Less than a tenth of UK DeepTech companies are founded solely by women, according to new research.

In its first ever report on the state of the national DeepTech ecosystem, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAO) found that UK DeepTech is dominated by men, with just 7.5 per cent of UK companies founded by all-women teams.

The State of Deep Tech report also found the UK is home to 3,462 active DeepTech companies, with these businesses attracting a total of £5.22 billion in investment in 2022.

With 517 companies in operation in the UK, CleanTech was the dominant category of business followed by AI companies at 504.

“While there is much to celebrate, the State of UK Deep Tech underlines the important work still to be done to support deep tech founders to scale and grow their companies in the UK,” said Ana Avaliani, director of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Hub. “It is also vital for a more successful, inclusive ecosystem that the gender imbalance in deep tech leadership is addressed and that leadership diversity in deep tech enterprises is championed.”

Secretary of state for science, innovation and technology Michelle Donelan said the government was working closely with partners like the Royal Academy of Engineering to harness talent up and down the country.

“I am committed to boosting STEM up-take among people from all backgrounds, to ensure everyone can fulfil their potential as we build a highly skilled workforce in the industries of the future,” she said.

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