What Role Do RTOs Play in European Deep Tech Innovation? – INESC TEC President at EARTO’s Annual Conference

The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) held its annual conference in Valencia, Spain, on April 2 and 3, under the theme “No EU Tech, No EU Competitiveness”. One of the keynote speakers was João Claro, President and CEO of INESC TEC, who spoke on the second day of the event, in a panel dedicated to competitiveness and the role of RTOs (Research and Technology Organisations) in leading technological innovation in Europe.

INESC TEC was one of four case studies presented – alongside CSEM (Switzerland), REDIT (Spain), and NORCE (Norway) – as example of the impact of RTOs on European deep tech innovation. João Claro shared a representative example of the institution’s journey in scientific and technological valorisation, highlighting critical impact factors, challenges faced, and future priorities for Europe in this field.

The intervention focused on two recent cases from INESC TEC’s journey, spanning from fundamental research to the creation of spin-offs. “I highlighted two emblematic cases from our institution: iLoF and Seedsight. These are two INESC TEC spin-offs that emerged from our multidisciplinary research capabilities. In both cases, they arose from the convergence of scientific domains such as photonics, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering,” said the INESC TEC President.

These spin-offs demonstrate how R&D institutions like INESC TEC, through their infrastructure, teams, and valorisation strategies, can transform knowledge into solutions with economic and social impact.

“iLoF, supported from the outset by initiatives like the EIT Health Wild Card, has established an international presence, with pilots in over 12 hospitals and collaborations with industry giants like Roche and Janssen. Seedsight, on the other hand, emerged from an opportunity in the agri-food sector and is evolving with support from Techstars in the United States, while concentrating its R&D in Portugal,” explained João Claro.

The Role of RTOs in European Competitiveness

Throughout his talk, the INESC TEC President emphasized the importance of RTOs as bridges between science and the market, promoting technological platforms adaptable to multiple domains of application and strengthening European competitiveness. He also stressed the need for effective transition instruments – from proof of concept to scale-up – as well as for public support mechanisms that catalyse large-scale private investment.

João Claro further reaffirmed INESC TEC’s full support for EARTO’s position in the European Commission’s public consultation on the strategy for start-ups and scale-ups, highlighting the unique contribution that RTOs can and should make as facilitators of deep tech innovation, both by creating their own spin-offs and by supporting other entrepreneurs through their technological capabilities, collaborative networks, and human capital.

The EARTO annual conference was organized by REDIT (Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community). The event was also a double celebration: the 25^th anniversary of EARTO and the election of its new President. Jesús Valero, CEO of Spain’s Tecnalia, assumed the presidency of the Association.