Keynote: From Lab to Global Impact: Building Deep-Tech Startups in Europe
Europe produces some of the world’s strongest research – yet many global technology companies are still built elsewhere.
At DTU Startup Day 2026, Carl-Emil Grøn from Reshape Biotech and Frederikke Saabye from Dansk Erhverv come together for a conversation on what it takes to turn breakthrough research into global companies.
Combining firsthand founder experience with a broader policy perspective, they explore the opportunities and challenges of building deep-tech startups in Europe – from regulation and capital to scaling technologies born in university labs, and how Europe can strengthen its global competitiveness.
Speakers:
Carl-Emil Grøn, Founder & CEO, Reshape Biotech
Carl-Emil Grøn is the Founder and CEO of Reshape Biotech, a startup founded by DTU students that accelerates biotech research through automation and data‑driven laboratory workflows. With a background in engineering and entrepreneurship, he is passionate about building scalable deep tech solutions.
Carl‑Emil represents a new generation of deep tech founders creating globally competitive companies rooted in European universities.
Frederikke Saabye, Acting Branch Director for Digitalization, Technology, and Tele, Danish Chamber of Commerce
Frederikke Saabye is Acting Director for Digitalisation, Technology and Telecommunications at the Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv).
She works at the intersection of business, technology, and regulation, focusing on digital transformation, AI, and responsible use of new technologies to strengthen Danish and European competitiveness.
Mikkel Sørensen, CEO, DTU SkyFactory
Mikkel Sørensen is CEO of DTU Skyfactory, an initiative focused on accelerating science‑based startups into internationally competitive scaleups. Previously, he served as Managing Director of DTU Skylab, DTU’s award‑winning innovation hub.
As an EU innovation adviser and experienced ecosystem builder, he has a strong track record of turning research‑based ideas into impact.
Panel Discussion: From Research to Revenue
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 & CEO, Thiax
Peter Froberg is Founder & CEO of DTU spin-out, Thiax, pioneering the world’s first non-destructive 3D inspection of polymer and composite parts.
Rooted in more than a decade of leading X-ray research at DTU and founded by a team with deep scientific and industrial expertise, Thiax marks a paradigm shift in quality assurance by enabling manufacturers to see what happens inside composite and polymer parts.
Jasmina Pless, CCO, Acodyne
Jasmina Pless is Chief Commercial Officer at DTU Science Park alumni, Acodyne, which develops autonomous cargo UAS.
She leads commercial strategy and partnerships, bringing extensive experience working with fast-scaling technology companies and building industrial collaborations. She specializes in translating complex technologies into clear customer value and market traction.
Sebastian Dreßen, Senior Research & Innovation Lead, Siemens
Sebastian Dreßen leads research and innovation initiatives at Siemens, working at the intersection of academia, industry, and emerging technologies.
He brings deep experience in corporate innovation, partnerships, and the integration of new technologies into large-scale industrial systems.
Matthias G. Schwab, Senior Director, Front-End Innovation, Topsoe
Matthias G. Schwab is Senior Director, Front-End Innovation at Topsoe, where he works at the intersection of innovation, commercialization, and clean-tech.
With a background in chemistry and more than 20 years of experience in catalysis and industrial innovation, he focuses on turning new technologies into market-relevant solutions for the energy transition.
Moderator: Steen Donner, CEO, DTU Science Park
Steen Donner is the CEO of DTU Science Park and a driving force behind Denmark’s leading deep tech ecosystem.
With a background from Copenhagen Capacity and the Confederation of Danish Industry, he has led the development of multiple high-impact accelerator programs and worked for more than a decade to create sustainable growth conditions for deep tech companies with global potential.
Inspirational Fireside Chat: Scaling in Europe: Investor Realities and Founder Strategies
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
Christian Jacobsen is Co-Founder and CEO of Eupry, a global company that automates temperature compliance in the pharmaceutical industry.
Founded as a DTU student startup, Eupry has grown into an internationally operating company, having raised multiple funding rounds and built a high-performing international team. With a background in engineering and systems thinking, Christian focuses on combining automation, compliance, and sustainability to create new industry standards.
Jon Sigvert, CEO & co-founder, Reel
Jon Sigvert is co‑founder and CEO of Reel, a Copenhagen‑based energy tech company enabling companies to directly support the construction of new renewable energy assets through innovative power purchase agreements.
He holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from DTU and works at the intersection of energy markets, technology, and climate impact.
Maria Emilie Kath Danø, Managing Partner, PSV Hafnium
Maria Emilie Kath Danø is Managing Partner at PSV Hafnium, an early-stage Nordic deep tech venture fund.
With a PhD background and experience spanning research, energy, and venture capital, she works closely with founders to commercialize breakthrough technologies and build companies that address global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity.
Sara Sande, Managing Partner & Lead, EIFO
Sara Sande is Managing Partner and Lead for Frontier Technologies at EIFO, where she oversees direct investments across defense, AI, quantum, deep tech, green-tech, and biosolutions.
She focuses on supporting companies from early conviction through scaling, working closely with founders, investors, and policymakers to build resilient, high-impact technology platforms.
Moderator: Jacob Madsen, COO, DTU SkyFactory
Jacob Madsen is COO at DTU SkyFactory and an entrepreneur with a strong background in venture building and company creation.
Having co-created more than 15 startups, he works at the intersection of research, entrepreneurship, and investment, helping transform scientific discoveries into scalable companies.
Panel Discussion: Building Deep Tech Companies: No One-Size-Fits-All
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
Paula Petcu is CEO and Co-Founder of DTU spin-out Interhuman AI, a company building the social intelligence layer for artificial intelligence.
With more than a decade of experience in healthcare, digital therapeutics, and data science, she has worked across startups and the pharma industry to develop technologies that better understand human behavior.
Paula Petcu has been recognized as one of the Top 100 most impactful figures in the Nordic tech scene and has been featured among Europe’s leading female CTOs.
Søren Højgaard Jensen, Founder & CTO, DynElectro
Professor Dr. Søren Højgaard Jensen is Founder and CTO of DynElectro and a globally recognized expert in high-temperature electrolysis for Power-to-X.
With more than two decades of research experience, mostly at DTU, he has led major projects on solid-oxide electrolysis systems and holds multiple patents. His work focuses on enabling CO₂-neutral fuels through advanced energy technologies.
Andreas Holm Mattsson, Founder & Chief AI Officer, Evaxion A/S
Andreas Holm Mattsson is the Founder and Chief AI Officer of Evaxion, a pioneering biotech company that uses artificial intelligence to develop vaccines and immunotherapies. The idea behind Evaxion originated from his master's thesis in Bioinformatics at DTU.
He has led the development of the AI-Immunology™ platform and achieved the first-ever licensing agreement for an AI-designed vaccine candidate. His work sits at the forefront of AI-driven drug discovery and global health innovation.
Moderator: Marie Høst, Tech Journalist, Moderator & Host, DR
Marie Høst is a tech journalist, moderator, and host with more than 14 years of experience covering technology and digital culture.
As host of DR’s tech podcast Prompt, she specializes in making complex topics accessible and engaging. Known for her sharp questions and dynamic stage presence, she regularly moderates leading conferences and will guide DTU Startup Day 2026 with clarity, curiosity, and energy.