If you have heard the phrase “deep tech” and nodded along without being quite sure what it means, you are not alone. The term is used a lot, and explained very little.
I spent a recent Thursday at the Deep Tech London Summit on Brick Lane, part of a city-wide festival, and it prompted me to write this guide for people who work in creative industries.
So, what is deep tech?
Deep tech generally means companies built on significant scientific or engineering breakthroughs, rather than on a new way of packaging existing technology. Think of areas such as robotics, batteries, advanced materials, fusion, automated labs and biotech. Explore the Deep Tech London Summit ↗︎
Compare it with a typical app. A food delivery app uses technology that already exists in a new way. A deep tech company might be developing a new material, a new type of battery or a new medical treatment, which usually involves years of research.
How is it different from other tech?
- Longer timelines. Research and testing can take years before a product reaches the market.
- More investment up front. Labs, equipment and specialist talent are expensive.
- Science at the core. The value often sits in the research itself, and in protecting it.
- Real world impact. The aim is often to solve large problems in energy, health, materials or manufacturing.
Is AI deep tech?
It depends who you ask. Some people count advanced AI research as deep tech. Others treat AI as a separate category and use “deep tech” for work in the physical sciences. When you read about it, check which definition the writer is using.
Why should creative founders care?
Deep tech can feel far from a studio, a market stall or a workshop. Here are a few reasons it may be closer than it looks.
- New materials and tools. Advances in materials and manufacturing can change what makers can produce and how sustainably they can do it.
- New audiences and collaborators. Deep tech companies need designers, storytellers, brand builders and communicators to explain complex work to the public.
- Changing industries. Many sectors are being reshaped by these technologies. Understanding them early may help you adapt your own business.
- Different communities. Spaces like the summit bring together scientists, engineers and founders. Creatives who join the conversation often bring a perspective that is missing.
What stayed with me was how physical the future felt: not abstract technology on a screen, but robots, rocket engines, batteries, new materials and biotech being built by people in the room.
How to start learning
- Follow a deep tech newsletter or community.
- Attend a public event or festival. London has a growing programme.
- Ask questions. Most people in the field are glad to explain their work in plain terms.
- Look for the overlap with your own practice, whether that is materials, sustainability, wellbeing or design.
You do not need a technical background to be curious. The aim is to understand enough to see where your skills fit.
Does deep tech feel like it belongs in your world, or still feels far away? Tell us what you would like explained next.
You do not need a technical background to be curious.