Why is disruptive innovation the driving force behind Europe’s new industrial revolution?
The full podcast
Michel de Lempdes
In deep tech, success depends more on the entrepreneur than on the technology: a good entrepreneur can turn a bad technology into a good project.
A recognized expert in venture capital with over 25 years of experience, Michel de Lempdes began his career in New York before joining the Crédit Agricole Group and later helping to establish Omnes Capital as an independent firm.
A visionary in the tech ecosystem, he led Omnes’ strategic pivot toward investing exclusively in disruptive innovation starting in 2019.
In 2023, he founded the France Deeptech association, of which he is the president, to organize and represent the interests of tech entrepreneurs in dealings with government authorities.
Program Summary
Disruptive innovation as the driving force behind the new industrial revolution
Disruptive innovation, stemming from basic research, forms the foundation of a major economic transformation for Europe.
Unlike purely digital models, Deeptech relies on tangible assets and patents that ensure the company has intrinsic value, regardless of its immediate commercial success.
This industrial transition is essential to halt the decline in Europe’s GDP relative to that of the United States and China.
The Pillars of Success: Science, Talent, and Funding
The success of an innovation ecosystem depends on the alignment of three factors: world-class academic research, ambitious entrepreneurs eager to conquer the global market, and easy access to non-dilutive capital.
Today, top academic programs are increasingly focusing on entrepreneurship, creating a pool of talent capable of turning scientific discoveries into concrete industrial solutions.
The Unique Characteristics of Investing in Disruptive Innovation
Investing in deep technologies requires a strategy of sectoral diversification (energy, aerospace, defense, AI) and geographic diversification to mitigate risks associated with market maturity.
Market validation remains a key indicator: beyond technical prowess, a project’s viability is measured by the signing of initial commercial contracts or strategic industrial partnerships.
France Deeptech: Building an Ecosystem to Make an Impact in Europe
The creation of a dedicated support structure for disruptive startups addresses the need to tackle specific challenges: recruiting researchers, protecting intellectual property, and managing long development cycles.
Lobbying government officials and raising awareness among private investors are the key strategies for directing funding toward key sectors such as quantum technology, space, and biotechnology.
Deep In Tech by Dynergie
Deep in Tech is driven by a core belief: to understand Deeptech, you have to listen to the people who are building it.
Behind every disruptive innovation lie demanding journeys, difficult trade-offs, and successes that often go unrecognized.
The podcast gives a voice to entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders at the intersection of science and the market.
At the heart of the Deeptech ecosystem’s challenges, Deep in Tech lifts the veil on the behind-the-scenes of a world as complex as it is strategic. Industrialization, financing, the transition from lab to market…
These journeys, often fraught with obstacles, are recounted candidly by those who experience them firsthand.
The podcast offers an authentic look at the inner workings, tensions, and collaborations that shape both the successes and failures of French Deeptech.
A space to understand the reality on the ground, from the perspective of those involved, far from formulaic narratives.
Florence Caghassi Jouni
With Deep in Tech, I meet the people who are shaping the deep tech landscape every day. They share their journeys, struggles, challenges, and successes with me—unfiltered. I created this podcast to help everyone understand and navigate the complex and exciting ecosystem that is deep tech.
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