Discover the five keys to turn your innovation into thriving new business 

In this guide for innovation decision makers, we look at the reasons why R&D is 'getting stuck in the lab' and explain why Europe has what it takes to launch and grow successful deep tech companies that compete with the rest of the world.

Featuring case studies and actionable strategies to overcome systemic barriers, we break down available commercialization routes and show you how to transform complex R&D projects into commercially viable products or services. 

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Deep Tech could unlock €8 trillion in value by 2030

With deep tech offering transformative potential to solve global problems and drive economic growth in the region, our guide will help you realize the potential of your R&D investment.

WHY EUROPE IS LAGGING BEHIND IN DEEP TECH INNOVATION

The barriers standing in the way of corporate innovation

Corporations are pouring money into R&D. Global R&D spending reached a record high of US$1.7 trillion in 2023, resulting in around 3 million patent filings - 199,000 of those from inside the EU. The goal of all that investment should be to lead the development of new technologies that can be commercialized into profitable ventures. However there are significant challenges preventing the commercialization of intellectual property (IP) in Europe.

According to former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, who was tapped by the European Commission to look for ways to save European competitiveness, he pointed to low industrial dynamism, low innovation, low investment, and low productivity growth. 

Innovation Starved inside R&D Departments | Transform R&D into Market-Ready Products | Stryber

Innovation is being starved inside R&D departments

While investment levels continue to rise and we see record numbers of new patent filings, research suggests that only 5% of patents ever make any returns for the organization. The rest are stuck or licensed out for others to commercialize, shutting the door on the innovator's chances of monetizing their tech.
Roadblocks to Innovation | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Stryber

Europe is throwing up too many roadblocks

Fewer than 10% of Deep Tech unicorns are based in Europe and between 2008 and 2021, 30% of the unicorns founded in Europe relocated their headquarters. Disconnected policies and overregulation have created a complicated and fractured landscape preventing new ventures from scaling.
Magnetic Pull of Incrementalism | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Stryber

The magnetic pull of incrementalism

As organizations grow they develop complex governance and entrenched ways of working. The pull of legacy operations then applies considerable pressure which makes steering corporate innovation programmes through them difficult. The result is a return to funding existing business lines rather than innovation.

The landscape in Europe is changing

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European Commission is set to revamp its industrial strategy to a competitive first approach

"The problem is not that Europe lacks ideas or ambition. We have many talented researchers and entrepreneurs filing patents. But innovation is blocked at the next stage: we are failing to translate innovation into commercialization, and innovative companies that want to scale up in Europe are hindered at every stage by inconsistent and restrictive regulations."

Mario Draghi
The Future of European Competitiveness

Those that move the fastest will have a competitive edge

Innovative organizations can capitalize on the forthcoming transformational changes to regulation and seize the opportunity to spearhead growth in the region. For innovators in breakthrough technology, this is a watershed moment.

To reap the benefits, leaders need to be deliberate about the process. Artificial Intelligence may better support efforts in R&D commercialization and government growth agendas may clear the path to make it easier to commercalize assets. But the road map elements must be in place nevertheless.

Align R&D investment and commercialization plans with European priorities to take advantage of spending and enablers about to come online.
Align Investment and Commercialization Plans | Transform R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber
Help policymakers and regulators understand how they can most effectively support deep tech growth inside the EU.
Guide Policy and Regulation | Transform R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber
Jump on the Europe train and establish a path of growth within it, instead of looking for opportunities overseas.
Find Growth in Europe | Transform R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

WHAT'S INSIDE OUR INNOVATION GUIDE

The five keys to successful R&D commercialization

There are, of course, multiple ways for R&D to leave the nest and become a profitable business. Getting the right ecosystem mix in place is key to extracting the most value from your innovations. The choice will depend on the business, it's ambitions, risk profile, the reality of the technology assets it's working with, and the financial expectations it's hoping to realize. 

Whatever that mix of innovation vehicles ends up looking like, pushing into adjacent markets and business models is essentially a transformation exercise. It involve a change in focus, mindset, and workflows. In our guide, we identify five critically important factors to make this happen and go into detail on how to setup for success.

Strong Governance | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

Establish strong
tailored governance

We explore what the optimal set up is for any innovation vehicle and explain how the right governance provides an operational blueprint for the entire process so teams can focus on the hard work of building groundbreaking ventures.

 

Adopt a Portfolio Approach | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

Adopt a portfolio approach

We discuss how to manage an R&D pipeline in a way that allows for multiple breakthrough or disruptive projects to happen at the same time. Diversification reduces risk by weeding out bad ideas early and ensuring only high-potential projects are fully invested in.

Tune Processes to the Market | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

Tune processes to
the market

With R&D budgets typically pointed towards solving hard tech problems, we explain the mindset shift that needs to happen to ensure that whatever is developed will be valuable to customers. Innovators need to step outside the bubble of simply making something work.

 

Access Talent Beyond your Walls | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

Access talent beyond
your walls

Talent is often the dimension holding organizations back from capturing the full value of their R&D. We identify the core differences and key attributes you should be looking for to support your innovation and how to go about finding the right people.

 

Executive Leadership of Innovation | Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber

Make sure innovation has executive leadership

The most innovative companies are those that have C-Suite ownership and deep engagement with their innovation efforts. We detail why this is and provide actionable advice on how to make this a reality for your organization.

 

Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Exploded View | Stryber

Packed with insights from globally-recognised brands

Ready to unlock your innovation?

Download your innovation guide

 

Transforming R&D into Market-Ready Products | Innovation Guide | Stryber