The potential for deep tech to reshape industries from healthcare to climate science is immense.
Each area demands considerable expertise and significant research and development (R&D) investment.
Collaboration fosters the cross-pollination of ideas.
When organisations share knowledge, they enable collective problem-solving, leading to more robust and diverse solutions.
Deep tech ventures in particular often require substantial financial and human resources.
Collaboration leads to resource optimisation by pooling expertise, sharing infrastructure, and reducing redundant efforts.
Working together also offers an additional layer of protection.
Collaborative ecosystems unlock the distribution of risks across multiple stakeholders, making it easier to manage and absorb setbacks.
Applying open-source principles to deep tech can similarly revolutionise the way we approach complex technological challenges.
Open source fosters transparency, enabling researchers and developers to build on each others work with confidence.
An open-source model also easily encourages a community-driven approach to development.
Here are a few suggestions and advice.
Establish collaborative frameworks
Developing formal frameworks for collaboration is essential.
For example, the Human Genome Projects open data approach accelerated advancements in genetics and biotechnology.
These facilities can be made available to a broad range of stakeholders, promoting inclusivity and collaboration.
Encourage multidisciplinary teams
Deep tech challenges often require expertise from multiple disciplines.
Promoting the formation of multidisciplinary teams can enhance problem-solving capabilities and drive more holistic solutions.
Foster a culture of knowledge sharing
Building a nurturing ecosystem requires a cultural shift towards knowledge sharing.
Organisations should encourage their teams to participate in industry conferences, workshops, and collaborative projects.
Leverage government and policy support
Governments play a crucial role in fostering collaborative ecosystems.
In reality, there are many examples of this approach driving innovation that everybody can benefit from.
For a more recent example, look no further than the growth of AI open-source frameworks.
More recently, cryptography company Zama hosted a 3-days event in Brussels during the EthCC7 conference.
By making genomic data freely available, the project set a precedent for large-scale collaborative research in deep tech.
Jeremy Bradleyoversees day-to-day operations atZama.
Jeremys educational and professional background is multidisciplinary.
Story byJeremy Bradley
Jeremy oversees day-to-day operations at Zama.
Jeremy’s educational and professional background is multidisciplinary.
