We are delighted to welcome Gateway Factory, a bold new initiative from Germany, as the latest member of DeepTech Alliance.
Founded in 2025, Gateway Factory is on a mission to unlock Europe’s deep tech potential by transforming the Rhineland into a leading hub for deep tech entrepreneurship. Uniting the innovation strengths of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen, Gateway Factory integrates fragmented academic and startup initiatives into a cohesive, regional ecosystem—bridging the gap between scientific innovation and scalable commercial success.
While operating independently, Gateway Factory works in close alignment with the region’s top academic institutions. Its reach is powered by a network of more than 25 early-stage support programs, 1,000+ mentors, and 750+ investors, focused on enabling deep tech teams to overcome challenges related to talent, funding, and access to manufacturing infrastructure.
With ambitious goals to triple the number of deep tech champions and annual funding, and to double the number of university spin-offs, Gateway Factory is a driving force for Europe’s innovation future—founded on regional cooperation and international ambition.
“The Gateway Factory and our ecosystem are excited to be joining the Deep Tech Alliance. We are striving for the same goal—ensuring that Deep Tech becomes a success story for Europe. To achieve this, collaboration across Europe is key. We are looking forward to opening up new opportunities for teams from our ecosystem and to building strong relationships with new partners.”
— Dr. Tim Hiddemann, CEO, Gateway Factory
“Gateway Factory brings a powerful regional model to DeepTech Alliance—uniting top academic and entrepreneurial assets across Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen into a singular force for innovation. Their bold ambitions and collaborative spirit reflect exactly what Europe needs to stay globally competitive in deep tech. We’re thrilled to welcome them into the Alliance.”
— Thomas Klem Andersen, Director, DeepTech Alliance
The addition of Gateway Factory marks another key step in our mission to build a pan-European network of deep tech leaders, enabling startups to scale faster through shared expertise, cross-border opportunities, and strong regional foundations.
