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Switzerland channels the highest global share of its venture capital into deep tech, with 63% of funding supporting science-driven start-ups, according to the Swiss Deep Tech Report 2026. The country leads in Europe for deep tech investment per capita, driven by strengths in AI, robotics, and advanced computing, with ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne fueling a robust start-up pipeline. Despite record funding and growing international investor interest, a domestic late-stage funding gap persists due to Switzerland's small market size. This focused investment positions Switzerland as a concentrated global hub for frontier technologies, with start-ups increasingly staying local before expanding internationally.

Kubota has increased its investment in French agtech startup UV Boosting to accelerate the adoption of UV-C crop technology across Europe, aiming to reduce pesticide use and promote sustainable farming. UV Boosting’s “UV flash” tech uses short-wavelength ultraviolet light to trigger natural plant defenses, resulting in reduced disease incidence and increased yields, especially in vineyards. The partnership leverages Kubota’s distribution network and industrial capabilities to scale the technology, aligning with Europe’s sustainability goals and the broader agtech trend toward non-chemical crop protection solutions.

Micropep taps into the biological opportunity in Latin America, registering its peptide-based bio-fungicide in Paraguay and Brazil, with more product in the pipeline.

The £2.6 million SLIMERS project, led by BOFIN and funded by Defra, is in its final phase, aiming to transform slug control in UK agriculture through predictive risk mapping, AI-powered detection, and precision application of treatments. Researchers have developed models that identify slug hotspots within fields, enabling farmers to target treatments and reduce blanket pellet use. Partners are also advancing AI multispectral imaging for in-field slug identification and engineering ultra-narrow, autonomous spray systems for targeted interventions. The initiative seeks to create a sustainable, data-driven standard for pest management as chemical control comes under increasing scrutiny.