Keynote: From Lab to Global Impact: Building Deep tech Startups in Europe

Moderator: Mikkel Sørensen, CEO, DTU Skyfactory

Europe produces some of the world’s strongest research, yet many global technology companies are still built elsewhere. 

At DTU Startup Day 2026, leading voices from the deep tech ecosystem join Carl-Emil Grøn from Reshape Biotech, originally a DTU student startup, for a conversation about what it takes to turn breakthrough research into global companies. 

Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges of building deep tech startups in Europe - from regulation and capital to scaling technologies born in university labs. Moderator:Mikkel Sørensen, CEO, DTU SkyFactory

Speakers:

• Carl-Emil Grøn, Founder & CEO, Reshape Biotech
• Frederikke Saabye, Acting Branch Director for Digitalization, Technology, and Tele, Danish Chamber of Commerce

• Boundless
• Brumbaal
• ColleaiQ ApS
• Velion
• EchoReach
• ERLEtek
• FIBERNEX
• Triton Depth
• Monopulse ApS
• Nobracat Isotopes

Panel discussion: From research to revenue

Moderator: Steen Donner, CEO, DTU Science Park

Europe needs more companies with global impact working on technologies that are vital to both the continent and the wider world.  

A way to stimulate that is by having new companies generate revenue from larger corporations.  

At DTU Startup Day, we want to stimulate that discussion by focusing on the added value you need to attract a large industrial player as a customer.

Speakers

• Peter Froberg, Founder, Thiax
• Jasmina Pless, CCO, Acodyne
• Sebastian Dreßen, Senior Research & Innovation Lead, Siemens
• Matthias G. Schwab, Senior Director, Front-End Innovation, Topsoe

• Acckon ApS
• AgriRobot
• AuquaPurify Solutions
• circrete
• KALION NORDIC
• ZosteraGrids
• ReigniteBIO
• Reformable
• Stillbio
• Wren Bioscience

• AB2O Biotech
• Abii
• AleSac
• Ally
• Nanostic Technologies
• ChipNMR
• TremSys
• Mensis
• MindMind ApS
• NDURE

Inspirational fireside chat: Scaling Deep Tech in Europe: Investor Realities and Founder Strategies

Moderator: Jacob Madsen, COO, DTU SkyFactory

How do you scale deep tech startups in Europe when the journey from startup to scale-up is long and capital-intensive? 

This fireside chat brings together leading investors and founders to examine Europe’s deep tech ecosystem: Which strategies work to attract funding and build globally competitive companies? And what’s the missing link in creating a stronger, more connected European market?

Speakers:

• Christian Jacobsen, CEO & Co-Founder, Eupry
• Maria Danø Hoffmann, Managing Partner, PSV Hafnium
• Sara Sandes, Managing Partner & Lead, EIFO
• Jon Sigvert, CEO & co-founder, Reel

Panel discussion: Building Deep Tech Companies: No One-Size-Fits-All

Moderator: Marie Høst, Tech Journalist, DR

What does it really take to build a deep tech company in Europe today? 

A panel of founders working at the frontier of science and technology will share their different journeys and insights on navigating uncertainty, securing the right partnerships, and building companies in environments shaped by regulation, capital constraints, and evolving markets. 

The conversation will highlight a simple truth: there is no single way to build a successful deep tech company, but there is much to learn from those doing it.

Speakers:

• Paula Petcu, CEO & Co-Founder, Interhuman AI
• Søren Højgaard Jensen, Founder & CTO, DynElectro
• Andreas Holm Mattsson, Founder & Chief AI Officer, Evaxion A/S

Awardshow

End of day speech: Jes Broeng, professor and director of DTU Entrepreneurship and DTU Skylab