DeepTech is an area of business or research that involves using advanced science and technology, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, or advances in biotechnology, to provide solutions to complicated problems. (Cambridge Dictionary) 

The ‘DeepTech in HEIs and Ecosystems through Entrepreneurial Education’ (SFF.DeepT+) consortium will be led by the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and will be supported by ten other institutions across Europe, including:  

• Queen’s University Belfast, UK  
• Edinburgh Napier University, UK  
• Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany  
• Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship - Tecno campus, Germany 
• University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Poland  
• University of Osijek, Croatia 
• University of Economics – Varna, Bulgaria 
• VIA University College, Denmark 
• Dundalk Institute of Technology, Republic of Ireland  

The project aims to offer a flexible and holistic programme that supports students from the first year of DeepTech Bachelor, Master’s and PhD tracks, as well as early-stage researchers, while bringing together external stakeholders, industry, and business experts together in a co-creation environment. 

This new grant will help the University continue to lead the way in innovation and entrepreneurship while offering extra resources to focus on the growing needs of the DeepTech sector.   

The announcement follows Queen's University’s successful participation in a new competitive round of funding worth €750k from the European Institute of Technology (EIT) under its Higher Education Initiative.  

Paul Donachy, Head of Innovation Programmes at Queen's, said: "We are delighted to secure this funding from the European Institute of Technology to support the SFF.DeepT+ obtained project.  

“It will help establish the necessary environment to further enhance the DeepTech ecosystem in Northern Ireland, by providing an education framework focused on the specific needs of Deep Tech, foster collaboration, and participation within the Knowledge Triangle at local level but also across Europe. We look forward to working with our partners in the SFF.DeepT+ consortium to deliver this exciting initiative."  

The SFF.DeepT+ project will offer a flexible and holistic programme that supports students from the first year of DeepTech Bachelor, Master’s and PhD tracks, as well as early-stage researchers, while bringing together external stakeholders, industry, and business experts together in a co-creation environment.  

Queen's has a proven track record in entrepreneurship and innovation, having been ranked 1st in the UK as the most entrepreneurial university in 2019 and 2020 by Octopus Ventures. 

In 2021 Queen’s successfully led the EntreUnity project, a £1.2m Horizon Europe funded programme aimed at tackling global food security, ageing populations and climate change by educating and training the next generation of agri-food, health and green-tech students in entrepreneurship and leadership.  

For more information on SFF.DeepT+ visit HEI Initiative (eit-hei.eu) or contact Margot Bucaille, Digital Transformation Lead at Research and Enterprise at Queen’s, on email: m.bucaille@qub.ac.uk  

 

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