Tech Europe Foundation

About us

We believe in building the companies of tomorrow from the discoveries of today.

TEF was born to help solve a structural market failure: the low conversion rate between research and ventures. We are a non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting deep tech researchers and founders through their journey, from lab to market, and young entrepreneurs as they grow into founders.

Founders & Promoters

scientists funded

ventures supported

entrepreneurs trained

0€

million raised

Our programs

From Idea to Impact

ForScientists

TEF starts nurturing ideas early, when they are still nascent and fragile; our PhD and Postdoc DeepTech Fellowships fund breakthrough research and support researchers in their journey.

TEF Researchers benefit from a competitive scholarship and personalized mentorship to support them in their research efforts and/or entrepreneurial journeys, whichever they choose to follow. Also, TEF Researchers benefit from engaging with the wider entrepreneurial TEF community of researchers from different fields and founders. TEF Fellowhips are available to Bocconi and PoliMi’s candidates through the Universities.

ForVentures

TEF has partnered with Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), a global nonprofit that accelerates the growth of seed-stage science and technology companies through a structured mentorship program.

CDL-Milan, launched in partnership with Tech Europe Foundation (TEF), Bocconi University, and Politecnico di Milano, hosts an Advanced Manufacturing stream and participates in CDL’s global Space stream.
Ventures are guided through four objective-setting sessions from October to April, where they benefit from the experience of world-class entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors.

ForRising Entrepreneurs

TEF Ignition is a 7-week program for students from Politecnico di Milano and Bocconi University who want to start their entrepreneurial journey.

You’ll receive a budget to test your idea, access to online training, and support from experienced mentors. If you’re serious about trying, this is where you start. Applications are currently closed, stay tuned for the next edition.

Apply now Discover Here

News

Our Contents

TEF Stories

The Human Brain in a Chip: Neuronova’s Journey to Intelligent Devices

What does it take to turn neuromorphic theory into real-world hardware? Alessandro Milozzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Neuronova, reflects on the path from research to product.

Learn more

TEF Stories

From Climbing Walls to Building a Global community: Mapo Tapo’s Story

Some start-ups begin in offices. Others, like Mapo Tapo, are born on a cliffside. We spoke with Daniele Calvo Pollino, TEF Ignition mentor and co-founder & CEO, about turning a personal passion into a scalable outdoor tourism business.

Learn more

TEF Stories

Massimo Banzi: how a toy led to Arduino and a life of making

The cofounder of Arduino and CDL mentor shares the journey that shaped his work on FabLabs and his approach to supporting young founders.

Learn more

TEF Stories

From research to entrepreneurship: the story of Laura Indolfi

How PanTher Therapeutics was born and the vision behind a new generation of oncological treatments.

Learn more

332eab36-a14d-47ab-9764-737cd775abd3 (1)

TEF Stories

From research to cure: Carmen Giordano and her team redefining how we study brain diseases

With funding from Tech Europe Foundation, Carmen and her team are pioneering a multi-organ platform that replicates human biological interactions to advance the search for new cures for brain diseases.

Learn more

Interview

For a Future Full of Winning Ideas

Italy ranks eighth in the world economy but only 33rd in unicorn value. What’s missing isn’t capital, but ideas strong enough to compete and endure, argues Luca de Angelis, Bocconi alumnus and new CEO of the Tech Europe Foundation (TEF).

Read article

Our focus
areas

Applied AI

Aerospace & Robotics

New Energy & Materials

Coming Soon

Life Sciences & Med-Tech

Optics, Photonics & Microelectronics

Coming Soon

Food Tech & Agriculture

Our campus

Parco dei gasometri
di Milano Bovisa

Designed by Renzo Piano, Parco dei Gasometri is an initiative from Politecnico di Milano where TEF will find its home: 30,000 sqm campus within a wider 100,000 sqm tech district with 22 hectares of green space.

Thanks to our Founding University Politecnico di Milano TEF members will be able to access:

Cutting-edge 3D printing laboratories

Specialized energy and aerospace structures labs

Clean rooms for semiconductor research

State-of-the-art photonics and optics laboratories

Advanced labs for manufacturing, mobility, and materials

Joint research centers fostering innovation and collaboration

Cutting-edge 3D printing laboratories

Specialized energy and aerospace structures labs

Clean rooms for semiconductor research

State-of-the-art photonics and optics laboratories

Advanced labs for manufacturing, mobility, and materials