The aim of the project was to develop a toolkit – the Toolbox – containing the business skills and knowledge needed at an early stage of an entrepreneur’s career to gain the maturity required to build a sustainable and crisis-proof business. The direct involvement of students and young researchers in the Toolbox development process contributed to the creation of a tool that reflected their real needs. The project addressed the technology talent gap in the Baltic Sea Region by developing a dedicated Toolbox for fostering DeepTech entrepreneurship – a set of readily available tools designed to inspire students and young researchers to explore starting a business.

Deep Tech innovations demonstrated strong potential to provide transformative solutions to global challenges. Increasing innovation in the economy was shown to contribute to better responses to future crises while strengthening overall resilience.

The existing technology talent gap in the Baltic Sea Region had the potential to limit these processes. For this reason, efforts to increase the supply of startups and support entrepreneurship proved crucial, particularly for students and young researchers exploring startup opportunities. By inspiring potential founders and introducing entrepreneurial skills development at the pre-incubation stage, their chances of market success were increased. In this context, the Toolbox contributed to improving their prospects for successful market entry.

One of the core activities of the project was the establishment of relevant stakeholder groups in each partner country through the cooperative networks of project partners and their affiliated organisations. Interaction with external organisations supporting the project provided valuable insights into existing tools and practices functioning in the partner regions. Meetings of the Regional Stakeholder Groups were held on a regular basis and supported the effective implementation of project tasks.

To achieve the project objectives and deliverables, the consortium implemented a series of planned milestones leading to the main outcome: the development of the final Toolbox for fostering DeepTech entrepreneurship. From the beginning of the project, partners focused on target group analysis, identifying the needs of students and young researchers related to scaling entrepreneurial skills. These needs were analysed jointly, and based on the results, exploratory workshop scenarios were developed and piloted as part of the final output.

Survey of pre-incubation needs of students and young researchers

One of the primary project activities was the development and implementation of the Survey of pre-incubation needs of students and young researchers. Each partner, with strong involvement from their Regional Stakeholder Groups, contributed to the survey content, which served as an initial proposal of tools for the Toolbox. The consortium also developed the visual identity of the survey and produced a promotional video explaining its purpose.

Each partner conducted the survey at national level. While reaching the target group proved challenging, tailored approaches allowed partners to successfully collect responses. The results were then subjected to comprehensive analysis, including:

• topics of greatest interest to students and young researchers,

• suggestions for improvement,

• regional differences,

• SWOT analysis,

• gap analysis.

The survey results were extensively discussed within the consortium and provided valuable insight into the needs and gaps faced by students and young researchers. The findings delivered critical knowledge on the types of support and resources required to help them transform ideas into viable projects. The collected data formed the foundation for refining the consortium’s approach and shaping subsequent activities, particularly the exploratory workshop scenarios.

Exploratory Workshops Scenarios

Based on the survey findings, the consortium developed detailed exploratory workshop scenarios. These workshops were designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among students and young researchers. The scenarios simulated real-world challenges and opportunities, enabling participants to apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts, strengthen problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and build entrepreneurship-oriented awareness.

Key Performance Indicators and 2nd Feedback Survey

During the first and second project semesters, partners jointly developed the draft post-workshop student survey (2nd Feedback Survey) and defined the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The KPIs were established to enable effective monitoring and evaluation of project progress and impact, including participant engagement, knowledge acquisition, growth in entrepreneurship-oriented competences, and the transition of ideas into actionable plans.

The KPIs were consulted with the Regional Stakeholder Groups, ensuring their relevance and practicality. This collaborative process resulted in refined workshop formats and survey tools. The 2nd Feedback Survey was designed and implemented to maintain a continuous feedback loop, capturing participants’ experiences, satisfaction levels, and suggestions for improvement following the initial project phase.

Project completed – the journey continues

The BSR DeepTech Launch project was successfully completed, having achieved all its planned objectives. Through the joint efforts of partners from Poland, Germany, Lithuania, and other Baltic Sea Region countries, the consortium developed and tested an effective model for supporting DeepTech entrepreneurship among students and young researchers.

The key outcome of the project is the DeepTech Launch Toolbox – a ready-to-use set of methods, workshop scenarios, and practical guidelines for business support organisations and universities seeking to foster innovation at the pre-incubation stage.

Although the project has formally ended, its results continue through the ongoing use of the Toolbox and the regional networks established during its implementation. These foundations will support future generations of scientists and innovators in transforming ideas into viable business solutions, ensuring that the DeepTech Launch journey continues across the Baltic Sea Region.