At the recent Deep Tech Atelier 2025 (DTA) event in Riga in May, we had the pleasure of speaking to Kay Nag, Founder of BøthOfUs AB, an EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative Pledger, who was a speaker at both DTA and our Pledgers’ Share and Connect event.
Kay explained that innovation is no longer confined to select hubs or elite institutions, and that today’s focus is shifting toward ecosystems, interconnected environments where universities, industries, governments, and communities collaborate.
He said that while this approach is gaining attention globally, it may hold particular relevance for the United States. Unlike Europe, where countries work together under coordinated frameworks, the U.S. functions as a collection of independent states, with each state often operating like a mini-country, each with its own policies and innovation strategies. Kay stressed that this does offer flexibility, but it also leads to fragmentation.
Kay highlighted that Europe offers an alternative model, and initiatives such as the EIT Deep Tech Talent, create structured collaboration between, what’s often called, the ‘Triple Helix’ of academia, industry, and government. He explained that this ecosystem approach ensures that innovation is not limited to traditional hotspots, and a key element of this European model is accessibility and the aim to reduce inequality.
“Learning from Europe’s inclusive approach could be a powerful way forward.”
At its core, Kay believes this shift is about democratising innovation, saying: “It’s about creating systems where opportunity is not reserved for the few but made available to all.” He stressed that while some organisation is necessary, much of the momentum comes from the communities themselves; students, researchers, startups, and local leaders, and that cross-sectoral ecosystems become more sustainable, more adaptable, and ultimately more effective.
“These community-driven ecosystems are not just a good idea, they are essential.”
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