AI-powered fact-checking to combat disinformation, novel cell therapies for muscle tissue regeneration, photonic radar sensors, sustainable 3D printing using fiber composites, and decentralized satellite communications: On the evening of Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises presented the Deep Tech Award to five outstanding Berlin-based companies.
For the eleventh consecutive year, the administration is thus recognizing technological, research-based innovations from Berlin that stand out for their practical application and societal relevance. The awards ceremony, attended by Senator for Economics Franziska Giffey and Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economics, took place for the first time as part of the Deep Tech Momentum conference at Wilhelm Studios in Berlin.
Franziska Giffey, Mayor and Senator for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises: “We want to make Berlin the No. 1 innovation hub in Europe. The companies honored today are translating cutting-edge technological research into concrete applications and offering solutions to current challenges. In doing so, they impressively demonstrate the immense innovative potential Berlin possesses. With the Deep Tech Award, we recognize the courage and excellence of our founders. Through our new partnership with the Deep Tech Momentum conference, we are also creating a platform that connects Berlin’s brightest minds even more closely with industry partners and international investors. In doing so, we are ensuring sustainable growth and technological sovereignty for Berlin as a hub.”
The Deep Tech Award is endowed with a total of 50,000 euros and is presented in five categories:- Advanced Manufacturing
- Bio- & Healthtech
- Artificial Intelligence
- Quantum Technologies, Photonics & Microelectronics
- Web3 & Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT)
From over 84 applications, expert juries selected five winning companies, each of which receives prize money of 10,000 euros.
With the Deep Tech Award being integrated into the Deep Tech Momentum conference for the first time, the prize is being positioned even more strongly on the international stage. The conference is considered one of Europe’s leading platforms for connecting deep-tech startups with companies and investors. The new partnership underscores the award’s mission to not only honor Berlin’s most innovative technology companies but also to connect them even more closely with the European innovation ecosystem. In this context, the special “Deep Tech Award for Breakthrough Momentum” was also presented for the first time this year.
The winners of the Deep Tech Award 2026 at a glance:
Deep Tech Star in the “Advanced Manufacturing” category: Endless Industries GmbH
Endless Industries is revolutionizing the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced composite components through an innovative 3D printing solution. The Berlin-based company is thereby replacing complex and costly manufacturing processes while simultaneously saving significant amounts of material and reducing waste.
Website: www.endless.industries
Deep Tech Star in the “Bio- & Healthtech” category: MyoPax GmbH
MyoPax specializes in novel cell therapies and gene corrections for muscle tissue regeneration. The company addresses severe muscle injuries and diseases, offering patients promising new treatment options that were previously unavailable.
Website: www.myopax.com
Deep Tech Star in the “Artificial Intelligence” category: Gretchen AI GmbH
Gretchen AI develops state-of-the-art AI for detecting deepfakes and fake news and can reconstruct their dissemination history. This enables the Berlin-based company to help major media outlets perform fact-checks up to six times faster while maintaining the same level of reliability—a crucial contribution to safeguarding the public information space.
Website: www.gretchen-ai.com
Deep Tech Star in the “Quantum Technologies, Photonics & Microelectronics” category: Xavveo GmbH
Xavveo develops photonic radar sensors that set new standards in fields such as navigation and measurement technology, for example in environmental sensing for cars. The technology enables unprecedented precision and has the potential to fundamentally replace existing sensor solutions across a wide range of industries.
Website: www.xavveo.com
Deep Tech Star in the category “Web3 & Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT)”: Decen Space UG
The startup Decen Space is developing a decentralized coordination network consisting of software and hardware components for the secure and efficient synchronization of data streams between satellites and ground stations. This solution enables higher data transfer rates at significantly lower costs and also allows satellite operators more contact time with their satellites.
Website: www.decenspace.com
Special Prize “Deep Tech Award for Breakthrough Momentum”:
The “Deep Tech Award for Breakthrough Momentum,” presented for the first time, honors European startups that combine excellent scientific innovation with exceptional scaling potential. The winning company was selected from a pool of over 300 European startups curated by Deep Tech Momentum by a jury consisting of high-ranking startup experts.
Deep Tech Star of the “Deep Tech Award for Breakthrough Momentum”: Six Robotics AS
Six Robotics AS is a Norwegian company specializing in the development of autonomy software for fleets of unmanned aerial vehicles. The software is based on innovative swarm intelligence algorithms and real-time mission control architectures that ensure a high degree of autonomy and efficiency for the aircraft. This enables the company’s drones to coordinate and execute missions as intelligent teams. As a result, the use of networked autonomous systems in modern defense operations is being advanced.
Website: www.sixrobotics.com
