As the AI revolution accelerates, the technological world is grappling with a sobering reality: artificial intelligence might be software, but its future is firmly rooted in hardware, infrastructure, and energy. At this year’s The Next Web (TNW) Conference in Amsterdam, a clear narrative emerged—deep tech is no longer just a buzzword. It’s the battleground for global dominance, where breakthroughs in energy, materials, and compute will define the winners of the next decade.
Deep Tech in Europe: At a Crossroads or on the Rise?
One of the most anticipated sessions, “The State of European Deep Tech”, brought together top VCs and ecosystem builders on TNW’s Green Stage. Moderated by Victoria Slivkoff, Executive Managing Director of Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the panel included Nicolas Autret (Walden Catalyst), Lukas Leitner (Founding Partner), and Bert Gyselinckx (imec.xpand). Together, they examined Europe’s evolving role in AI, robotics, and energy innovation.
While Europe continues to trail the U.S. and China in overall venture capital volume, the panelists emphasized the continent’s strengths: strong university-industry collaboration, growing startup ecosystems, and a unique regulatory edge in sustainable innovation. “European founders are increasingly ambitious,” said Autret, “and the deep tech funding environment is finally starting to reflect that.” Key themes included access to long-term capital, the importance of cross-border collaboration, and advice for founders on navigating tough technical milestones while satisfying VC timelines.
Energy Meets AI: A Showcase of Radical Innovation
Later that afternoon on the Blue Stage, the Energy Innovations for AI Startup Pitch Showcase, organized by XTC, took center stage. Hosted by Karin Schmid, energy advisor and co-chair of the AI Energy Innovation Summit, and opened by Victoria Slivkoff, the session tackled a challenge many overlook: how to sustainably power the vast computational demands of AI. Seven cutting-edge startups pitched breakthrough solutions across hardware, storage, and infrastructure:
EH Group – Next-generation hydrogen fuel cells to decarbonize distributed power systems.
Ionate – Hybrid Intelligent Transformers (HITs) for real-time grid stabilization and smart power flows.
Revterra – Flywheel-based kinetic energy systems that stabilize grid fluctuations from AI compute spikes.
Sizable Energy – Offshore pumped hydro using heavy brines, unlocking long-duration storage without rare materials.
Virtus Solis – Space-based solar power beaming microwaves to Earth, offering 24/7 clean baseload energy.
Atlant3D – Atomic-scale 3D printing for decentralized, sustainable semiconductor manufacturing.
Phanofi – Photonic interconnects for data centers, quadrupling bandwidth while slashing power consumption.
These companies represent a new generation of “invisible enablers” working behind the scenes to ensure that the AI frontier remains not just powerful, but sustainable.
The session concluded with the announcement of the AI Infrastructure and Data Center Innovation Startup Challenge, as well as a save-the-date for the AI Energy Innovation Summit 2025—an event likely to take center stage next year.
Gods of Industry: Deep Tech’s Global Power Play
On the Purple Mainstage the following morning, a powerhouse fireside chat titled “Gods of Industry: The Battle for Deep Tech Dominance” brought things into sharper geopolitical focus.
Young Sohn, Chairman of the Samsung Semiconductor Advisory Board and founding managing partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures, joined Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML and now Chairman of Heineken’s Supervisory Board, in a rare and candid conversation moderated by Cristina Criddle of the Financial Times.
“AI isn’t just about chips anymore,” Sohn declared. “It’s about systems. Energy, data, compute infrastructure—all of it.” Wennink echoed that sentiment, noting the geopolitical pressure points building around chip sovereignty, materials access, and talent pipelines.
The discussion touched on Moore’s Law fatigue, the rise of AI-native hardware, and the looming question of whether deep tech investment can keep pace with AI’s demands. Sohn added: “We’re entering a new industrial era. And unlike the last one, this battle won’t be won in the cloud. It will be won deep in the lab.”
Conclusion: The Quiet Backbone of AI’s Future
From VC panels to startup pitches and big-stage debates, TNW 2025 painted a clear picture: AI may be driving the future, but deep tech is the infrastructure that will support it. Whether it’s energy systems that can handle power whiplash from GPU farms, materials that reduce our reliance on rare minerals, or new architectures in space and silicon—these foundational shifts are becoming central to global competitiveness. For founders and investors alike, the message was unmistakable: the next wave of innovation won’t just be digital. It will be physical, scientific, and deeply rooted in real-world challenges—and Europe is positioning itself to help lead that charge.
