Last week, Zagreb became the meeting point of Europe’s deep tech ecosystem. More than 450 scientists, startup founders, investors, policymakers, industry leaders, and public sector representatives gathered at the Liftoff conference, held on 30 June and 1 July at Mozaik Event Center, to discuss the future of European innovation, technological sovereignty, and the development of Europe’s startup ecosystem. The conference was organized with the support of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, the DIGIT project, and the World Bank.
The central theme of the conference focused on how Europe can accelerate innovation and strengthen its global competitiveness, with particular emphasis on the potential of Central and Eastern European countries to become the next drivers of technological innovation.
“Croatia’s deep tech ecosystem has experienced remarkable growth over the past four years. With Liftoff, our goal is to prepare the ecosystem for the scaling and expansion of deep tech companies, which requires significantly more capital than is currently available on the local market. That is why we are proud to have welcomed the leaders of Europe’s key institutions to Liftoff this year, giving them the opportunity to present first-hand Europe’s plans for fostering innovation. At the same time, we brought together leading European venture capital funds to give deep tech startups the opportunity to secure their next funding round in their own backyard, in Zagreb. Through this conference, we are further positioning Zagreb and Croatia as one of the key destinations for deep tech entrepreneurship and as a meeting point for startups, investors, and industry across Central and Eastern Europe.”
– Matija Srbić, Coordinator of the Nuqleus Program at ICENT, highlighting the importance of Liftoff for strengthening the startup ecosystem in Croatia and the wider region.
Deep Space Dinner Opened Two Days of Connections
Liftoff officially began with the Deep Space Dinner at MET Boutique Hotel, where more than 200 startup founders, investors, corporate innovators, researchers, and ecosystem builders gathered to establish new partnerships before the conference.
Supported by the European Investment Bank, Liftoff’s Cosmic Partner, the evening highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration in building a stronger innovation ecosystem across Central and Eastern Europe. Participants were welcomed by Sladjana Ćosić, Head of the European Investment Group Office in Croatia, who addressed guests on behalf of the European Investment Bank.
Future Fusion Conference: Europe's Innovation Leaders Take the Stage
The second day brought together an exceptional lineup of European and Croatian speakers at the Future Fusion Conference, alongside a full programme of side events at Mozaik Event Center.
The conference opened with welcome addresses by Matija Srbić, Coordinator of the Nuqleus Program, professor Vedran Bilas, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Cecile Thioro Niang, Global Practice Manager for Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation at the World Bank, Tomislav Tomašević, Mayor of the City of Zagreb, and Hrvoje Meštrić, Director of the Directorate for Science and Technology at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth in Croatia.
The opening keynote was delivered by Marko Primorac, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, who emphasized Croatia’s growing role within Europe’s innovation landscape:
“When founders connect with public institutions, private investors, researchers, and industry, ideas are transformed into progress. Be ambitious. Seek clarity. Insist on support that is faster and better aligned with your needs. If Europe succeeds in providing that support, and innovators fully embrace the opportunities it offers, deep tech can become a true springboard for global success. Croatian founders have the opportunity to be part of that journey from the very beginning.”
– Marko Primorac, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank
The programme continued with a fireside chat between Andrea Čović Vidović, Head of Media and Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia, and Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board of the European Innovation Council, who discussed Europe’s innovation agenda, strategic priorities, and the policy initiatives shaping the continent’s competitiveness.
Leading European innovation hubs were represented by Stefan Drüssler, Managing Director and COO at UnternehmerTUM, Viktor Olsson, Internationalisation Lead at KTH Innovation, and Freek Smoes, Head of Incubator at YES!Delft, who shared practical insights into how accelerators and incubators help transform scientific breakthroughs into globally competitive companies.
Croatia’s innovation ecosystem was represented by executives from Infobip, KONČAR, and Hrvatski Telekom, who discussed the country’s position within the European innovation landscape and the growing opportunities for collaboration between startups, research institutions, and industry.
The investment perspective came from representatives of Emerald Technology Ventures, Vesna VC, AYMO Ventures, XISTA Science Ventures, and Nucleus Capital, who explored the evolution of venture capital across Central and Eastern Europe and discussed why the region is becoming increasingly attractive for deep tech investment.
Another key discussion, “CEE 2030: Financing the Region’s Next Leap,” brought together leaders from the European Investment Fund, Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), the World Bank Group, and the European Investment Bank to examine the financial instruments and strategic investments needed to accelerate innovation across the region.
The conference concluded with a fireside conversation between Urban Lapajne, Program Manager of PODIM Conference, and Martin Gorosko, Member of the Supervisory Board of Latitude59, who reflected on Estonia’s remarkable innovation journey and shared lessons for building globally competitive startup ecosystems.
Expo and Networking Strengthened Regional Connections
Beyond the conference stage, participants explored the Deep Tech Startup Clusters Expo, where leading regional innovation organizations, including Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing University of Zagreb (FER), Infobip Startup Tribe, ZICER, and Science Park Graz, presented their programmes and opportunities for founders. Representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth showcased support available through the DIGIT project, while European Investment Bank, European Innovation Council, and Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO) presented financing opportunities for researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs.
Throughout the day, dedicated networking area connected startups with investors, industry representatives, and ecosystem leaders from across Europe, creating new opportunities for collaboration and future partnerships.
Nuqleus Demo Day Celebrated the Next Generation of Deep Tech Startups
One of the highlights of Liftoff 2026 was Nuqleus Demo Day, where some of Croatia’s most promising university-based deep tech startups presented innovations emerging from scientific research. Projects spanning artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, sustainable energy, and advanced engineering demonstrated the growing commercial potential of research developed within Croatia’s academic institutions.
This year’s winner was Metastruct, a deep tech platform that combines parametric design, advanced materials, and additive manufacturing to create topology-optimized, lighter, and more sustainable structural solutions for the construction industry. Founders Lucija Stepinac, Dijana Malek, and Mislav Stepinac received a comprehensive prize package that included:
- a one-year desk package from HUB385,
- consulting support from Forvis Mazars for preparing and submitting a relevant grant application,
- two Startup Tickets for Hello Tomorrow 2027 in Amsterdam,
- and a place in the Nuqleus Grow in Europe Bootcamp 2027.
Alongside Demo Day, investors also attended the EIC Tech2Market Pitch Day, where nine startups from across Europe participating in European Innovation Council’s Tech2Market programme presented their technologies and met with investors and EIC representatives. As apartner of the event, European Innovation Council (EIC) was focused on strengthening links between the Central and Eastern European innovation ecosystem and its funding and commercialization programmes, creating new opportunities for collaboration between regional innovators, investors, and the wider European innovation community.
A Strong Signal for Croatia's Innovation Future
Liftoff concluded with the Big Bang Party supported by Zaz Ventures, bringing participants together for one final evening of networking, music, and celebration after two days filled with ideas, partnerships, and new opportunities.
More importantly, the event demonstrated that Croatia is increasingly becoming more than a participant in Europe’s innovation ecosystem, it is becoming one of the places where that future is being built. By bringing together Europe’s leading financial institutions, innovation agencies, investors, startup accelerators, researchers, and entrepreneurs, Liftoff reinforced Zagreb’s position as a regional hub for deep tech and a gateway for innovation across Central and Eastern Europe.
We extend our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, the DIGIT project, the World Bank, all event partners, sponsors, speakers, investors, startups, and collaborators whose support made Liftoff 2026 possible. Their commitment continues to strengthen the foundations of Croatia’s growing deep tech ecosystem and its international future.
