Win a Fully Funded Trip to Istanbul – Join the De-TECH Tech Challenge 2025

Solve a real-world problem and win a fully funded trip to Istanbul.

Flights, accommodation, and the full program are covered for the winning teams.

What are Tech Challenges?
A De-TECH Tech Challenge is a real-world problem provided by a company or industry stakeholder. The challenge reflects current technological or innovation-related issues. International, interdisciplinary teams of students and research staff develop innovative solution concepts to address these challenges.

This Year’s Challenge — Aerospace: Space Debris and Orbital Safety

Theme: Sustainable satellite structures and mission end-of-life strategies to minimize environmental impact.
Aluminum currently dominates satellite structures, but its re-entry produces alumina particles that harm the ozone layer. Additional concerns include uncontrolled metal dispersion in the upper atmosphere and the lack of systematic approaches to ensure safe satellite demise.

Topics include:
1. Replacing aluminum with alternative materials
2. Minimizing metal dispersion during re-entry
3. Develop robust “Design for Demise” or “Design for Non-Demise” models to reduce the Earth–space–Earth environmental footprint
4. Design market-based mechanisms (e.g., orbital debris credits, insurance models) to incentivize responsible satellite design)
5. Proposing business models that support the adoption of sustainable satellite technologies (e.g., licensing, spin-offs, service models)

6. Creating go-to-market strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, or policy frameworks that promote long-term orbital sustainability

Solutions may be technical, economic, regulatory, interdisciplinary, or a combination of these approaches.

Who Can Participate?
• Students and research staff (junior or senior) from all disciplines at De-TECH partner universities
• No specific field required — all backgrounds are welcome
• Travel and accommodation are covered for winning teams
• Teams of three members.
• Gender diversity within the team is positively evaluated during selection

How It Works
1. Form a team of three participants (students or research staff).
2. Choose a topic from the challenge.
3. Develop a solution concept freely and creatively:
4. Submit your solution in PDF format by 3 November 2025, 23:59 CET to de-tech@ite.uni-hannover.de
5. Jury selects the best teams -> Winners go to Istanbul

The deadline for participating in the De-TECH Aerospace Tech Challenge ends on 30 September

Only a few days remain to take part in the open call for aerospace companies and related fields to submit their proposals to the De-TECH Innovation Tech Challenge 2025, an initiative funded by the European Commission under the EIT Higher Education Initiative. The goal is to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia by connecting real technological challenges with interdisciplinary student teams from across Europe.

The application form will remain open until 30 September.

A consortium of prestigious universities leads the project –Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Estonian Business School (EBS), Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)– which will facilitate the connection between companies and young innovative talent.

The so-called Technology Challenges are concrete problems proposed by companies in the sector, related to current technological or innovation difficulties. In this edition, challenges must focus on the aerospace sector or related fields, be open to creative and interdisciplinary approaches, and respond to real market or research needs. These challenges will be addressed by international student teams working over several months to develop innovative solutions.

The benefits for participating companies are access to new ideas and perspectives from Europe’s young talent, direct connection with leading universities, initial tailored solution concepts and visibility in an international knowledge exchange context.

The process to participate is simple: companies submit a short description of their Technology Challenge through the application form. The most relevant challenges will be selected. Student teams will then choose one of the selected challenges and begin developing solution proposals. Finally, the best teams will be invited to present and refine their ideas at an international workshop in Istanbul in December 2025. At this stage, companies will have the chance to continue interacting with students and explore the potential implementation of the proposed solutions.

The European project De-TECH organises a co-creation workshop on technology valorisation

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project will hold an online co-creation workshop on September 30^th. The event aims to share best practices in knowledge and technology transfer and jointly design a standard technology valorisation tool.

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project, funded by the EIT HEI Initiative, will hold its next co-creation workshop online on Tuesday, 30 September, from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST. The aim is to share best practices in knowledge and technology transfer, as well as to design a standard tool for technology valorisation jointly.

The workshop’s objectives are to share and discuss the consortium’s preliminary survey results on technology scouting and valorisation, to co-develop practical tools and methodologies for evaluating technologies, estimating their economic potential, and defining appropriate transfer strategies and to foster collaboration among partners through breakout sessions, bringing together diverse perspectives and practical contributions.

The program includes the following activities:

• Welcome & Objectives
• Survey Results Presentation
• Keynote Lecture:Real case of commercialisation in Europe, by Insight Gravity, a company specialised in supporting the transfer of new technologies, products, and services.
• Introduction to Breakout Sessions
• Breakout Rooms (simultaneous):
  • Room 1: Technology Scouting & Evaluation – Cecilia García Cena
  • Room 2: Economic Valuation – Deniz Ağdaş
  • Room 3: Transfer Strategy & IP Management – Catherine Delvoye
• Wrap-up & Next Steps

Registration for the online workshop, which will be held via Zoom, can be completed by sending an email to innovacion@upm.es, indicating your preferred breakout room.

Call for Applications: DE-TECH Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme

If you are still interested in joining the programme, this might be possible during the first days of the Programme. To check possibilities, please send an email including your full name, email address, and the name of the university you are affiliated to alpyurttas@itu.edu.tr

The application period is now open for students, academic staff, and non-academic staff from universities wishing to participate in the Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme, as part of the De-TECH Project, funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative.

European universities are joining forces to boost entrepreneurial skills and foster innovation in deep tech through the De-TECH Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme 2025, now open for applications. Funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, the programme will provide students, researchers, and university staff with the tools, mentorship, and networks to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.

The call is open to bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students, as well as academic staff (faculty and researchers) and non-academic staff (administrative and professional services) from higher education institutions across Europe. Over a 10-week online training period (October–December 2025), participants will develop essential entrepreneurial and innovation skills while connecting with mentors and peers in the European innovation ecosystem.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

• Provide participants with core entrepreneurship knowledge (idea valorization, market validation, business modeling, financial planning, governance, and IPR strategy).
• Support the commercialization of deep tech research and innovations through structured mentoring.

Build an inclusive innovation community, fostering collaboration between students, researchers, and industry mentors across Europe.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Participants will complete 60 hours of training combining in-class sessions, Innotech Pills videos, self-study, and pitching preparation.

Sessions will run after 15:00 CET,

• 2–3 hours per week.
• 23 of in-class hours
• 3 hours of Innotech Pills Videos
• 20 hours of self-study and pitching presentation preparation

Weekly modules will cover:
1. Idea & Technology Valorization – 29 September – October 3, 2025
2. Customer Journey & Need Analysis – 6-10 October 2025
3. Product-Market Fit & QFD Analysis – 13-17 October 2025
4. Market Validation & Testing – 20-24 October 2025
5. Financial Modeling & Funding, 27-31 October 2025
6. Company Scaling & Governance, 3-7 November 2025
7. Intellectual Property Rights & Strategy, 10-14 November 2025
8. Pitching and Entrepreneurial Communication Training, 17-21 November 2025
9. Business Model and Plan Pitching Presentation Submission, -24-28 November 2025
10. Mentoring to the teams/individuals whose ideas were selected for mentoring round

Alongside training, participants will engage in mentoring sessions led by distinguished deep-tech mentors.  Mentors will be drawn from the De-TECH Mentorship Network, including industry leaders, venture partners, and alumni entrepreneurs. These sessions will provide participants to further develop and refine their entrepreneurial projects.

At the end of the programme, the most promising projects will receive further support through three stages of mentoring: Tech-to-Market Validation, Business Validation, and Growth & Communication. 

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN?

• Practical Skills: Innovation management, market validation, funding strategies.
• Mentorship Access: Guidance from experienced mentors across Europe.
• Networking: Opportunities with peers, corporates, and investors.
• Recognition: Certificate of completion, with potential micro-credentials.

SELECTION AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants must be affiliated with a university.
• Active participation in weekly trainings and mentoring sessions is mandatory.
• Both teams and individuals are welcome to apply.
• Selection will be based on motivation, innovation potential, and commitment.

HOW TO APPLY

• Interested candidates should submit the online application form by 26 September 2025.
• Programme starts in October 2025 and ends in December 2025 with a demo session.

Apply now through the application form by clicking here

For questions: detech@itu.edu.tr

MORE INFORMATION

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project, funded by the EU’s EIT HEI programme, has selected 13 open innovation challenges from companies linked to the consortium’s universities (Polytechnic University of Madrid, Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover) to take part in the final phase of the programme. This stage will seek innovative solutions based on deep tech, proposed by students and researchers. A face-to-face workshop will take place in Istanbul this coming December, where participants will present their solutions.

A total of 13 innovative deep-tech solutions have been chosen for market entry within the framework of the De-TECH Competition. The challenges come from startups connected to the consortium’s partner universities—Polytechnic University of Madrid, Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover—and aim to boost knowledge transfer into society and the economy.

These business initiatives, developed by students and researchers, are based on deep technologies with strong potential for impact in innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability. The final in-person workshop will take place in Istanbul in December 2025, where participants will present their solutions.

The selected companies and their fields include:

• ACOPIA: Computer vision and geospatial analysis
• Applied Fractal Structures: Fractal foundations that distribute loads evenly on the seabed
• Beta, Gamma and Neutron attenuation properties of PMMA/Colemanite composites exposed to space radiation in low Earth orbit (Master thesis 2024): Materials science, space radiation physics, and sustainability-oriented engineering
• From Kernel to Product: Harnessing Xuta for structurally and nutritionally viable dairy analogues with a sustainable plant-based approach (food science and bioprocessing technologies)
• MAD Materials (MM Biocreaciones S.L.): Biotechnology and materials science
• OptiPrint: Mathematical tools (FEM/SIMP/PetSc) and AI-powered natural language interfaces
• OptiMod: Mathematical statistics
• Reocto OÜ: From pharmaceuticals to food tech, agri-tech, and synthetic biology
• SamGer Tech: AI/LLM application for hand hygiene monitoring
• Soyl Food: Biotechnology and environmental sciences to address agricultural challenges in arid environments
• Subsurface Analytics: Modeling underground systems in sectors such as groundwater management, oil and gas, geothermal energy, and critical raw materials
• X-ECD: Analytical Chemistry

ACOPIA, Applied Fractal Structures, MAD, and Subsurface Analytics will represent the Technical University of Madrid; Reocto OÜ, SamGer Tech, and Soyl Food will represent the Estonian Business School; From Kernel to Product, OptiPrint, OptiMod, and X-ECD will represent the Leibniz University Hannover; and Beta and N/A will represent the Istanbul Technical University.

The Leibniz University Hannover is coordinating the open innovation project with companies within the framework of the Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project, which involves three other European universities: the Technical University of Madrid, the Estonian Business School, and the Istanbul Technical University. The objective is to seek challenges among companies affiliated with the consortium’s universities and then launch a program that will seek innovative solutions based on deep technologies proposed by students and researchers.

Once this selection is made, participants will begin the training program in September. The training plan will include organizing open innovation workshops for students and researchers from participating universities to develop and refine their solutions in response to the identified challenges. This task involves facilitating interaction between participants and industry experts to improve the applicability and impact of the proposed technologies.

In December 2025, an in-person workshop will be held in Istanbul, where participants will be able to present their solutions.

What is the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium?

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and includes the Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover. The consortium also includes two industrial partners: Technoport, a high-tech incubator based in Luxembourg, and Effectia, an innovation consultancy from Spain. Additionally, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality participates as a public sector partner.

The European Union funds the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 through the EIT HEI Initiative. It is structured around four key pillars to bring university-based innovations to market:

• Identify promising technologies developed at the partner universities through collaboration with their Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and assess their market potential.

• Launch innovation challenges that connect universities and companies with real-world needs, promoting creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students and researchers.

• Run the De-TECH competition, supported by an intensive start-up acceleration programme that includes training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Winning projects will receive funding and present their ideas to investors at DemoDay events.

• Deliver training in entrepreneurial and technological skills for students, researchers, and university staff, aiming to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip participants with the tools they need to lead innovation.

The application period is now open for companies wishing to participate in the aerospace technology challenge as part of the European technology project De-TECH

The application period is now open for companies wishing to participate in the aerospace technology challenge as part of the European technology project De-TECH

The call is now open for companies in the aerospace sector and related fields to submit their proposals to the De-TECH Innovation Tech Challenge 2025, an initiative funded by the European Union under the EIT Higher Education Initiative. The aim is to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia by connecting real technological challenges with interdisciplinary student teams from across Europe.

The project is led by a consortium of prestigious universities —the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), the Estonian Business School (EBS), the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)— which will facilitate the connection between companies and innovative young talent.

The so-called Tech Challenges are concrete problems proposed by companies in the sector, linked to current technological or innovation-related difficulties. In this edition, the challenges must be focused on the aerospace field or related sectors, be open to creative and interdisciplinary approaches, and respond to real needs in the market or in research. These challenges will be addressed by international student teams who will work over several months to develop innovative solution concepts.

Participation offers multiple benefits for companies: access to fresh ideas and new perspectives from young European talent, connection with leading universities, tailored early-stage solution concepts, and visibility within an international knowledge-exchange context.

The participation process is straightforward. First, companies submit a short description of their Tech Challenge through the designated application form. The most relevant challenges will then be selected. Student teams will choose one of the selected challenges and begin developing solution proposals. Finally, the best teams will be invited to present and refine their ideas at an international workshop to be held in Istanbul in December 2025. At that stage, companies will have the opportunity to further engage with the students and explore the potential implementation of the proposed solutions.

Companies from the aerospace sector interested in participating in the 2025 edition are encouraged to submit their proposals through the ONLINE FORM

What is the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium?

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and includes the Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover. The consortium also includes two industrial partners: Technoport, a high-tech incubator based in Luxembourg, and Effectia, an innovation consultancy from Spain. Additionally, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality participates as a public sector partner.

The European Union funds the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 through the EIT HEI Initiative. It is structured around four key pillars to bring university-based innovations to market:

• Identify promising technologies developed at the partner universities through collaboration with their Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and assess their market potential.
• Launch innovation challenges that connect universities and companies with real-world needs, promoting creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students and researchers.
• Run the De-TECH competition, supported by an intensive start-up acceleration programme that includes training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Winning projects will receive funding and present their ideas to investors at DemoDay events.
• Deliver training in entrepreneurial and technological skills for students, researchers, and university staff, aiming to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip participants with the tools they need to lead innovation.

Unlocking opportunities within the HEI Initiative

The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) participated on 19 June in the first workshop organized by the European EIT Higher Education Initiative, aimed at strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship capacity within participating higher education institutions.

This was the first in a series of workshops designed to support the implementation of Cohort 4 projects developed under the EIT HEI Initiative, led by the EIT and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). The workshops are intended to provide technical support focused on the most pressing implementation needs of the Innovation Vision Action Plans (IVAPs) across Cohort 4 consortia. Throughout the programme, key resources, training sessions, and strategic discussions with experts from the European innovation ecosystem will be offered.

Under the title “Unlocking Opportunities within the HEI Initiative,” the event aimed to provide participants with resources and opportunities developed by the Initiative team to help projects meet their goals and KPIs, foster collective learning, share experiences, and build an active community among cohort members. Participants also identified common challenges and opportunities for collaboration through practical working sessions.

The workshop began with a welcoming session and a presentation of the resources available through the EIT HEI Community of Practice.

Next, participants joined parallel thematic breakout rooms, where the most relevant IVAP actions per domain were discussed. These sessions were facilitated by innovation and entrepreneurship experts, who delivered short interventions before opening the floor to attendees. Additionally, two breakout rooms focused on research commercialization, a key topic for many of the ongoing projects.

The event concluded with a plenary session summarizing the key takeaways and shared insights. Among the main conclusions were:

• Test, test, and refine: theory alone is not enough; small-scale pilot projects help validate and adapt solutions.
• Co-create, don’t copy-paste: real impact comes from building tools with partners, not for them.
• Think in ecosystems: innovation thrives when connected to both local and European networks.
• Invest in people: mentors, TTO staff, researchers, and students are the real drivers of change.
• Design for sustainability: embed solutions in institutional strategies from day one.
• We continue learning, sharing, and co-creating—shaping the future of innovation through European cooperation.

About the EIT Higher Education Initiative

The Higher Education Initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT HEI) aims to drive the transformation of European universities by strengthening their role as key players in innovation ecosystems. Through the design and implementation of IVAPs, participating institutions build capabilities, create networks, and accelerate the impact of innovation across Europe.