On 15 May 2025, as a side event to the Deep Tech Atelier conference, we hosted a highly productive Pledgers’ Share & Connect meeting in Riga, Latvia.
Bringing together a diverse range of experts, industry leaders, and educators, discussions centred around learning and collaboration opportunities in deep tech, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, space, defence, and other deep tech areas, which mirrored the themes of the 2025 Deep tech Atelier conference.
Anton Adamovitch, Ecosystem Architect at Pledger Commercialization Reactor, welcomed everyone to the meeting, and spoke briefly about his belief that the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is a key player in innovation, and how, through the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, it empowers diverse talent by offering guidance, opportunities and connections to navigate their innovation journey.
Event moderator, Natalie Cernecka, Manager at the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative, then provided an update on the Initiative and its future, after 2025. She highlighted that the Initiative will be contributing to the European Union’s “Union of Skills” initiative which takes a holistic approach to upskilling and reskilling the population the STEM education strategy. She stressed that a key priority is expanding partnerships, particularly between universities and industry, to ensure agile, relevant deep tech programmes that keep pace with rapid technological change.
Keynote address
Jānis Grēviņš, former EIT Governing Board Member, provided the keynote address, first expressing his appreciation for those implementing the EIT’s initiatives, emphasising their importance in translating policy into real-world impact. He then highlighted EIT’s role in fostering European competitiveness, praising its practical, cross-border, and interdisciplinary approach, especially through the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative.
Noting a shift in the European Commission towards more applied innovation, bridging gaps between education, business, and research, Jānis described the EIT as a vital federal initiative helping Europe gain the ‘edge’ it needs; entrepreneurial, commercial, and interdisciplinary skills built on a strong educational base.
He encouraged participants to leverage EIT’s powerful, borderless network to collaborate, innovate, and grow, and believes that Europe, despite its complexities, offers long-term stability and a bright future for business and innovation.
Unlocking the future with AI innovation
Putting a mirror to AI in organizations: Where can we do better?
Dr Dmitrijs Kravčenko, Associate Professor of Business and Management, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, spoke about AI’s transformative potential and its current limitations. While early roll-out and hype of Generative AI promised a lot, it was slow to deliver. And, in terms of adoption, there’s been a surge of investment into GenAI application companies, especially in healthcare and biotech sectors, but in the average workplace, it remains unpredictable and often misaligned with real-world work needs!
Dmitri highlighted that a major barrier is organisational structure, because AI operates horizontally, not vertically, making it incompatible with traditional siloed roles. He suggests that to truly enter the ‘AI era’, the solution is to reimagine organisations from ‘functional specialists’ to supporting ‘problem supervisors’ who manage AI networks rather than specialised tasks.
He believes that AI is not the final innovation, but a stepping stone, and its real breakthrough may come when it becomes embedded in physical environments, e.g., robotics, wearables. The evolution in thinking, architecture, and adoption trends points to a deeper transformation in how work and technology intersect, urging a shift in both expectations and organisational design.
There has never been a better time to learn and to teach
Margarita Arlauskiene, Founder, AI in Education Consultant; CEO, Baltic Association of Educational Leaders, is optimistic about the future, but urges faster integration of technology, particularly AI, into education.
She explained that while AI is transforming industries, there is hesitancy to incorporate it into the educational journey, with classrooms looking the same now as they did decades ago, with overburdened teachers and disengaged students. That said, there are some pioneering schools who are successfully using AI, enabling shorter academic hours, improved performance, and early entrepreneurship among students, which Margarita stressed was inspiring for everyone, and advocated there should be widespread adoption of these technologies into all schools, not just privileged ones.
She believes that teachers should be freed from administrative tasks to focus on mentoring, while students deserve personalised, immersive, and real-time learning experiences, and schools must become technology-driven, data-informed, and connected to real-world challenges.
She closed by inviting founders, investors, educators, and policymakers to collaborate in building tools that empower every student and teacher to thrive in this new technological era.
Circular Materials, AI-Driven Innovation, and Applied Talent Training in Deep Tech Manufacturing
Tatu Luuk, Founder & CEO, Organic Steel OÜ, presented a bold vision for building the future by using carbon-negative, AI-optimised materials made from hemp and industrial waste to replace steel, aluminium, and composites. This, he believes will help address the manufacturing sector’s massive carbon footprint, which accounts for 50% of global CO₂ emissions and is projected to double by 2050.
He explained their modular micro-factories allows for scalable local production, and pilots are already underway in Estonia, Finland, Malta, and Thailand, and stressed that they see Latvia as a key part of their Baltic expansion. Tatu pointed out that the team also runs Astro Organic Steel Academy, and have trained over 400 engineers and designers to prototype sustainable materials.
To create their vision, Tatu, outlined they are looking for entrepreneurs and companies to co-create sustainable products using their carbon-negative materials. They will supply the raw materials and give the intellectual property (IP) to partners and highlight strong funding opportunities in Latvia through LIAA innovation vouchers. They are particularly interested in collaboration on recyclable packaging, metal-replacing construction components, biodegradable electronics substrates, furniture, and circular logistics. They’re already working with Synthetic University on some of these areas.
He also highlighted they are specifically looking for Latvian partners, especially in wood processing, packaging, and smart housing, to co-design local use cases. Latvia is seen as ideal due to its biomass resources, talent, EU green transition mandate, and supportive funding landscape, and he proposed working together to launch a pilot micro-factory, provide talent training, and scale globally, sharing ownership of innovations developed.
A Blueprint for Upskilling Europe’s Non-Technical Workforce
Samuel Adeleke, Co-Founder and CEO, GenniBit, focused on advancing from AI literacy to applied innovation, especially by including non-technical talent in the deep tech ecosystem.
He introduced the audience to Clara, a fictional sustainability consultant. While she was driven by a desire to help farmers meet sustainability goals through data and tech, she struggles with too much jargon, uncertainty about which AI tools are safe and relevant, and a concern that AI might replace rather than support human judgment in her field.
Through Clara, Samuel illustrated how domain experts can help drive innovation by integrating AI with their field knowledge. Emphasising inclusivity, he advocates for accessible, simple, and practical AI education for all, regardless of background.
The blueprint involves three stages:
- AI Literacy: teaching foundational AI skills in a clear, ethical, and accessible way.
- Contextualized Application: applying AI to real-world problems through industry-specific use cases.
- Applied Innovation: scaling successful AI-powered solutions, supported by impact measurement and knowledge sharing.
Samuel then outlined an ‘Action Playbook’ for trainers and policy makers, which enables non-technical professionals to become innovators in their own industries:
- Create awareness: Teach clarity first. Focus on what AI is and isn’t. Build trust before tools.
- Equip: Provide adaptable tools and sector-specific use-cases to lower friction and raise confidence.
- Build communities: Learning thrives in peer ecosystems. Combine mentoring, feedback, and continuous iteration.
- Measure what matters: Move beyond attendance. Track capability shifts, confidence levels, and real-world prototypes.
- Scale what works: Disseminate best practices widely.
Explore real-world Quantum applications
Global community building in Quantum via on-line education
Aurél Gábris, Vice-chair of Qboard, Chair of QWorld Association, introduced the audience to QWorld, a global non-profit organisation committed to democratising access to quantum technologies. Though officially based in Estonia, QWorld operates as a distributed network with a global presence and strong roots in Latvia.
Aurél emphasised QWorld’s mission to provide free, inclusive quantum education, especially in underrepresented regions. QWorld supports local chapters, called Q-Cousins, in 36 countries, empowering them to run workshops, courses, and internships, and since its inception QWorld has issued over 10,000 certificates, organised 200+ workshops, and created a vibrant Discord community.
He explained QWorld’s educational initiatives range from one-week beginner workshops to university-accredited courses in collaboration with institutions like the University of Latvia and the Czech Technical University. Aurél also highlighted the potential of integrating AI, such as large language models, to enhance learning.
He closed his presentation by inviting everyone, individuals and institutions, to be part of the second quantum revolution.
How AI powers learning accelerators for Quantum in Europe and globally
Andreea Moga, EIT Deep Tech Talent Ambassador, Lead LX and Product, Co-ordinator for QuLearnLabs, shared her insights from seven years in tech education through initiatives like TechLabs and the newly launched QuLearnLabs, which has already seen great success.
She explained that QuLearnLabs work focuses on bridging the growing gap between rapidly evolving technology and the slower pace of traditional education systems. To address this, they’ve built learning accelerators, AI- and community-driven platforms that offer personalised, hands-on education in deep tech areas like quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography.
Andreea further explained that through an AI-driven Learning Management System, learners receive customised content based on their skill level, supported by mentors and peer cohorts. QuLearnLabs most recent programme, AI-Assisted Software Engineering for Quantum Computing, received 544 global applicants, with nearly a 50/50 gender split, which shows how inclusive, tech-forward education can build globally competitive talent.
She also highlighted the development of “Queue”, an open-source AI coding assistant integrated into learners’ IDEs to support faster and more effective learning.
How public private partners can collaborate to accelerate or implement Quantum computing
Kay Nag, Director, BøthOfUs AB, approached the topic from a business and funding perspective rather than an academic one. He explained that BøthOfUs focuses on skilling and upskilling in deep tech, primarily working with public actors and training providers. However, Kay highlighted they are currently a very small team and have supported just 18 organisations, despite receiving over 1,100 applications in the past year. He also noted BøthOfUs also play a role in building intercontinental innovation ecosystems and facilitating public-private partnerships, especially within the EU.
Kay’s key message was the urgent need to capitalise on quantum computing funding opportunities, especially given the stark contrast between EU investments (€1B) and China’s (€135B). He encouraged startups and institutions to reach out to local municipalities and EU contact points, even with limited knowledge, highlighting open calls and existing initiatives like OpenQKD.
Quantum computing may have risks, but the potential benefits are transformative. His final message was clear: “be bold, explore, collaborate, and make the most of the available funding while shaping Europe’s quantum future”.
Collaborate in Space, Defence, and emerging deep tech fields
Additive Manufacturing in Special Applications
Tomasz Kurzynowski, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Industry Cooperation, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, stressed that additive manufacturing as a crucial deep tech area alongside AI and quantum computing, but unlike AI or quantum, additive manufacturing produces tangible, touchable products, making it uniquely impactful.
Initially unfamiliar with the term ‘deep tech’, Tomasz explained he discovered his own work and his team’s projects fall under this category, and shared two examples:
- A jet engine stator made as a single part using a nickel-based alloy, optimised for additive manufacturing
- Automotive crash boxes made from newly developed steel, designed to perform predictably during crashes after specialized heat treatment and laser hardening.
He emphasised the importance of deep tech talent in AI, robotics, and additive manufacturing, noting their involvement in training over 600 students in these areas, and viewing deep tech talent not just as individuals but as institutions or groups driving innovation.
Thomasz closed by expressing a strong interest in collaborating on projects within the space and defence sectors, seeking funding opportunities from European Defence Agency, European Space Agency, and Defence Fund, with a particular focus on materials science, mechanical engineering, and related fields.
Biocatalyst Foundation
Igors Berkovics, Co-Founder, Biocatalyst Foundation, introduced the foundation based in Riga, Latvia, and explained that it focuses on advancing biotech innovation by supporting scientists in the early stages of commercialization. However, rather than working in AI or quantum, their work centres on ‘hands-on’ science in labs.
He highlighted that they run workshops in universities and research institutions across Latvia and beyond, engaging scientists informally to encourage early thinking about turning research into real-world products or startups. The aim of these workshops is to bridge the gap between academia and entrepreneurship by helping researchers plan their commercialisation journey before publication.
Igors stressed that the approach is non-pressured, emphasising brainstorming and idea development rather than immediate startup creation, and over the past three years, many scientists have returned after initial workshops to join their biotech incubation programme.
He disclosed that the foundation views this early engagement as crucial for building a pipeline of future innovators and startups in biotech and sustainability, and they offer to organise such workshops, free of charge, for any scientific institution working in biotech, bioeconomy, or Green Tech, as part of their broader mission to support ecosystem development and innovation across Europe.
True talent – nature or nurture? What does astronaut selection experience tell us about talent, innovations, and entrepreneurship?
Pauls Irbins, CEO and co-founder, Orbit8, shared a personal and thought-provoking reflection on talent, motivation, and education, drawing on their experience as a top 7% finalist in the European Space Agency astronaut selection process.
Despite childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut, he discovered, through intense psychometric and physical testing, that talent has limits, and not everyone can become anything they desire. This realisation sparked a deep shift in how they view human potential.
Rather than trying to fix weaknesses, Paul argued we should focus on recognising and building on inherent strengths. With over 20 years of experience in education, including building science centres and launching space projects, Paul believes that education should help young people understand where they naturally fit. It’s this philosophy that led him to create Orbit 8, a deep-tech platform co-founded with a former ESA selection lead, designed to map individuals’ talents and connect them to meaningful roles, industries, and study paths.
He explained that as AI increasingly disrupts the job market, this personalised approach to education and career guidance could become essential. Paul then called for organisations to adapt to their people’s strengths rather than treating them as interchangeable parts, urging a more human-centred approach to talent and workforce development.
This meeting once again highlighted the importance of open exchange, networking, and exploring new ways to strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Stay tuned to learn more about our next Pledgers’ Share & Connect event.
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