Imec.DeepTechVentures: supporting deep-tech start-ups and investors

Deep-tech solutions materialize when fundamental scientific innovations converge with cutting-edge engineering and design. They can transform the future in various application domains: health, mobility, energy, food and agriculture, computing, space exploration, and more.

High risks and high rewards

Start-ups play a crucial role in bringing deep-tech innovations to the market. Unburdened by legacy portfolios, they can flexibly focus on essential disruptions. They and their investors are assured of substantial and exclusive revenues. Provided that the tech works, and solves the right problem.

Compared with the previous wave of innovation, deep-tech venturing comes with high technology risks. It demands advanced infrastructure, expertise and substantial funding throughout all its stages. That requires a paradigm shift for both investors and entrepreneurs.

Imec.DeepTechVentures' mission is to support deep-tech ventures in addressing both technology and market risks in a disciplined and effective manner. That creates a pathway for maximizing rewards for visionary investors and entrepreneurs alike.

Support for deep-tech start-ups

Imec.DeepTechVentures helps both external and internal deep-tech start-ups.

Are you a start-up with a vision that demands deep-tech disruption? Then you can leverage imec’s unique knowledge and infrastructure in the field of semiconductors, nanotechnologies and smart systems. With imec.xpand, imec’s independently managed € 400 M venture capital fund as a prime investor.

Are you an imec researcher with a breakthrough idea? Imec.DeepTechVentures’ multidisciplinary team guides you through the consecutive stages of commercialization:

1. the submission of your idea through the innovation challenge taking place twice per year
2. a three-month enrichment phase, including discussions with potential customers and investors
3. a funded venture timebox of six to nine months to shape a dynamic technical and commercial team and secure crucial investor relationships
4. the establishment of the start-up

Services for deep-tech investors

As an investor, you sense the immense potential of deep-tech innovation. However, navigating the landscape of elevated technology risks can be daunting. Imec.DeepTechVentures bridges that gap.

As one of the world’s leading deep-tech innovation hubs, imec can uniquely assess and address tech disruption risks, including a path to manufacturing. And we connect you with start-ups that rely on technologies validated in-house.

This is your chance to invest in solutions poised to redefine industries and address global challenges head-on. Join us in propelling visionary technologies to the forefront of global progress.

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Deep-tech startups supported by imec

These startups talk about how access to imec’s technology and support contributed to their success: 

• SOLiTHOR, which spearheads the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative solid-state lithium (Li) battery cell technology. Read the press release
• Swave, which revolutionizes holographic extended reality (HXR) technology to bring the metaverse to life. Read the press release
• Axithra, which develops a technology platform for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to quickly and accurately measure drug concentrations in a patient’s blood. Read the press release
• Axelera AI, which joined forces with imec to develop groundbreaking computing architecture for high-performance AI, and successfully closed a seed investment round of $12 million joined by imec and imec.xpand. Read the press release
• Xanadu, which develops photonic chips for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Read the press release
• Biotelemetry, which developed the next generation of its wearable device for arrhythmia detection with imec. Read the article 
• Tridimeo, which produced a highly-precise 3D vision solution for industrial robots with imec’s hyperspectral imaging technology. Read the article 
• Genalyte, which, together with imec, developed and produced disposable biosensor chips for its diagnostic and molecular detection equipment. Read the press release 
• Sarcura, which collaborates with imec on high throughput cytometry automated (T-)cell separation. Read the press release
• Neurogyn, which leverages imec’s expertise in implantable solutions to develop a neurostimulation device for pelvic nerve disorders. Read the press release
• Vertical Compute, which tackles AI's memory compute bottleneck. Read the press release