Deep tech, with its transformative potential, is a critical player in addressing pressing global issues. It encompasses a wide array of innovative solutions rooted in early- stage, unproven scientific or engineering advancements. The cutting-edge developments in quantum computing, energy technology, space technology, computational chemistry, synthetic biology, robotics, government tech, and communications tech are instrumental in creating groundbreaking products and services. When these developments are integrated with human-centered design thinking, they generate new intellectual property, offering transformative solutions to global problems like climate change, healthcare, security, and sustainable development. Artificial Intelligence (AI), serving as the ether and the fundamental operating system, is the driving force behind a thriving deep tech ecosystem, bringing about transformational change across industries and business models.
While breakthrough technologies are at the core of deep tech, the role of finance, government, and the human element must be addressed as they implicate each other in various ways. The development and scalability of emerging technologies are only possible with a significant mobilisation of private capital, as deep tech investments carry a higher level of risk than ordinary investments due to substantial capital requirements and an uncertain commercialisation roadmap. Developing a practical governance framework is vital as clear and well-defined regulations help foster certainty by creating a stable macro environment for deep tech development while reducing hurdles for practitioners and investors. The importance of human capital cannot also be neglected, as a talented workforce is the driving force behind the success of innovation and sustainable economic development in the long run.
The network will bring together representatives from government, startups, big tech, industry, institutional investors, and practitioners from like-minded countries who will have the opportunity to discuss how responsible deep tech collaboration can be fostered and scaled up to drive innovation and tackle shared challenges.
The inaugural edition of the Deep Tech Network in 2024 will aim to:
19:00 - 22:00 (AE)
08:30 - 09:30 (AE)
09:30 - 10:45 (AE)
In the Chair:
Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation
Introductory Remarks:
Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit, United Arab Emirates
Special Address:
Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor, United States
Keynote Address:
Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates
In Conversation:
H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates
Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego, United States
10:45 - 11:15 (AE)
11:15 - 11:45 (AE)
Yervant Zorian, President, Synopsys Armenia; Chief Architect and Fellow, Synopsys, Republic of Armenia (Pre-recorded message)
Maggie Sprenger, General Partner and Co-Founder, Audere Capital, United States
Rajan Luthra, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; Chairman's Office, Head-Special Projects, Reliance Industries, India
11:45 - 13:15 (AE)
This segment will focus on the strategic importance of startups, scalable insurgents, and established industry players within the deep tech space. Companies will have the opportunity to present their work and technology—from development to application and scalability; what they require (from capital to R&D) to reach their full potential and how global stakeholders can collaborate with them effectively. Conversations will include investment and funding, market access, technical knowledge, access to facilities, and talent acquisition.
In the Chair:
Maggie Sprenger, General Partner and Co-Founder, Audere Capital, United States
Scene Setting Presentation:
Charles Clancy, Senior Vice President, MITRE, United States
Pitches will encompass the following thematic areas:
Smart Manufacturing: Advances in next-generation computing and communications have completely altered the manufacturing landscape. Breakthrough developments in advanced materials, nanotechnology, and novel alloys have transformed modular manufacturing, technology integration, and circular economy principles. Discussions can centre on the approaches to overcome the physical and institutional inertia of legacy processes, to embrace a more innovation-driven future.
Kickoff Interventions:
Parag Naik, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Saankhya Labs, India
Jags Kandasamy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Latent AI, United States
Sandeep Shah, Managing Director, Optimized Electrotech, India
Tech For Good: Disruptive technologies have revolutionised the fields of healthcare, disaster management, space operations, transportation, and agriculture, expanding the realm of possibilities for the use of tech in welfare and human security, and providing innovative solutions to collective problems. Advanced technologies can convert structured and unstructured data into actionable insights at speed and at scale, which can elevate clinical outcomes, enhance precision agriculture, forecast weather, predict natural disasters, assess food value chains, and enhance space situational awareness.
Kickoff Interventions:
Ayushi Mishra, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, DronaMaps, India
Ishita Barua, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Livv Health, Norway
Marie Lou Papazian, Founding Chief Executive Officer, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, Republic of Armenia
Harnessing Dual-Use Tech: The Fourth Industrial Revolution has significantly impacted the development and proliferation of dual-use technologies, which have both civilian and military applications. Developments in augmented reality, GPS, thermal imaging, nuclear technologies, hypersonic capabilities, and drones have fundamentally transformed industries and society. The concentration of these technologies in the hands of one entity can however affect competitiveness, innovation and supply chain resilience. Governments, private sector enterprises, and civil society actors must work collaboratively to establish frameworks for the responsible development, ethical use, and continuing evolution of these technologies.
Kickoff Interventions:
Sameer Joshi, Chief Executive Officer and Director, NewSpace R&T, India
Philip Jungen, Founder, Darkstar, Germany
Fabio Masci, Lead Executive, The Edge Company, Italy
Discussants
Discussant 1:
Yonghwan Kim, Chief Executive Officer and President, Smart Radar System, South Korea
Discussant 2:
Praveen Dwarakanath, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Big Bang Boom Solutions, India
13:15 - 14:30 (AE)
14:30 - 14:40 (AE)
Vivek Lall, Chief Executive Officer, General Atomics Global Corporation, United States
14:40 - 16:10 (AE)
In the Chair:
Rajan Luthra, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; Chairman's Office, Head-Special Projects, Reliance Industries, India
Scene Setting Presentation:
Takayuki Sato, Resident Executive Officer, Regional Head for Europe Middle East and Africa, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, United Kingdom
A deep tech ecosystem grounded on early stage unproven scientific and engineering advances requires significant mobilisation of private capital. These technologies carry a higher level of risk than ordinary investments due to their substantial capital requirements, and an uncertain commercialisation roadmap for the future. Institutional investors, venture capital firms, and private equity funds will elaborate on their investment theses, time horizons, and main challenges when it comes to the deep tech sector. This session will serve as a bridge between capital allocators, founders, and practitioners.
Kickoff Interventions:
Rajeev Mantri, Founder and Managing Director, Navam Capital, India
Tsuyoshi Ito, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner, Beyond Next Ventures, Japan
Peter Ackerson, General Partner, Audere Capital, United States
Sachin Seth, General Partner, Trousdale Ventures, United States
Armen Kherlopian, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant Venture Capital, Republic of Armenia
Mohamed ElDoh, Director of International Business Development, United Investment, United Arab Emirates
Abdullah Al-Shaksy, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Phaze Ventures, United Arab Emirates
Amine Staali, Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, DeepMinds Ventures, United Arab Emirates
Karen Gyulbudaghyan, Founder, Strategic Value Ventures, United States
Discussants:
Discussant 1:
Tigran Shahverdyan, Co-founder and Board Member, Bazoomq Space Research Lab, Republic of Armenia
Discussant 2:
Salil Lakhanpal, AVP, AgNext, India
Discussant 3:
Kedar Nadgaundi, Executive Director, Levicon India System Pvt Ltd, India
16:10 - 16:30 (AE)
16:30 - 16:40 (AE)
Andrew Pease, Technical Collaboration Manager, Energy Systems Catapult, United Kingdom
16:40 - 18:00 (AE)
In the Chair:
Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India
Scene Setting Presentation:
Khalifa Juma AlQama, Head of Labs, Dubai Future Foundation, United Arab Emirates
The development and scalability of novel solutions to address humanity's most pressing problems requires inclusive collaboration across borders and stakeholder groups. Common principles for deep tech collaboration must be developed with human beings at the core, so as to effectively forge international partnerships and institutionalise the roadmap for effective governance and oversight. Embracing responsible innovation, robust intellectual property frameworks, talent development, knowledge sharing, and global connectivity is key to unlocking the transformative potential of deep tech innovations.
Kickoff Interventions:
Del Titus Bawuah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Future Forward, United Kingdom
PJ Maykish, Senior Advisor, Special Competitive Studies Project, United States
Andy Sellars, Chair, UK Semiconductor Expert Working Group, United Kingdom
Prashant Pathak, Chief Executive Officer, Ekagrata Inc, Canada
Justain Bracken, Chief Executive Officer, Helianthus Holding, United Arab Emirates
Rabih Khoury, Partner and Chief Exit Officer, Middle East Venture Partners, United Arab Emirates
Musafumi Senda, Country Head, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, India
Miiko Yasumatsu, Chief Officer - Global Business Support Section Startup Support Department, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan
Raffi Kassarjian, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Advisor, Sensyan, United States
Lara Setrakian, President, Applied Policy Research Institute, Republic of Armenia
Discussants:
Discussant 1:
Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Research Fellow, Applied Policy Research Institute, Republic of Armenia
Discussant 2:
Christine Callsen, Strategy Director, MITRE, United States
Discussant 3:
Norine MacDonald, President and Founder, RAIN Defense + AI, United Arab Emirates
18:00 - 18:10 (AE)
Ashok Malik, Partner and Chair-India Practice, The Asia Group, India
18:10 - 18:20 (AE)
Verena Sturm, Director of Innovation, Tech and Social Impact, Observer Research Foundation - Middle East, United Arab Emirates
Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit, United Arab Emirates
18:25 - 19:00 (AE)
19:00 - 20:30 (AE)
