Deep Tech Scotland - 2026 Report Launch

Scotland has built a strong foundation in deep tech — from photonics and quantum to life sciences, AI, and space. But translating that strength into scaled companies and sustained economic impact remains an open challenge.

This event marks the launch of the Scottish Deep Tech Report 2026, produced by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with Dealroom. The report provides a detailed evidence base on the current state of Scotland’s deep tech ecosystem, including where it is working, where it is not, and what may need to change.

Drawing on new data and ecosystem analysis, the report shows:

• A rapidly growing base of deep tech startups, now valued at nearly $8bn collectively
• Strong early-stage activity, particularly in biotech and AI, underpinned by world-class research
• A persistent gap in scaling, with relatively few companies progressing to later stages
• Structural challenges around infrastructure, capital, and commercial leadership that shape this outcome

The report also sets out a series of priorities for strengthening Scotland’s deep tech ecosystem — from developing scale-up leadership capability to rethinking infrastructure, procurement, and models of innovation.

• A short presentation of the report’s key findings
• A panel discussion with founders, investors, and policymakers
• Open discussion on what it will take to build and retain deep tech companies in Scotland

This event is aimed at those working in and around the deep tech ecosystem, including:

• Founders and operators
• Investors and funders
• Policymakers and public sector leaders
• University and research stakeholders

The Scottish Deep Tech Report 2026 provides a data-driven and analytical view of Scotland’s deep tech landscape, alongside recommendations developed by researchers at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School. It forms part of a broader effort to understand how deep tech ecosystems function — and how they can be developed on their own terms rather than by replicating external models .

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Host or Publisher Journal of Management Studies