EU Policy Shifts to Deeptech for Strategic Autonomy

EU policymakers are actively reorienting their strategy to leverage deeptech startups, aiming to bolster strategic autonomy and secure critical supply chains, as highlighted in a recent analysis by Scaling for sovereignty: How EU policy is reshaping Europe’s deeptech playbook. This shift integrates innovation funding with broader geopolitical objectives. Efforts are underway to transcend current barriers to scaling up deeptech firms within the EU, with a strategic objective of closing the innovation gap when compared to the US and China.

A key initiative supporting this goal is the Horizon Europe project Phorwards21, which is developing a comprehensive industrial strategy for photonics in Europe. Photonics is identified as a crucial deep technology that underpins the manufacturing ecosystem. This project, involving over 3000 members from companies and research institutions, aims to empower Europe’s strategic autonomy, support the green deal, and secure resilience by focusing on key technology and supply chains until its completion in December 2026.

Further demonstrating this focus, the ASCEND conference, which concluded in April 2026, brought together key stakeholders from policy, industry, startups, investors, and academia. Its overarching goal was to identify actionable pathways for scaling deeptech startups and firms in the EU. The conference specifically addressed drivers, resources, and ecosystems critical for deeptech growth, aligning with the EU’s strategic objective to enhance competitiveness and secure critical supply chains.

The increasing focus on deeptech reflects a deliberate policy choice to reinforce Europe’s position in advanced technologies. By fostering innovation in sectors like photonics and addressing systemic scaling challenges, the EU seeks to ensure robust supply chains and maintain its economic growth, particularly within the manufacturing sector. This strategic direction is crucial for long-term prosperity and resilience.

What this means: EU policy is now explicitly linking deeptech innovation with strategic autonomy, channeling funding and coordinating efforts to build a resilient, competitive European technology base, reducing external dependencies.