From the Startup Battlefield stage to the International Space Station: geCKo Materials built a sticky product

geCKo Materials demonstrates how deep tech startups can successfully transition from academic research to commercial scale, with their bio-inspired adhesive technology now deployed on the International Space Station and applicable across robotics, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. Technology leaders should recognize the strategic value of nurturing academic partnerships and IP licensing frameworks, as these pathways can unlock breakthrough innovations that traditional R&D may not achieve. For IT organizations, this highlights the importance of building robust processes and governance structures to support emerging technology ventures, while understanding that successful deep tech commercialization requires as much operational rigor as technical innovation.