Akces NCBR operates within the NCBR Group as an independent unit created to address a critical gap in the Polish innovation ecosystem: the lack of systemic support for high-risk, deep-tech startups at the earliest stages of development. Many breakthrough technologies fail in the so-called “valley of death” due to insufficient funding, lack of commercialization support, and fragmented pathways between R&D and the market. This challenge is particularly visible in projects with low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), where technological potential is high, but uncertainty, risk, and development costs prevent traditional investors or institutions from engaging.