Estonian Deeptech Delegation Visits Cambridge Tech Week
From September 15–19, representatives of Estonia’s deeptech startup ecosystem visited Cambridge Tech Week to explore what makes Cambridge the UK’s leading hub for science-based spinouts.
The Estonian delegation included Mariann Proos and Inga Kõue from Startup Estonia, Kadri Sundja from UniTartu Ventures, Mihkel Tammo from the University of Tartu, and Rasmus Kalep from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). The goal of the visit was to learn from Cambridge’s experience and bring back insights to strengthen Estonia’s own science-based entrepreneurship landscape.
Key Takeaways
Cambridge’s success didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of 30 years of intentional ecosystem building, strategic decisions, and substantial funding. Some of the most important lessons we learned:
- Mindset shift among academics is essential – researchers need to be open to career paths beyond traditional academia.
- University and national policy support is critical – change should be supported by policy, not driven solely by it.
- Early-stage funding is a key success factor for deeptech startups. The UK is actively addressing this challenge: last year, £10 million was invested through Deeptech Labs to support early-stage science-based startups.
In addition to inspiring panels and keynotes, the delegation had several insightful 1:1 conversations with local ecosystem leaders. Cambridge’s journey shows that building a thriving deeptech ecosystem requires long-term vision, collaboration, and robust support structures.
The Estonian team returns with valuable knowledge and connections that will help shape a stronger science-based startup environment – one where deeptech ventures can grow, scale, and make a global impact.