Innovative Landscape Of Deep Tech

Cyprus has drawn attention in a recent EU-backed study examining the gender investment gap across Europe. The report highlights the growing importance of deep tech, a sector built on scientific research and advanced engineering, as a key driver of Europe’s long-term competitiveness, security, and economic resilience.

Understanding Deep Tech

Deep tech companies often emerge from universities and research laboratories. They focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, climate and energy systems, biotechnology, and advanced industrial technologies. Unlike consumer-oriented startups, these businesses usually require longer development timelines, highly specialized talent, and substantial upfront investment before they reach the market.

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Funding Disparities And European Competitiveness

The study notes that the funding gap is not only a question of equality but also a strategic economic concern. Access to early-stage and follow-on capital largely determines which technologies scale and which stall. This has direct implications for Europe’s green and digital transitions, industrial leadership, and its dependence on foreign technologies in critical sectors.

Empowering Through Data-Driven Insights

One of the key outcomes of the project is the “Gender Gap in Investments Dashboard,” developed using Dealroom data. The platform aggregates information on founding teams and venture funding across Europe, offering policymakers and investors a clearer view of current trends. According to the findings, startups with at least one female founder account for 14.4 percent of venture capital rounds and 12 percent of total funding. In deep tech, however, the imbalance is sharper, with nearly 90 percent of investments still going to all-male teams.

Cyprus: A Case of Contrasts

Cyprus presents a mixed picture. The country shows one of the highest shares of deep-tech firms founded exclusively by women at 17 percent, although this figure is based on a small number of companies. In the broader technology sector, where 152 firms were analyzed, female-led businesses represent only 14.5 percent. As an EU “widening country,” Cyprus is also eligible for targeted SME support programs, which could help narrow these gaps if used effectively.

Navigating Structural Barriers

Industry insiders, including Stavriana Kofteros, founder and partner at W11 Ventures, emphasize that the challenge lies not in the availability of talent but in translating research into market-ready companies, especially those led by women. Persistent structural barriers such as fragmented support ecosystems, credibility issues in fundraising, and limited diversity in investment decision-making further exacerbate the disparities.

Toward a Collaborative, Data-Driven Future

The report recommends creating a permanent European data hub focused on gender and investment trends, alongside shared reporting standards across EU and national funding programs. Strengthening links between early-stage support and growth financing is also seen as essential. Public investment tools, including mechanisms such as the European Innovation Council, are viewed as catalysts that can attract greater private capital into deep-tech ventures.

Conclusion

The study suggests that better data, coordinated policy, and stronger ecosystem cooperation are crucial for building a more inclusive deep-tech environment. Europe’s competitiveness, it argues, will increasingly depend on its ability to recognize, measure, and scale the contributions of women innovators alongside broader technological progress.