Deep Tech Startup Network Wins Tallinn Entrepreneurship Award

The Deep Tech Startup Network, with Tehnopol as one of the consortium partners, won the title of Research and Development Project of the Year at the Tallinn Entrepreneurship Awards 2026 competition. The award was presented at a formal ceremony held at Tallinn City Hall on 13 October.

Launched in 2026, the Deep Tech Startup Network brings together the knowledge, experience and support services of Tehnopol, Tallinn University of Technology, the University of Tartu, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Sparkup Tartu Science Park to help research-based ideas grow into internationally competitive companies.

The aim of the network is to support researchers and deep tech startups throughout their entrepreneurial journey – from assessing the business potential of research results and technologies and developing business ideas to attracting investors and reaching international markets. This cooperation makes the expertise of different organisations more accessible to entrepreneurs and promotes the creation of new research-based companies and high-value-added jobs.

The development of deep tech entrepreneurship is one of Tehnopol’s key focus areas. In cooperation with research institutions and business support organisations, Tehnopol helps research-intensive teams bring their technologies from the laboratory to the market and strengthen the international competitiveness of Estonian deep tech companies.

Tehnopol is pleased to see several companies from its community and cooperation partners among this year’s nominees. C2Grid, which participated in the NATO DIANA Estonia accelerator and operates at the Tehnopol campus, was nominated for the title of Tallinn’s Bright Startup; Marduk Technologies, based at the Tehnopol campus, was nominated in the Tallinn Manufacturer category; and the Tallinn tourism initiative nominees included the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), with which Tehnopol cooperates במסגרת the film and multimedia accelerator IDA Hub. We are delighted by the achievements of our companies and partners and proud to contribute to their development.

The Tallinn Entrepreneurship Awards were presented for the 23rd time this year. Through the competition, the City of Tallinn recognises companies, organisations and projects that contribute to the development of the capital’s economy, business environment and innovation. This year, a total of 26 nominees were selected across seven categories.

All of this year’s award winners can be viewed on the Tallinn website.

Photos from the formal ceremony can be viewed here (photos: Tallinn Strategic Management Office, photographer Ellen Rudi).