Funding the AI Economy—a new report developed under the StepUp Startups project—shows AI has moved to the center of global VC, yet Europe still lacks late-stage scale. From 2020–2025, the EU deployed ~€252B in VC with 18% to AI, versus the US’s ~€1.33T with 34% to AI; in €25M+ rounds EU investors provide only ~26% of capital. The report outlines targeted fixes—an AI Scaleup Fund, mobilizing institutional capital, and stronger corporate VC—to keep Europe’s AI champions built and scaled at home.
Maritime Innovation for Smart Specialisation in the Western Mediterranean
Co-funded by the European Union under EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT) jointly with DEEP Ecosystems, Region de Murcia, FMRM, ALDA, Justonearth, Maltaccelerate, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, Changemakers Agency, CTN, and Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione will lead MED-Hubs—two interregional hubs in Spain and Italy accelerating maritime innovation from idea to market.
Europe’s AI Talent Revolution: Growth, Gaps, and Global Competition
Europe is experiencing a surge in AI talent—but also facing fierce global competition. A newly released report, Shaping the Future of AI Talent in Europe, developed under the StepUp Startups project, explores how the continent is building, attracting, and retaining the next generation of AI professionals. Backed by new data, the study highlights Europe’s record growth in AI expertise, emerging talent hubs like Dublin and Zurich, persistent gender and mobility gaps, and the strategies needed to secure Europe’s leadership in ethical, human-centered AI.
How AI is Redefining Public Services in Europe
AI is no longer confined to private companies—it is reshaping how governments serve citizens. A newly released report, The Opportunity for AI to Enhance Public Sector Services, developed under the StepUp Startups project, explores how AI is transforming healthcare, taxation, justice, and citizen services across Europe. Backed by fresh data and case studies, the study highlights adoption trends, regional divides, key challenges such as data protection and skills gaps, and actionable strategies to scale trustworthy, citizen-centered AI in public administrations.
How AI is Transforming Business Support Processes in Europe
AI in business is no longer confined to core operations—it is transforming the support functions that keep companies running. A newly released report, The Opportunity for AI to Enhance Business Support Processes, examines how AI is reshaping HR, Finance, and Customer Service across the EU, turning these functions into strategic enablers of productivity and innovation. Supported by the European Union, the study highlights adoption trends, investment gaps, case studies, and practical recommendations to accelerate responsible and impactful AI integration in Europe’s business landscape.
Launch of the Startup Heatmap Europe Report 2025
DEEP’s annual flagship report on founder mobility and Europe’s most desired startup locations. Since 2016 the Startup Heatmap Europe report is a trusted source for startups, investors and policy-makers on how founders view the interconnections between startup hubs on the continent.
Unleashing the Power of University Spin-Offs in Europe’s Deep Tech Revolution
University spin-offs are not just startups; they are powerful engines driving Europe’s deep tech ecosystem. A newly released report, Spin-offs: Reinforcing a Vector of Value Creation for EU-27, delves into the crucial role these ventures play in translating cutting-edge research into market-ready solutions, fostering regional economic development, and propelling technological innovation. Supported by the European Union, this comprehensive study uncovers key trends, challenges, and actionable strategies to maximize the success of these vital companies.
The Connectivity of Startup Ecosystems in Europe
Despite Europe’s thriving startup ecosystems, fragmentation remains a major obstacle to growth. Regulatory hurdles, market segmentation, and uneven resource distribution limit the scalability and investment potential of European startups. However, a glimmer of hope shines through: increased founder mobility and emerging interconnected regions are paving the way for a more unified landscape. As part of the StepUp StartUps project, we’ve delved into this connectivity and produced the report, “Beyond Fragmentation: The Connectivity of Startup Ecosystems in Europe.”
How To Become Europe’s Innovation Capital
DEEP supports cities and regions to build cutting-edge innovation ecosystems. In 2022, we partnered with the City of Mainz (Germany) and supported the mayor-endorsed application to become recognized as Europe’s most innovative city. As a result, Mainz reached the formidable second place as European Rising Innovative city. DEEP Ecosystems works with cities and their representatives
Driving Mediterranean AgriFood Innovation: DEEP Ecosystems’ and Johan Jörgensen’s Success Story
Matera, Italy In 2022, the city of Stockholm embarked on an ambitious endeavour to position itself as a centre for impact innovation in Europe. For this purpose, the city of Stockholm commissioned DEEP Ecosystems to join the initiative. Collaborating closely with Jenny Berthling and the team from Invest Stockholm, the objective was to devise a