HorizonTech perspective

HorizonTech helps society and industry work together to solve real-world challenges through deep technological solutions

About Innovation

Throughout history, technology has demonstrated the ability to unite societies through innovation and cross-cultural collaboration. Building the ancient pyramids, landing on the moon, and inventing the smart phone are examples of successful grand visions that generated meaningful progress for society—but these are the exception. Most of history’s great ideas were never realized: either society didn’t need them, didn’t understand them, or lacked the means to make them. Similarly, most of today’s inventions lack clear strategies that align with society’s needs or capacities, as seen in the high failure rate of startups that employ complex technologies. ¹

•  Over 90% of deep tech startups fail before reaching maturity. Schutselaars et al. Designing and testing a tool that connects the value proposition of deep-tech ventures to SDGs. Designs. 2023.

About Deep Tech

Deep tech, rooted in an intense scientific foundation, has the highest potential to create long-term value for the environment, economy, and society. Instead of a hit-and-miss approach, we need strategies that understand the implications of these new technologies and enable meaningful societal impact, geopolitical stability, and added economic value. But today’s technologies and global value chains are highly complex, and no one can navigate the system alone. Educators, policymakers, NGOs, and investors need targeted connections and guidance from translators who understand entrepreneurship, business, finance, sustainability, social sciences—and the technology itself. Likewise, technology leaders need training and effective strategies to understand how their decisions and actions can positively affect society. In an interconnected global economy, stakeholders must also learn how to bridge cultural divides with curiosity and compromise so that cooperation and risk sharing can support success.

About the Founder

HorizonTech was founded by Dr. Joseph Zekry to enable synergy between society and the deep tech industry, and to optimize its positive impact. With over 20 years of experience working in semiconductors and deep tech, he has led teams in academia, startup, and corporate contexts ² delivering mission-critical innovations and transformations. He holds multiple degrees in business and science and two patents in semiconductor manufacturing.

During his career, Dr. Zekry observed misalignments and missed opportunities between educators, policymakers, NGOs, investors, and industry that hindered deep tech’s potential for positive impact. At the same time, he observed technological organizations working in isolation and missing the chance to contribute meaningfully to society—a driving force for engineers, physicists, and technology managers. He founded HorizonTech to help bridge the divide and optimize the positive impact of deep tech.

For Dr. Zekry, who developed his education and experience across multiple cultures and borders, collaboration has always been the backbone of progress. A natural translator among different sectors and geographies, he hosts delegations from all corners of the globe and connects stakeholders across the deep tech ecosystem to tackle urgent technological and societal challenges. He works with educational institutes to help learners understand the significance of technology in the interconnected global economy, and he guides industry leadership with strategic planning and cross-sector collaborations that affect society.

2. imec (Belgium 2008–2013), Lightyear (Netherlands 2022–2023), ASML (Netherlands 2013–2022)