Build a competitive edge in the technology sector by examining the recent developments at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. On July 1, 2026, the institution hosted the Liftoff conference, gathering over 400 researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers at Zagreb’s Mozaik Event Centre. This event served as a critical convergence point for discussing technological sovereignty, global competitiveness, and the rapid expansion of the European innovation ecosystem. For aspiring tech founders, academics, and investors, understanding the dynamics of this conference provides a clear blueprint for navigating and succeeding in deep tech entrepreneurship.
Understanding the Role of the Liftoff Conference in the European Innovation Ecosystem
Organize your approach to European tech markets by recognizing the strategic purpose of the Liftoff conference. Organized by Nuqleus—the academic entrepreneurship program of the Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla (ICENT) at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing—the event received backing from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, the DIGIT project, and the World Bank. This high-level support underscores the national and international priority placed on cultivating deep tech ventures that require substantial research and development.
Unlike traditional software startups, deep tech companies rely on scientific breakthroughs and hard engineering challenges. The European innovation ecosystem has historically struggled to scale these companies due to fragmented funding and risk-averse capital. The Liftoff conference directly addresses these bottlenecks by creating a physical space where public institutions, private investors, and researchers can align their goals. By bringing together entities like the European Investment Fund (EIF), the European Innovation Council (EIC), and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), the conference provided a structured environment to tackle the specific financial and operational hurdles inherent to deep tech.
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Drive Academic Research to Market Through the Nuqleus Program
Examine the mechanism the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing uses to commercialize research. The Nuqleus program operates as an academic entrepreneurship accelerator designed specifically to bridge the gap between laboratory research and viable business entities. In Croatia, universities produce a high volume of advanced engineering and computing research, but translating that research into globally competitive products requires specialized business acumen, intellectual property management, and mentorship.
Nuqleus provides this infrastructure. By supporting startups emerging directly from Croatian research institutions, the program ensures that technical founders receive guidance on market fit, scaling operations, and investment pitching. The program’s integration within FER means that students and doctoral candidates have immediate access to entrepreneurial resources, effectively reducing the friction involved in starting a deep tech company. This structured pipeline is essential for maintaining a continuous flow of innovation from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing into the broader European market.
Explore our related articles for further reading on how academic incubators accelerate startup growth.
Key Takeaways for Deep Tech Entrepreneurs and Investors in Croatia
Apply the insights shared by industry leaders during the conference panels to your own investment or founding strategies. The discussions at Liftoff 2026 moved beyond theoretical concepts, focusing heavily on actionable steps for scaling deep tech ventures within the region.
Secure Capital and Scale Deep Tech Ventures
Address the funding gap by understanding the landscape of available capital. Matija Srbić, Coordinator of the Nuqleus program, explicitly noted that scaling deep tech companies requires significantly more capital than is currently available on the local Croatian market. To solve this, the conference facilitated direct introductions between local startups and leading European venture capital funds. For entrepreneurs, the takeaway is clear: local funding is often insufficient for hardware or biotech scaling. Founders must aggressively pursue pan-European funding mechanisms, utilizing platforms like the EIC and networks established at events like Liftoff to secure the necessary Series A and B rounds.
Bridge the Gap Between Research and Industry
Forge strategic partnerships to accelerate commercialization. The conference highlighted the active participation of major Croatian technology companies, including KONČAR, Infobip, and Hrvatski Telekom. For deep tech startups, partnering with established industry players provides access to supply chains, testing environments, and initial pilot customers. Researchers and founders should prioritize building these corporate partnerships early in the development cycle to de-risk their technologies and demonstrate market viability to future investors.
Spotlight on Nuqleus Demo Day and Croatian Startups
Evaluate the quality of startups emerging from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing by looking at the Nuqleus Demo Day results. Demo Days serve as a proving ground, forcing startups to articulate their value propositions to a critical audience of international investors. This year’s winning team, Metastruct, exemplifies the caliber of deep tech entrepreneurship taking root in Croatia.
Metastruct is developing a platform that integrates parametric design, advanced materials, and additive manufacturing to create topologically optimized, lightweight, and sustainable structural systems. This technology has direct applications in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering—industries that demand high performance and material efficiency. The success of Metastruct at Demo Day illustrates a crucial point for the European innovation ecosystem: breakthrough technologies are not limited to traditional tech hubs like Berlin, Paris, or London. High-level engineering startups are successfully emerging from Croatia, provided they have the right academic backing and exposure to international capital.
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Position Zagreb as a Central and Eastern European Deep Tech Hub
Recognize the shifting geography of European innovation. Historically, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has been viewed primarily as a source of outsourced IT talent. However, the Liftoff conference reinforced a new narrative: CEE is rapidly becoming a driving force in deep tech innovation. Zagreb, supported by institutions like the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, is positioning itself as a central meeting point for startups, investors, and industry leaders across the region.
Marko Primorac, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, emphasized this potential during his keynote address. He advised Croatian founders to be ambitious, seek clarity in their business models, and demand faster, better-aligned support from public institutions. Primorac noted that when founders successfully connect with public institutions, private investors, researchers, and industry, ideas become tangible progress. His directive to the local ecosystem was to actively utilize the opportunities provided by European financial instruments to turn deep tech into a springboard for global success.
The presence of international incubators such as UnternehmerTUM (Germany), KTH Innovation (Sweden), YES!Delft (the Netherlands), and Science Park Graz further validates Zagreb’s rising status. These organizations do not attend events without strategic intent; their presence indicates a deliberate effort to scout CEE talent and integrate regional startups into broader European value chains.
Take the Next Steps in Your Deep Tech Career
Align your career or investment strategy with the momentum building in Croatia’s deep tech sector. The Liftoff conference confirmed that the region possesses the necessary knowledge, talent, and maturing infrastructure to support globally competitive companies. Whether you are a prospective student deciding where to study electrical engineering or computing, a researcher looking to commercialize a patent, or an investor seeking undervalued deep tech assets, the infrastructure is actively being built to support you.
Engage with the resources provided by institutions like the Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla and explore the academic programs that feed these startups. Take advantage of initiatives offered by regional incubators, and pay close attention to the funding mechanisms discussed by the EIB and the Ministry of Science. The intersection of academic rigor and entrepreneurial support at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing offers a concrete path forward for those willing to put in the work required to build deep tech companies.
Submit your application today to join the next generation of innovators shaping the European deep tech landscape.
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