takes Center Stage

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Tech Tour Energy & Decarbonisation 2025: Connecting the Innovators that Drive Europe’s Energy Transition

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Transforming Agriculture: Bayer’s Karl D. Collins on Innovation, Ecosystems & Europe’s Resilient Ag Breakthrough

TT: Tech Tour ResilientAg 2026 highlights innovation and investment in sustainable farming. How does this investment programme align with Bayer’s mission and the goal to advance resilient and sustainable agriculture?

TT: Across the investment programme’s focus areas – from regenerative practices to digital and biological solutions – which technologies or approaches do you see as most transformative for the future of farming?

TT: Startups are key drivers of agri-tech innovation. In this space, Bayer’s LifeHubs have become a strong platform for startup partnerships. Can you share more about how Bayer is fostering open innovation and how these collaborations are creating real-world impact?

TT: You’ve led multiple innovation initiatives — from the Bayer Foundation to LifeHub Monheim, and now as Open Innovation & Ecosystem Lead Europe. What lessons have you learned and what advice would you give to startups joining Tech Tour ResilientAg 2026?

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Tech Tour and PhotonHub Europe Relaunch the PhotonHub Scaling Club to Accelerate Europe’s Photonics Scale-ups

Building the Economy of Trust: Unlimitrust’s Pascal Marmier on the Future of AI, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust

TT: Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud are gaining recognition as a hub for digital trust and AI. What makes this region so attractive for innovation and investment?

TT: Through Unlimitrust Campus, you lead an ecosystem uniting startups, corporates, and academia. How does this initiative translate into real opportunities for entrepreneurs?

TT: Tech Tour AI & Digital Trust 2025 gathered top startups, investors, and experts. What have participants gained this year, and what makes the event stand out?

TT: Trust-tech spans AI, cybersecurity, and legal tech. Looking ahead, where do you see the most pressing opportunities and challenges for startups?

TT: Beyond funding and networking, how can events like Tech Tour influence the broader conversation on digital trust in society and policy?

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