DEETECHTIVE intends to transform each participating HEI into a university of significantly increased entrepreneurial and innovation capacity, and to enhance their impact on surrounding ecosystems.

We are facing a major shift in the way that people work, innovate and study. This is caused not only by the Industry 4.0 era and social media, but also the huge transformation in education and labour systems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. DEETECHTIVE’s unique approach is therefore based on deep tech, open innovation, sharing economy and social product development.

DEETECHTIVE sees a path in HEIs’ transformation towards universities of increased entrepreneurial and innovation capacity through Open Science by implementing an IVAP focused on (see details below):

• Action 1: Talent Hunter Space;
• Action 2: Deep Tech Dates;
• Action 3: International Open Innovation Training: IDEA-up DEEP TECH;
• Action 4: Deep Tech Innovation Challenges;
• Action 5: Pre-Incubation Mentoring Programme: GROW UP TECH;
• Action 6: Start-up Booster;
• Action 7: Knowledge Hotspot.

DEETECHTIVE aims to:

• develop Talent Hunter Space, a pan-European talent and skills development platform for identification of deep tech talents hidden among the student community;
• strengthen partnerships within the Knowledge Triangle for setting up collaborative networks and establishing new partnerships;
• directly speed up innovation process within HEIs and their ecosystems by testing and popularising Open Innovation 2.0 and providing support for deep tech start-ups;
• increase the quality of innovation and support entrepreneurial education through development of an International Open Innovation Training: IDEA-up DEEP TECH and Pre-Incubation Mentoring Programme, GROW UP TECH;
• collect success stories and lessons learned to share knowledge with local ecosystems and cooperation networks.

By implementing the Actions, the Project will:

• support 5 start-up/scale-ups;
• train 725 and mentor 75 students;
• train 132 and mentor 39 academic staff;
• train 132 and mentor 39 non-academic staff;
• create 17 support structures and mechanisms;
• create 3 new partnerships;
• create 1 start-up.

DEETECHTIVE represents six partners:

• five HEIs: Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PL), Holon Institute of Technology (IL), University of Genova (IT), EPF School of Engineering (FR), Centria University of Applied Sciences (FI);
• one business support organisation: Institute of Technology Transfer (PL).

Except for key players of the Knowledge Triangle, DEETECHTIVE will connect two additional aspects – society and sustainable development issues – which will complement the quintuple innovation helix model addressing university-industry-government-public-environment.

To make sure that DEETECHTIVE outcomes will make a difference in terms of expected Vision for 2030, all the results will be assessed, lessons learned described, and transferability plans developed in the form of ready-to-implement methodologies to ensure easy transfer to other entities.

Action 1: Talent Hunter Space 

1. Estabilishing Talent Hunter Space on-line platform with functionalities of:  

1. talent hunting (indicating talented students by academic teachers) 

2. identification of ecosystem needs in terms of students’ Deep Tech training –  

3. database of events/ trainings focused on DT, Innovation and Entrepreneuship 

2. Training for non-academic staff (f.e. career offices, academic incubators, students offices, etc.) to enhance their competences in students’ career counselling, skills profiling and matching and other initiatives that enable students to decide on the pathways necessary to excel in Deep Tech professions; 

Action 2: Deep Tech Dates 

Open-access trainings focused on innovation capacity building and development of entrepreneurial mindsets and skills in Deep Tech. One of the purposes of DTDs is to connect and create strong links representatives of different groups of the knowledge triangle, so that they can share their experiences, problems, ideas and start new collaborations.   

Action 3: Start-up booster 

Project partners will provide a list of services that can support the start-ups or answer specific requirements of Deep Tech start-ups in need.  Then each startup will be provided with a suited 2-month support  that will  contribute to the company’s growth.

Action 4:  Deep Tech innovation challenges 

Deep Tech innovation challenges are foreseen to develop solutions focussed on Deep Tech topics by HEI students. The DTIC will connect innovation actors in need (challenge givers) with students that can help (solution providers). Challenge giver will prepare a Deep Tech challenge description, requirements and conditions that must be met by the solution and will upload challenge to Synergy platform. 

Action 5: International Open Innovation Training: IDEA-up DEEP TECH 

The main aim of the International Open Innovation Training IDEA-up DEEP TECH program is to organize an asynchronic on-line training course to support: 

• Engineering students – Innovation/entrepreneurship capacity building training 
• Non-engineering students – deep tech focus training 

The course foresees at least 50 hours of online lectures and self-study activities. 

Action 6: Pre Incubation Mentoring Program “GROW UP TECH” 

Students that successfully finish IDEA-up DEEP TECH can apply to take part in GROW UP TECH mentoring programme. The skills and knowledge gained in A.5 will be deepened and students will have an opportunity to develop their deep tech business ideas through physically workshops and online sessions held by professional, experienced entrepreneurs  and experts, to help and guide students and PhD students to turn idea into real business.