Deep Tech Network: Delivering Responsible Deep Tech Collaboration

DAY I
Welcome Dinner

DAY II
Registration

Inaugural Session

In the Chair:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation

Introductory Remarks:

In the Chair:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation

Introductory Remarks:

Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit, United Arab Emirates

Special Address: 

Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor, United States

Keynote Address: 

Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates

In Conversation: 

H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates

Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego, United States

Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit, United Arab Emirates

Special Address: 

Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor, United States

Keynote Address: 

Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates

In Conversation: 

H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates

Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego, United States

Break

Yervant Zorian, President, Synopsys Armenia; Chief Architect and Fellow, Synopsys, Republic of Armenia (Pre-recorded message)

Maggie Sprenger, General Partner and Co-Founder, Audere Capital, United States

Rajan Luthra, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; Chairman's Office, Head-Special Projects, Reliance Industries, India

Industry Focus

This segment will focus on the strategic importance of startups, scalable insurgents, and established industry players within the deep tech space. Companies will have the opportunity to present their work and technology—from development to application and scalability; what they require (from capital to R&D) to reach their full potential and how global stakeholders can collaborate with them effectively. Conversations will include investment and funding, market access, technical knowledge, access to facilities, and talent acquisition.

In the Chair:

Maggie Sprenger, General Partner and Co-Founder, Audere Capital, United States

Scene Setting Presentation: 

Charles Clancy, Senior Vice President, MITRE, United States

Pitches will encompass the following thematic areas:

Smart Manufacturing: Advances in next-generation computing and communications have completely altered the manufacturing landscape. Breakthrough developments in advanced materials, nanotechnology, and novel alloys have transformed modular manufacturing, technology integration, and circular economy principles. Discussions can centre on the approaches to overcome the physical and institutional inertia of legacy processes, to embrace a more innovation-driven future.

Kickoff Interventions:

Parag Naik, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Saankhya Labs, India

Jags Kandasamy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Latent AI, United States

Sandeep Shah, Managing Director, Optimized Electrotech, India

Tech For Good: Disruptive technologies have revolutionised the fields of healthcare, disaster management, space operations, transportation, and agriculture, expanding the realm of possibilities for the use of tech in welfare and human security, and providing innovative solutions to collective problems. Advanced technologies can convert structured and unstructured data into actionable insights at speed and at scale, which can elevate clinical outcomes, enhance precision agriculture, forecast weather, predict natural disasters, assess food value chains, and enhance space situational awareness.

Kickoff Interventions:

Ayushi Mishra, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, DronaMaps, India

Ishita Barua, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Livv Health, Norway

Marie Lou Papazian, Founding Chief Executive Officer, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, Republic of Armenia

Harnessing Dual-Use Tech: The Fourth Industrial Revolution has significantly impacted the development and proliferation of dual-use technologies, which have both civilian and military applications. Developments in augmented reality, GPS, thermal imaging, nuclear technologies, hypersonic capabilities, and drones have fundamentally transformed industries and society. The concentration of these technologies in the hands of one entity can however affect competitiveness, innovation and supply chain resilience. Governments, private sector enterprises, and civil society actors must work collaboratively to establish frameworks for the responsible development, ethical use, and continuing evolution of these technologies.

Kickoff Interventions:

Sameer Joshi, Chief Executive Officer and Director, NewSpace R&T, India

Philip Jungen, Founder, Darkstar, Germany

Fabio Masci, Lead Executive, The Edge Company, Italy

Discussants

Discussant 1: 

Yonghwan Kim, Chief Executive Officer and President, Smart Radar System, South Korea

Discussant 2:

Praveen Dwarakanath, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Big Bang Boom Solutions, India

Lunch

Speed Talk

Vivek Lall, Chief Executive Officer, General Atomics Global Corporation, United States

Caktalysing a Robust Deep Tech Ecosystem

In the Chair:

Rajan Luthra, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; Chairman's Office, Head-Special Projects, Reliance Industries, India

Scene Setting Presentation: 

Takayuki Sato, Resident Executive Officer, Regional Head for Europe Middle East and Africa, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, United Kingdom

A deep tech ecosystem grounded on early stage unproven scientific and engineering advances requires significant mobilisation of private capital. These technologies carry a higher level of risk than ordinary investments due to their substantial capital requirements, and an uncertain commercialisation roadmap for the future. Institutional investors, venture capital firms, and private equity funds will elaborate on their investment theses, time horizons, and main challenges when it comes to the deep tech sector. This session will serve as a bridge between capital allocators, founders, and practitioners.

Kickoff Interventions:

Rajeev Mantri, Founder and Managing Director, Navam Capital, India

Tsuyoshi Ito, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner, Beyond Next Ventures, Japan

Peter Ackerson, General Partner, Audere Capital, United States

Sachin Seth, General Partner, Trousdale Ventures, United States

Armen Kherlopian, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant Venture Capital, Republic of Armenia

Mohamed ElDoh, Director of International Business Development, United Investment, United Arab Emirates

Abdullah Al-Shaksy, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Phaze Ventures, United Arab Emirates

Amine Staali, Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, DeepMinds Ventures, United Arab Emirates

Karen Gyulbudaghyan, Founder, Strategic Value Ventures, United States

Discussants:

Discussant 1:

Tigran Shahverdyan, Co-founder and Board Member, Bazoomq Space Research Lab, Republic of Armenia

Discussant 2: 

Salil Lakhanpal, AVP, AgNext, India

Discussant 3: 

Kedar Nadgaundi, Executive Director, Levicon India System Pvt Ltd, India

Tea/Coffee Break

Speed Talk

Andrew Pease, Technical Collaboration Manager, Energy Systems Catapult, United Kingdom

Building Bridges in Deep Tech

In the Chair: 

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India

Scene Setting Presentation:

Khalifa Juma AlQama, Head of Labs, Dubai Future Foundation, United Arab Emirates

The development and scalability of novel solutions to address humanity's most pressing problems requires inclusive collaboration across borders and stakeholder groups. Common principles for deep tech collaboration must be developed with human beings at the core, so as to effectively forge international partnerships and institutionalise the roadmap for effective governance and oversight. Embracing responsible innovation, robust intellectual property frameworks, talent development, knowledge sharing, and global connectivity is key to unlocking the transformative potential of deep tech innovations.

Kickoff Interventions:

Del Titus Bawuah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Future Forward, United Kingdom

PJ Maykish, Senior Advisor, Special Competitive Studies Project, United States

Andy Sellars, Chair, UK Semiconductor Expert Working Group, United Kingdom

Prashant Pathak, Chief Executive Officer, Ekagrata Inc, Canada

Justain Bracken, Chief Executive Officer, Helianthus Holding, United Arab Emirates

Rabih Khoury, Partner and Chief Exit Officer, Middle East Venture Partners, United Arab Emirates

Musafumi Senda, Country Head, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, India

Miiko Yasumatsu, Chief Officer - Global Business Support Section Startup Support Department, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan

Raffi Kassarjian, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Advisor, Sensyan, United States

Lara Setrakian, President, Applied Policy Research Institute, Republic of Armenia

Discussants:

Discussant 1: 

Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Research Fellow, Applied Policy Research Institute, Republic of Armenia

Discussant 2: 

Christine Callsen, Strategy Director, MITRE, United States

Discussant 3:

Norine MacDonald, President and Founder, RAIN Defense + AI, United Arab Emirates

Wrap up

Closing Remarks

Verena Sturm, Director of Innovation, Tech and Social Impact, Observer Research Foundation - Middle East, United Arab Emirates

Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit, United Arab Emirates

Transition Time

Closing Dinner