View source for What is Deep Tech

There is no standardised definition of Deep Tech. This page provides a shared understanding of what Deep Tech is for the purposes of this wiki. 

If you think this page can be improved or updated, we invite you to [[Talk:What is Deep Tech]] to discuss.

== Simple Test ==

Ask the following question:

{| class="wikitable"; background:#f8f9fa;"
| style="padding:1em;" | ''Does this work go beyond standard product development with meaningful scientific discovery, advanced engineering, or original research?'' 
|}

If the answer is yes, this project is deep tech.

==More considerations==

===Usage of the term===
The term Deep Tech is almost exclusively used by the startup and venture industry. There is an implicit understanding deep tech refers to a startup or a research project with commercialisation goals. 

===Level of technical innovation===
Deep Tech was initially coined to differentiate a sub-sector of the Tech industry, which was dominated by internet, mobile, or Software-as-a-Service solutions. Deep Tech referred to innovative solutions that went beyond incremental improvements to products or business models. Put a different way, these solutions had '''scientific or engineering breakthroughs''', with the potential to disrupt industries or solve longstanding problems in industries. 

====Common features of deep tech startups====
Providing an objective criteria for the level of technical innovation necessary for Deep Tech recognition is impossible. However, the level of technical expected often means a deep tech startup has:
* Technology arising from work done in tertiary research institutions, such as universities or corporate R&D
* Intellectual property protection (i.e. patents) for core technologies
* PhD-level expertise as part of the startup team or as advisory
These are just helpful markers. A startup may have none of these features but still be recognised as Deep Tech.