Women are still underrepresented in Deep Tech — especially as founders and in core technology roles in industry. In Europe, only 14% of Deep Tech startups are founded by women, who receive less than 11% of investment capital, despite strong performance indicators.
This is not only about equity — it’s about untapped economic and technological potential.
OECD and EU data show that women make up the majority of Europe’s “missing entrepreneurs.” Equal participation could mean over five million more women-led startups. At a time when industrial transformation is critical, this is a gap we cannot ignore.
This session explores two practical paths forward:
– How to support more women in starting and scaling Deep Tech companies
– How industry can open new roles in technology leadership and innovation — including through intrapreneurship
We ask what’s holding progress back — and which efforts truly make a difference. Can the leap from engineer to entrepreneur be shortened by connecting company building with industrial needs?
The session opens with a Tech Talk featuring technologists from Kongsberg Technology Park and deep tech founders.
A panel discussion follows, focusing on structural barriers, practical strategies, and long-term opportunities.
