From May 13–16, 2025, a delegation of EU deep tech and digital startups from the Ready2Scale Acceleration Programme embarked on a four-day business mission to Berlin, immersing themselves in Germany’s dynamic deep tech ecosystem. The mission’s goal was to establish valuable connections with key stakeholders, uncover funding and relocation opportunities, and gain practical insights into expanding within Europe’s largest economy.
The trip kicked off with two full days at Deep Tech Momentum (13–14 May), hosted at Berlin’s dynamic Napoleon Komplex. As one of Germany’s most influential gatherings for deep tech innovators, the conference brought together startups, corporates, VCs, and research institutions. Delegates participated in expert panels, founder pitches, matchmaking sessions, and trend-focused discussions across AI, materials science, quantum, and climate tech. Companies also had various investor meetings and Beat Therapeutics and Biohalo also were selected to pitch to the investors during a special pitching session. In the evenings, the group attended high-level networking events, including a CTO Dinner powered by Google and Merantix and a community dinner at the conference venue—fostering informal dialogue with key players in the ecosystem.
On 15 May, the focus shifted to hands-on knowledge for companies looking to enter the German market. The day began with a visit to Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), the country’s official economic development agency. Delegates learned about the support available to international companies—including free advisory services for those aiming to set up operations in Germany. Next, Berlin Partner presented the funding landscape in Berlin and Brandenburg, covering grants, tax incentives, and equity support mechanisms for innovative businesses. This was followed by an introduction to Berlin’s MedTech Cluster, coinciding with BIONNALE 2025, one of Europe’s key life sciences events.
An afternoon session on business etiquette and cultural specifics offered critical insight into German corporate culture, negotiation styles, feedback approaches, and expectations from VCs. Led by intercultural expert Susanne Perner, the workshop was tailored for startups preparing to work with German corporates or scale in the region. In the evening, delegates took part in the INAM Roundtable, where corporates and innovation leaders shared real-world examples of landing pilots or partnerships in Germany. The night concluded with the Venture Café Thursday Gathering, where the entire Berlin startup community came together for idea exchange, networking, and open-door workshops.
The final day (16 May) focused on essential legal and commercial know-how. At GreenGate Partners, a law firm specializing in tech and life sciences, participants explored legal aspects of doing business in Germany—ranging from company formation and IP to venture capital and data protection. A workshop on B2B sales strategies followed, offering a practical framework for evaluating market potential and building customer relationships in Germany. The program concluded with individual meetings between participants and their prospective German partners, tailored to each company’s focus area.
The Berlin business visit provided a rich blend of strategic inspiration and practical guidance. For participating companies, it served as a launchpad to explore internationalisation, validate market opportunities, and build a network of meaningful connections in Germany.
