The De-TECH Venture Builder Competition 2025 begins as four European universities seek deep tech startups to launch into the market
On 20 June, the application period opens for the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025, a competition within the EU-funded Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project under the EIT HEI program. The competition invites researchers, PhD students, and recent graduates from startups affiliated with the four consortium universities to apply for a 10-week tailored training and mentoring program.
The goal is to accelerate the market entry of deep tech innovations developed within the university research environment through expert-led training, one-on-one mentoring, and access to a dynamic innovation ecosystem. Participants who complete the program will be eligible to compete for €15,000 prizes.
Coordinated by the Estonian Business School, the competition focuses on high-impact, deep-tech innovations with significant market potential or the capacity to generate meaningful social impact. These may include fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, health and biotech, advanced materials, space technologies, or other data- and science-driven domains. To ensure relevance and maturity, technologies must have reached a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or higher.
The deadline for applications is 15 August, and the program will begin in September. Selected participants will be invited to travel to Istanbul on 4 December 2025 for a DEMO DAY with other European competitors.
What does the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 offer?
- The chance to turn your research into a high-impact innovation project.
- Practical, market-ready skills tailored to the needs of deep tech spin-offs.
- Access to a network of experts, companies, researchers, and investors.
The De-TECH Venture Builder Competition 2025, part of the Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project and funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, invites researchers, postgraduate students, and recent alumni (graduates within the last five years) from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover to apply for a 10-week customised training and mentoring programme.
Participants who successfully complete the programme will be eligible to compete for monetary prizes of €15,000 each.
Eligible applicants must be working on deep tech innovations developed within these universities, or the technologies must have originated at these institutions, even if their development and commercialisation have since been transferred to a spin-off or startup.
Below you will find all the information you need to participate:
– Call for Applications Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025
– Application Form Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025
The application deadline is 15 August.
More information: https://detechproject.eu/methodology-activities/
What is the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium?
The consortium is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and includes the Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover. It also involves two industry partners: Technoport, a high-tech incubator based in Luxembourg, and Effectia, a Spanish innovation consultancy, as well as one public sector partner, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
The European Union funds the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 through the EIT HEI Initiative. It is built around four key steps to bring university-based innovation to market:
- Identify promising technologies developed within partner universities through collaboration with Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and assess their market potential.
- Organise innovation challenges that connect universities and businesses with real-world needs and encourage creative, entrepreneurial thinking among students and researchers.
- Launch the De-TECH competition, supported by an intensive startup support program that includes training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Winning projects will receive funding and pitch their ideas to investors at DemoDay events.
- Deliver entrepreneurial and technological skills training for students, researchers, and university staff to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip participants with the tools needed to lead innovation.
More information: https://detechproject.eu/