Expert estimates suggest that the European deep-tech sector could reach a value close to one trillion euros and create up to one million new jobs by 2030. At the same time, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlight the development of this sector as one of the key instruments for economic transformation, technological competitiveness and societal resilience in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The term deep tech refers to solutions based on complex scientific discoveries and research — from artificial intelligence, biotechnology and medical technologies to robotics, photonics, quantum technologies, advanced materials and defence innovations. The development of these industries often requires long-term research, advanced laboratory infrastructure, highly qualified specialists and significant investment. At the same time, knowledge-intensive companies create higher added value, well-paid jobs and strong export potential, which is why the sector is attracting increasing levels of private investment as well as national and European Union support.
In Latvia, knowledge-intensive technologies - particularly biomedicine, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, information and communication technologies, photonics and smart materials -have also been defined as one of the country’s strategic development priorities. These topics will receive special attention this year at Northern Europe’s leading science-driven technology conference “Deep Tech Atelier 2026”, organised by the (LIAA), which will bring together scientists, startups, investors, policymakers and technology experts from more than 60 countries in Riga on May 14–15.
This year’s conference will focus on health technologies, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, defence innovation and dual-use solutions, with particular emphasis on the practical implementation of innovation in healthcare and society.
The conference programme will include investor and startup presentations, workshops and demo stand showcasing practical technology solutions, while more than 100 international experts and industry representatives will speak across three stages. Among them will be Ukrainian innovation expert Mariia Krasnoshchok, whose professional work lies at the intersection of science, innovation and policy. Mariia is an innovation expert at the and is involved in innovation policy and research development initiatives across Ukraine and Europe.
Ukraine as a Global Testing Ground
According to her, one of the most significant accelerators of medical technology development in recent years has been the war in Ukraine itself, transforming innovations from theoretical ideas into practical, life-saving solutions.
“Since the beginning of the war, science in Ukraine has shifted from being a driver of economic development to becoming a foundation of national survival. While research and development cycles previously took years, innovations are now reaching practical implementation within just weeks. Technologies must solve concrete and urgent problems, which is why most intellectual capacity is currently concentrated in medical and defence technologies,” she explains.
As a result of the war, Ukraine has seen particularly rapid development in tactical medicine, rehabilitation solutions, telemedicine, bionic prosthetics and AI-powered diagnostic tools.
“Tactical medicine, advanced prosthetics and the treatment of blast injuries have become top priorities. At the same time, psychological support systems for so-called “invisible injuries” are becoming increasingly important, meaning Ukraine has effectively become a global testing ground for new rehabilitation and treatment solutions,” says Mariia Krasnoshchok.
According to her, artificial intelligence is already widely used in CT scan and X-ray analysis, helping doctors identify shrapnel and other injuries more quickly, while in prosthetics, AI technologies help adapt and “train” bionic limbs to the specific needs of individual patients.
“We are also seeing rapid development of immersive technologies and computer vision solutions that help patients after amputations reduce phantom pain and adapt to prosthetics. Many technologies originally developed for military purposes are now increasingly entering civilian medicine as well,” the expert notes.
During the war years, Ukraine has also produced several internationally recognised medical technology solutions, including “Esper Bionics” smart bionic prosthetics, “SYLA” AI-powered knee prosthetics, “Allbionics” 3D-printed arm prosthetics, “Aspichi” virtual reality rehabilitation solutions, as well as “Tayra.ai”, an AI-powered assistant designed to automate medical documentation and reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals. Many of these technologies were initially developed to solve war-related challenges but are now increasingly being applied in civilian medicine and rehabilitation.
At the same time, telemedicine and remote healthcare solutions are developing rapidly and, under wartime conditions, have become critically important for ensuring continuous patient care.
“Telemedicine is currently vital because it allows world-class specialists to remotely assist surgeons working near the front line during highly complex operations. For people living in frontline areas, veterans, internally displaced persons and patients with limited mobility, it is often the only way to receive uninterrupted medical care and specialist consultations,” she says.
Deliberately Reducing Bureaucratic Burdens
Ukraine’s experience vividly demonstrates how quickly innovation development and collaboration models between governments, scientists, hospitals and technology companies can change in times of crisis. According to the expert, one of the most significant benefits has been the substantial reduction of bureaucratic barriers and the much faster implementation of innovation in practice.
During this period, cooperation between the state, scientists, hospitals and startups has also intensified. For example, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health introduced the “MedTech Sandboxes” model, allowing the safe testing of medical AI algorithms and 3D technologies in hospitals, while the Ministry of Education and Science is developing a “government as customer” approach, in which the state defines problems while scientists and innovators provide solutions.
“After the war began, we experienced an almost immediate reduction in bureaucratic friction - regulatory sandboxes were introduced to significantly accelerate the testing, certification and practical implementation of both defence and medical technologies. In a situation where technologies can directly influence the saving of human lives, the speed of innovation implementation became just as important as the solutions themselves. This created a far more flexible collaboration model between the state, hospitals, scientists and startups. Ukraine has effectively demonstrated that in the 21st century, national security is as biological and digital as it is territorial,” stresses Mariia Krasnoshchok.
“Deep Tech Atelier” — Where Science, Investors and Industry Meet
The need to rapidly transfer innovations from laboratories into practical application is also one of the central focuses of this year’s “Deep Tech Atelier 2026”. Over the course of two days, the conference will host expert discussions, startup pitch sessions for investors, investor presentations, workshops and demo stands featuring practical technology demonstrations. The event will bring together an international innovation ecosystem - researchers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
Mariia Krasnoshchok emphasises that the importance of such platforms continues to grow: “These events function as synapses of the innovation ecosystem, connecting scientists, investors, startups and policymakers. They create an environment where trust-based partnerships can emerge - partnerships that are impossible to build entirely remotely or through a screen,” she says. “In deep tech innovation, it is especially important to meet people who can help transform technology into a real product and bring it to market. For developers, it is also an opportunity to integrate into the European innovation ecosystem and find partners for the development of complex medical and dual-use technologies.”
RIS3 — Smart Specialisation for European Competitiveness
In Latvia, innovation policy is implemented through RIS3 - the Smart Specialisation Strategy - which defines priority sectors with high development and export potential. RIS3 covers bioeconomy, biomedicine, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, photonics and smart materials, smart energy and mobility, as well as information and communication technologies. The aim of this approach is to create a coordinated innovation governance model that strengthens the links between science, industry and investment, while promoting technology transfer and international competitiveness.
According to Mariia Krasnoshchok, Latvia has the potential to become an important partner within the Ukrainian and broader European health technology ecosystem: “Latvia’s expertise in deep tech makes it an ideal partner for introducing Ukrainian innovations tested in real-life conditions into the European Union market. Ukraine provides unique practical implementation experience, while Europe offers the regulatory framework and growth resources,” she emphasises.
Mariia Krasnoshchok also emphasises that investments into science, health technologies and deep tech innovation should not be viewed only through an economic lens. “The development of science and deep tech should also be seen as a preventive instrument that can help reduce future geopolitical escalation and polarisation in Eastern Europe. Strong innovation ecosystems create resilience, cooperation and long-term stability — and today this is becoming increasingly important for the whole region,” she stresses.
You can register for the conference free of charge here: https://deeptechatelier.com/.
“Deep Tech Atelier” is implemented within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund co-financed projects “Support for Improving the Technology Transfer System” and “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship of SMEs”, as well as with co-financing from the European Union Recovery Fund (NextGenerationEU).
