Europe is scaling more global deep tech companies
The report shows growing evidence that Europe is strengthening its ability to scale deep tech companies into global players.
Key indicators include:
- €15.5 billion raised by EIC-backed companies
- Three deep tech unicorns created in the past year
- Twelve equity rounds above €100 million
- A relocation rate of just 1%, indicating strong retention of companies within Europe
- Increasing cross-border scaling activity across Member States
These findings directly challenge the perception that Europe struggles to scale innovation into global technology champions.
Instead, the data points to a structural shift: Europe is increasingly becoming a place where deep tech companies scale.
Europe is building a stronger deep-tech investment system
The report also highlights the growing maturity of Europe’s deep tech financing ecosystem.
Public investment is increasingly acting as a catalyst for private capital, helping to unlock larger and more international investment flows into European deep-tech companies.
Key findings include:
- €6.5 billion invested through the EIC
- €5 billion mobilised in private co-investment
- €3.5 leveraged for every euro invested by the EIC Fund
- More than 1,000 investors co-investing alongside the EIC
- 80% of deals involving cross-border investment flows
This reflects a broader shift in which Europe is building the financial structure required to support deep tech scale-up, reducing fragmentation and strengthening capital flows across borders.
Europe’s scientific base remains a key competitive advantage
The report underlines the importance of Europe’s scientific and research base as a long-term driver of deep-tech competitiveness.
Key findings include:
- 45% of EU quantum funding involves EIC-backed companies
- 25% of European space investment is linked to EIC-backed companies
- 30% of EIC-supported companies are women-led
- 25% of equity investments involve female-founded companies
- Strong portfolio presence across key deep-tech sectors
This reflects Europe’s growing ability not only to participate in frontier technologies, but to shape their development at global level.
A more connected European deep-tech ecosystem
The report also highlights increasing integration across Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
- Companies supported across 31 countries
- EIC Fund investments in 26 countries
- Strong cross-border investment activity (80% of deals)
- Increasing collaboration between public and private investors
While challenges remain, Europe’s deep tech ecosystem is becoming more connected, more collaborative and more capable of supporting companies across borders.
Downloads
- Publication date
- 4 June 2026
- Author
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency