Where the Next Deep Tech Talent Hubs Are Emerging
- Koda
- Nov 12
- 5 min read
A geography-driven look at Europe’s rising clusters: Munich, Delft, Cluj, Barcelona, Tampere, and beyond
The new geography of deep tech
Deep tech does not spread evenly; it concentrates. Scientific infrastructure, university proximity, regulation, and access to capital make certain places more fertile than others.
For years, Europe’s deep tech map has been dominated by familiar names - London, Paris, Munich, Cambridge, Stockholm. But as costs rise, ecosystems mature, and public programs expand, new nodes are appearing.
They are smaller, more focused, and in many cases, better aligned with the practical needs of emerging technologies. They offer a mix of research depth, available talent, and affordability that attracts both startups and established players seeking scale.
Why this shift matters
Unlike software, deep tech depends on physical proximity. Access to labs, testing infrastructure, and collaboration networks still defines where innovation happens.
The European Deep Tech Report 2025 (Dealroom & Lakestar) points to a second tier of high-growth regions combining academic excellence with affordable ecosystems. These are the places where Europe’s next wave of engineers, founders, and applied scientists are beginning to cluster - and where companies like yours will increasingly find (or lose) their edge.
1. Munich, Germany
Munich has long been an industrial capital, but over the past five years, it has consolidated its position as Europe’s deep tech industrial nexus.
Anchored by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), the city blends academic strength with heavy corporate R&D. TUM’s Quantum Entrepreneurship Laboratory and the Munich Quantum Valley initiative illustrate how the region is turning world-class research into startups.
Automotive, robotics, and AI continue to dominate, but quantum and advanced materials are emerging fast. The difference is integration: Munich’s corporates, VCs, and labs now function as one dense ecosystem. The result is a city that combines innovation credibility with industrial readiness, a rare mix in Europe.
2. Delft and the Eindhoven Corridor, Netherlands
The Netherlands has built one of Europe’s most efficient deep tech ecosystems, quietly pairing engineering excellence with pragmatic commercial support.
Delft’s TU Delft and Eindhoven University of Technology form the backbone of the region’s talent pipeline. The High Tech Campus Eindhoven, home to more than 300 companies and 12,000 professionals, connects academic research directly to industry and venture creation.
Venture builders such as HighTechXL specialize in transforming university IP into scalable startups. Add to that the country’s strong photonics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing base, and the Netherlands is emerging as Europe’s most balanced environment for applied deep tech.
3. Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Eastern Europe is often overlooked in deep tech conversations, but Cluj is fast changing that perception.
The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca is one of the early contributors to the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, which aims to train half a million deep tech professionals by 2027. The region’s competitive advantage is pragmatic: a high density of engineers, strong applied mathematics background, and far lower operational costs than Western Europe.
Cluj’s ecosystem still lacks the hardware infrastructure of older hubs, but its momentum in embedded systems, robotics, and AI applications makes it a serious location for R&D and nearshore technical operations. For many scale-ups, it offers what Western Europe no longer can, technical excellence at sustainable cost.
4. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona’s rise as a deep tech hub is no accident. The 22@ Innovation District in Poblenou was one of Europe’s first large-scale urban experiments in converting industrial land into mixed-use innovation space.
Today, it hosts research centers, venture studios, and labs focused on AI, robotics, and medical technologies. The city also hosts the ELLIS Barcelona Unit, part of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, strengthening its academic base in AI research.
Barcelona combines research credibility with quality of life, an underrated factor in attracting international engineers and scientists. Its cost base remains competitive compared to Western capitals, and its appeal to global talent makes it a rising destination for R&D teams and founders alike.
5. Tampere, Finland
Tampere is Finland’s deep tech workhorse. Long overshadowed by Helsinki, it is now gaining recognition as a center for applied research in automation, wireless systems, and industrial AI.
Tampere University and its applied sciences network are key partners in the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, and the region invests heavily in public-private collaboration. Finland’s R&D spending per capita remains among the highest in Europe, and Tampere benefits from the country’s robust innovation infrastructure, without the capital’s overheads.
For hardware-intensive startups, Tampere offers access to advanced test environments, strong research talent, and a stable ecosystem designed for sustainable growth.
6. Other clusters to watch
Several smaller ecosystems are rising fast:
Copenhagen (Denmark): Deep roots in biotech, sustainability, and green materials, supported by DTU’s Science Park.
Espoo (Finland): Adjacent to Helsinki, home to the Espoo Innovation Garden and leading research institutions.
Brno (Czech Republic): A growing node in cybersecurity and semiconductors, driven by the Czech Technical University and strong state investment.
Wrocław (Poland): Emerging in mobility and automation, leveraging industrial manufacturing capacity and a strong academic network.
Common DNA of emerging hubs
Shared Strength | Why It Matters |
University–industry proximity | Accelerates commercialisation and spinout creation |
Policy and EU funding alignment | De-risks early R&D through grants and programs like Horizon Europe and EIC Accelerator |
Moderate cost of living | Supports long-term researcher retention |
Sector specialisation | Creates identity and investor confidence (e.g. photonics in Eindhoven, robotics in Tampere) |
Strong international connectivity | Enables hybrid models: R&D in second-tier cities, HQ in global markets |
The real differentiator is not cost or infrastructure alone, but how well each city integrates research, entrepreneurship, and governance into a coherent ecosystem.
Risks and realities
While these hubs hold enormous potential, several challenges remain:
Talent mobility: Top graduates still migrate to established capitals unless local career pathways are clear.
Infrastructure gaps: Cleanrooms, advanced labs, and testing facilities remain scarce outside top-tier cities.
Investor access: Venture capital networks continue to cluster around Paris, London, and Berlin.
Policy fragmentation: Local funding and regulation often lag behind EU ambitions.
For now, emerging hubs thrive on specialisation, collaboration, and cross-border partnerships rather than local self-sufficiency.
The strategic takeaway
For founders, this new geography means optionality. Build where your science thrives, not just where capital concentrates. A hybrid model, with R&D in second-tier hubs and business functions in established markets, often maximises both cost efficiency and innovation velocity.
For recruiters, these ecosystems are gold mines. Many senior scientists and engineers are looking to return to their home countries if meaningful, well-funded opportunities exist.
For investors, these hubs represent an early-mover advantage. The quality of research and talent in Europe’s secondary cities is high, but valuations and competition remain low.
Deep tech is local by necessity and global by impact.
Deep Tech Recruitment maps Europe’s emerging innovation ecosystems, connecting frontier companies with world-class researchers, engineers, and leaders
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