Unlocking the potential of deep tech in the innovation ecosystem

Deep tech sits at the heart of this transformation. Rooted in cutting-edge science and engineering, deep tech innovations — like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and advanced materials—aren’t just about improving existing products; they redefine what’s possible.

Yet, for all its potential, deep tech faces significant barriers. Long development cycles, complex regulations, high capital costs, and an uncertain commercial landscape make it difficult for even the most promising technologies to scale. How do we unlock the full potential of deep tech and bring more of these breakthroughs to market?

The Difference Between Innovation and Deep Tech

Before diving into deep tech’s unique challenges, it’s important to distinguish invention from innovation.

• An invention is something entirely new — a novel scientific discovery or technology.
• An innovation is how that discovery is applied in the real world, transforming industries and society.

For example, mRNA vaccine technology existed for decades, but only through innovation did it become a life-saving tool during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deep tech sits at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercialisation, requiring long-term investment and collaboration across academia, industry, and government to succeed.

The Dual Pathways of Innovation: Incremental vs. Disruptive

Innovation happens on two major pathways:

• Incremental Innovation – Gradual improvements that refine existing products, like better battery life in smartphones or safer car designs.
• Disruptive Innovation – Game-changing breakthroughs that create entirely new markets or radically transform existing ones.

Deep tech often falls into disruptive innovation, requiring risk-taking, high investment, and cross-sector collaboration.

CPI works with deep tech innovators across sectors, helping them bridge the gap between research and real-world application. Some of the breakthroughs we’ve supported include:

• Sustainable Biopesticides – Creating safer, nature-inspired alternatives to harmful chemical pesticides.
• Ultra-Low-Cost Semiconductors – More scalable and sustainable than silicon, with applications in next-generation electronics.
• mRNA Therapeutics – Advancing mRNA vaccines beyond COVID-19, with applications in cancer treatment and rare diseases.

These are not just improvements to existing industries; they are entirely new solutions reshaping global markets.

Deep Tech’s Greatest Challenge: The Valley of Death

The biggest obstacle facing deep tech companies isn’t technology — it’s commercialisation.

The Valley of Death is the phase between prototype and market-readiness, where high costs, long timelines, and lack of funding can cause even the most promising innovations to fail.

Common Pitfalls for Deep Tech Companies

• Scaling Risks – Moving from the lab to large-scale production is expensive, slow, and fraught with technical challenges.
• Market Uncertainty – Investors hesitate to back deep tech due to long return timelines.
• Regulatory Barriers – Complex approval processes slow down market entry.
• Ecosystem Gaps – Many deep tech founders lack access to infrastructure, funding, and industry expertise.

Deep tech isn’t like software, where startups can iterate quickly and launch products within months. It requires years — sometimes decades — of patient capital and a strong innovation ecosystem.

Bridging the Gap: How CPI Supports Deep Tech Innovators

To unlock deep tech’s potential, we need a connected innovation ecosystem that brings together:

• Academia – Generating world-class research and new discoveries.
• Startups & SMEs – Translating science into viable commercial solutions.
• Large Corporations – Providing industrial expertise and market access.
• Investors – Funding high-risk, high-reward innovations.
• Innovation Centres – Facilitating collaboration and providing infrastructure.

The Role of Innovation Centres like CPI

CPI sits at the intersection of research, industry, and investment, providing the infrastructure, expertise, and networks that deep tech companies need to succeed.

• Reducing the Risk of Innovation – Offering state-of-the-art facilities and expertise to test, validate, and scale technologies before companies invest in their own infrastructure.
• Bridging Funding Gaps – Helping startups secure investment by providing technical validation and feasibility studies.
• Navigating Regulations – Guiding companies through complex approval processes.
• Building Industrial Partnerships – Connecting innovators with manufacturers and supply chains.

Lessons from the Pandemic: The Power of Collaboration

The COVID-19 crisis showed us what’s possible when deep tech, investment, and regulation align quickly. The UK’s vaccine program compressed a decade of innovation into months, proving that rapid deep tech commercialisation is achievable with:

• Government-backed R&D – Strategic investment in high-impact innovation.
• Fast-Tracked Regulation – Adaptive approval processes that don’t sacrifice safety.
• Pre-competitive Collaboration – Industry working together, rather than in silos.

If we apply these lessons to sustainable chemicals, next-gen energy storage, and healthcare innovations, we can accelerate progress across multiple sectors.

Supercharging Deep Tech: What’s Next?

To make the UK a global hub for deep tech, we need to invest in the right enablers:

• More funding for scale-up facilities – So startups can test and validate before full commercial production.
• Government-backed venture capital – To support deep tech’s long development cycles.
• A stronger innovation culture – Encouraging risk-taking and long-term thinking.
• Closer industry-academia partnerships – Turning research breakthroughs into viable businesses faster.

Final Thoughts: Turning Potential into Impact

Deep tech holds the key to solving global challenges — from climate change to food security to next-generation medicine. But for these innovations to succeed, we must bridge the Valley of Death and support companies through the toughest parts of their journey.

At CPI, we’re committed to unlocking deep tech’s full potential — providing the expertise, networks, and infrastructure to help innovators scale and succeed.

Let’s innovate together.