EWOR Fellowship expands its €60M deep-tech initiative through industrial partnerships and aligns with EU’s €2B AI/quantum funding, while alumni startup Thaleron secures aerospace collaboration.
Berlin-based EWOR Fellowship has partnered with Siemens AG and BASF SE to provide sector-specific mentorship for deep-tech startups, building on its €60 million fund launched 30 April 2025. The move comes as the EU allocates €2 billion to AI and quantum technologies through Horizon Europe, while EWOR alumni Thaleron announced an aerospace partnership on 06 May 2025, according to EU-Startups.com.
Corporate-Startup Collaboration Intensifies
EWOR revealed on 03 May 2025 that Siemens’ industrial IoT experts and BASF’s material science team will mentor participants in its 35-member cohort. The fellowship’s 0.1% acceptance rate – selecting from 35,000 applicants annually – now includes access to proprietary industry datasets.
EU Funding Creates Strategic Alignment
The European Commission’s 05 May 2025 Horizon Europe amendment directs €2 billion toward AI and quantum computing startups through 2027. This complements EWOR’s focus on commercializing academic research, with 78% of its alumni securing Series A funding within 18 months.
Thaleron’s Aerospace Breakthrough
EWOR graduate Thaleron, which raised Europe’s largest €11.4 million pre-seed round in 2024, signed a development agreement with an Airbus subsidiary on 06 May 2025 to test its compact fusion reactor prototype. The startup credits EWOR’s network for accelerating regulatory approvals.
Analysis: Private Mentorship vs State Funding Models
EWOR’s corporate partnership strategy contrasts with France’s €50 million Quantum Leap Fund announced 02 May 2025. While Germany’s approach leverages industry expertise, critics argue it risks creating dependency on incumbent players. Historical data shows 63% of corporate-backed startups achieve faster scaling but face 42% higher acquisition rates versus independent ventures.
The EU’s deep-tech push mirrors its 2018 Blockchain Initiative that spawned 14 unicorns by 2023. However, current funding levels represent a 300% increase over previous programs, with stricter commercialization requirements. EWOR’s model builds on Berlin’s legacy as Europe’s startup capital, which attracted €7.8 billion in tech investment during 2024 according to Dealroom.co data.
