Events

Date
10.12.2026

Location
Area Science Park

The CERIC Deep-Tech Innovation Forum (December 10th 2026, Trieste, Area Science Park) will bring together deep-tech startups and scale-ups, research infrastructures (RIs), venture capital investors, science parks and incubators to explore how advanced scientific capabilities can accelerate technology development and market readiness, while building long-lasting collaboration across the deep-tech ecosystem. Through challenge presentations, startup pitches, discussions with research and innovation experts, and feedback from venture capital investors, the Forum will connect the needs of emerging deep-tech companies with investment perspectives and the scientific expertise and capabilities available across the CERIC Consortium and its wider network.

In particular, the Validation Challenge session will focus on concrete R&D and technology-development challenges related to materials, nanomaterials and devices, where advanced analytical and characterisation capabilities and CERIC’s broad scientific and technical expertise could help understand properties, interactions, behaviour and performance, identify defects and ultimately support the further development of a technology. Participating companies will have the opportunity to identify suitable analytical approaches, techniques and expertise to address their specific needs. This initial interaction can facilitate and accelerate the definition of concrete follow-up activities with CERIC, which may be pursued through the appropriate access route (Open Access for non-proprietary research or Commercial Access for proprietary R&D).

The Pitch for Investment session will give selected startups and scale-ups the opportunity to present their technologies, business potential and investment opportunities directly to participating venture capital investors. The session will provide companies with direct feedback, helping them better understand investment expectations, strengthen their positioning and explore potential further engagement with investors interested in deep-tech ventures.

The event is designed to foster practical dialogue between research, innovation and investment, identify concrete opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen connections across European deep-tech ecosystems.

Any startup or scale-up is invited to apply to present a relevant R&D or technology-development challenge (Session 1 – Validation Challenge). Startups and scale-ups are also invited to apply to pitch an investment opportunity to venture capital investors (Session 3 – Pitch for Investment – priority will be given to start ups/scale ups/spin offs from CERIC Partner and Associated Facilities, Representing Entities and the wider CERIC network). Should the number of applications exceed the available slots, applications will be selected by CERIC (for Session 1) and by the participating venture capitalists (for Session 3).

To register (to both attend the event or apply to present at Session 1 and/or 3), please fill the registration-application form at the following link:

CERIC DEEP Tech Innovation Forum – Registration form

Deadline to submit a Challenge and/or an Investment opportunity: 28th of September

Preliminary Programme*

*will be updated with name of speakers/companies after closing the startup selection process – mid October)

December 9^th

20:00 a dinner will be held for speakers/invited participants.

December 10^th

09:00–09:30 | Registration and Welcome Coffee. Arrival, registration and informal networking.
09:30–09:40 | Welcome and Introduction Opening remarks from CERIC and introduction to the participating organizations.
09:40–10:00 | How Advanced Research Infrastructures Accelerate Deep-Tech Innovation A brief introduction to CERIC and the role of advanced research entities and infrastructures in supporting deep-tech development and validation.
10:00–11:30 | Session 1 — Deep-Tech Validation Challenges Deep-tech companies present the scientific and technological validation bottlenecks they face and explain why overcoming them is critical for technology development and commercial success.
11:30–11:45 | Coffee Break
11:45–12:45 | Session 2 — Solutions to Deep-Tech Validation Challenges. A roundtable exploring how CERIC facilities, scientific expertise and advanced techniques could help address the challenges presented by participating companies.
12:45–14:00 | Networking Lunch
14:00–15:15 | Session 3 — Startup Ecosystem: Investment Showcase. Selected deep-tech startups present their technologies, investment opportunities and future development plans to Venture Capitalists and ecosystem stakeholders.
15:15–15:30 | Coffee Break
15:30–16:15 | Session 4 — Deep-Tech Innovation: Building Bridges Between Research, Innovation and Investment. A roundtable on how research infrastructures, deep-tech companies, investors, science parks and incubators can collaborate more effectively to turn scientific and technological advances into innovation.
16:15–16:30 Closing Remarks. Key takeaways and closing of the workshop.

For further information, please contact our Senior Industrial Liaison Officer: angela.zennaro@ceric-eric.eu