Deep Tech and Dual-Use: Pioneering the Next Wave of Innovation

In labs and research centers around the world, a new kind of innovation is taking shape. This is not about the next app or incremental update. It is about fundamental breakthroughs in science and engineering that address some of the hardest challenges humanity faces. This is the domain of deep tech.

Deep tech ventures are built on first-of-a-kind discoveries — ideas that were impossible yesterday, barely feasible today, and soon may become so transformative that we cannot imagine life without them. From artificial intelligence to quantum computing, these innovations have the power to reshape entire industries and societies.

What Defines a Deep Tech Venture?

Unlike traditional startups, deep tech ventures carry a distinct DNA:

• Problem-first mission: Deep tech is driven by purpose. Most of these ventures directly contribute to global challenges such as climate resilience, healthcare, or security.

• Convergence of disciplines: Nearly all deep tech companies rely on more than one technology. Breakthroughs often happen at the intersection of AI, advanced materials, robotics, or biotech.

• From bits to atoms: Many deep tech solutions move beyond software to physical products — batteries, chips, medical devices, or robotics — combining atoms and algorithms.

• Defensible technology: Strong intellectual property and patents are common, creating high barriers to entry and long-term resilience.

• Ecosystem-driven: Deep tech thrives in close connection with universities, research institutions, and global talent pools.

• A marathon, not a sprint: Development cycles are long, often five to eight years or more. Scaling requires patient capital and active involvement from investors.

Source: Luminova Ventures

Why Dual-Use Matters

In today’s geopolitical and economic environment, the most transformative technologies are often dual-use — applicable both in commercial and defense contexts.

Historic examples like GPS or the internet show how technologies designed for defense became essential in daily life. Today, areas like AI, robotics, biotechnology, quantum computing, and space technology carry the same dual potential.

For startups, dual-use innovation offers advantages:

• Early adoption by demanding first customers (often in defense).

• Access to non-dilutive funding that helps bridge the gap from lab to market.

• Long-term strategic positioning in industries crucial for national resilience and technological sovereignty.

At the same time, dual-use requires responsible stewardship, balancing innovation with ethics and security concerns.

The Investment Opportunity

The deep tech market is expanding rapidly. Global investment is projected to surpass $700 billion by 2031, with Europe emerging as a strong hub for innovation in AI, biotech, climate tech, quantum computing, and space.

What makes deep tech resilient, even in downturns, is that its value is not tied to hype cycles. It is rooted in science, patents, and real-world impact. For investors, this means higher risks — but also the potential for outsized returns and long-term transformation.

Behind Investments: Our Perspective

At Behind Investments, we believe deep tech and dual-use innovation are at the heart of building a better world. These ventures solve grand challenges, fuel economic transformation, and strengthen security. But they require more than just capital.

Our approach combines investment with active involvement. We work alongside founders, leveraging experience from corporations, startups, and global markets. And together with partners like Luminova Ventures, we connect pioneering science with the networks, expertise, and resources needed to succeed.

Looking Ahead

The next wave of deep tech is already on the horizon: agentic AI, commercial quantum applications, advanced neurotechnology, and synthetic biology are set to reshape our future once again.

For us at Behind Investments, this is not just an investment thesis. It is a commitment to stand behind the people and ideas that will define tomorrow.