Methodology and Activities

How we work:

De-TECH operates through four key steps to bring innovation to market:

01/ Identify Promising technologies through scouting and analysis.

We identify promising technologies developed at partner universities through structured scouting and evaluation processes. Using tools and collaboration with Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), we assess their market potential. This step helps bring academic research closer to real-world application. Selected technologies move forward to the innovation challenges.

03 /Launch the De-TECH competition, an intensive startup support program

This 10-week venture-building program supports selected research-based technologies through training, mentoring, and financial backing. Each round includes personalized sessions on business modelling, MVP development, and market entry strategies. Winning projects receive funding and pitch their ideas to investors at DemoDay events.

02/ Organize innovation challenges connecting universities and companies

Once relevant technologies are identified, De-TECH connects them with real-world needs by designing innovation challenges in collaboration with industry partners. These challenges encourage students and researchers to apply their ideas to solve concrete problems faced by companies and society. The goal is to spark creative, entrepreneurial thinking while building strong ties between academia and the market ecosystem.

04/ Train participants in entrepreneurial and technological skills

We provide cross-disciplinary education programs in entrepreneurship and technology for students, researchers, and staff. These include online courses, workshops, and short "Inno-TECH Pills" videos.
The aim is to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip participants with the tools to lead innovation.

Workpackages

WP WORK PACKAGE DESCRIPTION LEADER
WP1 Coordination and Management Governance and Management Framework. UPM
WP2 Technology Scouting and Valorization This work package designs, tests, and implements a shared technology scouting and valorisation mechanism to strengthen the De-TECH consortium’s ability to turn research results into market-ready solutions. UPM
WP3 Adoption and Emerging Technologies in Companies. Strengthening the De-TECH Ecosystem. Open Innovation Tech Challenges This work package organizes an open innovation programme that links technology challenges from universities, ecosystem companies, and public authorities with solutions from entrepreneurs, researchers, and university communities. LUH
WP4 Support to Emerging Technologies and Spin-offs – De-TECH Competition WP4 focuses on helping researchers commercialize university research by increasing TRL, developing MVPs, and launching spin-offs. The De-TECH competition offers training, mentorship, funding, and investor networking to boost growth. EBS
WP5 Entrepreneurship Education and Mentoring, and AI Education This work package builds a European training and mentoring programme in deep tech entrepreneurship for students, academic, research, and non-academic staff at European universities. It offers online training to build skills in idea valorisation, market validation, business modelling, financial planning, governance, and intellectual property. Additionally, it provides specialised mentoring for deep tech entrepreneurs. ITU
WP6 Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of Results The last work package focuses on the project’s communication, visibility, and dissemination, managing the website, social media, visual identity, key materials, and promoting activities, results, and opportunities to target audiences. Effectia

Timeline:

  • 2025: Program design and pilot

  • 2026: Implementation and expansion

  • 2027: Institutionalization and long-term sustainability