For the past 20 years, innovation has largely been driven by software—transforming how industries operate, scale, and compete. Today, AI is accelerating that trend, pushing the boundaries of what digital systems can process, automate, and predict.
But the next leap in innovation won’t be purely digital. It will depend on technologies that physically interact with the world—where software meets hardware, and bold ideas must become engineered systems.
Sectors like MedTech, mobility, space, energy, and computing are reaching critical inflection points. Each is poised for breakthrough—but only if their most ambitious concepts can be built, scaled, and proven in real-world environments.
That’s where HardTech and DeepTech come into focus. These terms often surface in conversations about emerging technologies, but they represent different phases of development. Understanding that distinction matters—especially for teams tasked with delivering what’s never been built before.
At Andrews Cooper, we specialize in HardTech. It’s where we’ve earned our reputation—and it’s what we mean when we say: Engineer the Impossible in HardTech.
So, what does that really mean?
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Distinctions Between HardTech and DeepTech
DeepTech refers to the scientific and technological breakthroughs that lay the foundation for entirely new categories of products and industries. These are often research-driven efforts—developed in labs, incubators, or academic settings—requiring years of investment before they can transition to commercial application. Think of advancements in quantum computing, novel biomaterials, or next-generation battery chemistry. Their potential is transformative, but their timelines are long and their outcomes uncertain.
It encompasses the development, integration, and productization of complex physical systems that must meet exacting performance standards in the real world. These systems are typically novel, highly specialized, and tightly coupled to the core intellectual property a client has spent years developing.
HARDTECH BEGINS WHERE DEEPTECH LEAVES OFF.
HardTech is what it takes to bring cutting-edge ideas into functioning, manufacturable products that operate reliably under field conditions. These efforts often require bespoke hardware, intricate subsystems, and new process development to solve challenges that don’t yet have playbooks.
What Makes HardTech Hard
HardTech programs are demanding by nature—not only because of their technical complexity, but also due to the inherent ambiguity of the development landscape. Requirements evolve as the system architecture is refined. Designs shift as new constraints surface—from thermal behavior to manufacturability. Even with a defined product vision, the path to execution requires careful navigation through layers of uncertainty.
And despite all of that—there’s still a product to build. It must be safe. Compliant. Durable. Scalable. And ultimately, it must perform as intended in the environments it was designed for.
This is what makes HardTech hard. And that is precisely where Andrews Cooper brings value to our clients.
HardTech Follows Emerges After Springs From DeepTech
Where AC Operates in the HardTech Lifecycle
In many HardTech projects, clients come to us with two things: a bold vision and either an emerging technical concept or early-stage intellectual property. Sometimes that IP results from years of internal R&D. Other times, it’s little more than a napkin sketch—and our role is to help develop and define the core technology alongside them.
In either case, our work contributes directly to the competitive advantage that helps clients break into their markets or reshape them entirely. When that IP is successfully engineered into a robust system, it creates a lead that competitors can’t easily replicate or close.
However, building a viable, high-performing product around that IP requires a different kind of expertise. That’s where Andrews Cooper comes in.
We help clients address a critical blind spot: transitioning from concept or IP into manufacturable, integrated systems. This includes engineering the product itself and developing the advanced automation equipment required to manufacture its most complex subsystems or assemblies.
In many cases, the product being built is the first of its kind. The manufacturing process hasn’t been defined yet. The test strategy needs to be built from the ground up. So, the interdependent engineering decisions that enable scaling, cost efficiency, reliability, or regulatory compliance are deferred until late in the cycle— introducing delays and avoidable risks. By addressing feasibility and effectiveness of core technology earlier, teams can reduce risk, accelerate development, and unlock momentum when it matters most. This is where Andrews Cooper makes a tangible impact: engineering the systems and infrastructure needed to bridge the gap between breakthrough ideas and real-world products and manufacturing processes.
These are the problems our teams solve every day.
Industries Where HardTech Comes to Life
HardTech is not industry-specific. It shows up wherever innovation demands physical systems that cannot fail. Some examples are:
| Industry | HardTech Solutions |
|---|---|
|
MedTech innovation & novel portability |
We partnered with a MedTech startup to develop a revolutionary, ultra-compact, smartphone-powered automated external defibrillator (AED)—an industry first. The device had to meet stringent IEC 60601 requirements for rhythm detection and patient safety while surviving drops, water exposure, extreme heat, and other environmental challenges. Our engineering and test teams supported hardware development and rigorous verification to prepare for FDA submission. |
|
CleanTech design efficiency & scalability |
For a client in green energy, we supported the design and development of a high-voltage power distribution system used in advanced clean energy storage. The system required robust mechanical design, embedded firmware, and safety-critical hardware—all engineered for performance in harsh electrical and environmental conditions. Our work helped the client advance from early prototype to scalable product architecture. |
|
Cutting-edge AR technology |
For a leading technology HardTech innovator, we helped engineer the development of next-generation augmented reality (AR) systems. Our team designed and tested a highly specialized micro-assembly solution involving precision, micro-level adhesive dispensing, advanced robotics, and integrated vision validation systems. The goal: to enable breakthrough product innovation by customizing advanced design and assembly processes that didn’t previously exist. This automation platform became a foundational capability for our client’s AR roadmap, placing them leaps ahead in both technology and manufacturability. Our role spanned R&D support and the creation of a precision automation infrastructure to make novel AR development feasible at scale. |
Across these sectors and more, we embed with our clients to provide technical leadership, engineering execution, and systems-level thinking. We don’t replace teams—we multiply them.
What It Means to Engineer the Impossible in HardTech
We use the word “impossible” with intent. In HardTech, the problems worth solving often begin as “not yet possible.” The challenges are significant, but solvable—if the right strategy, expertise, and collaboration are in place.
To engineer the impossible means taking a concept that exists on paper—or in research—and turning it into a robust system that performs in the real world. It means addressing constraints without losing sight of performance goals. It means solving what hasn’t been solved before and doing so under pressure.
That’s what we do at Andrews Cooper. We design when the path is unclear. Build when the risk is high. Deliver when the tools don’t yet exist. And we keep moving forward—even when the problem hasn’t been solved before.
If you’re facing a HardTech challenge that’s never been solved, chances are, together, we’re going to find a way.
Joe Harsany
Joe Harsany is Co-CEO of Andrews Cooper. He began his career at AC as a Mechanical Engineer and now leads the company—alongside Co-CEO Tyler Smith—into the future, carrying forward the legacy of founders Neal Andrews and Steve V. Cooper. Joe brings decades of hands-on engineering and leadership experience to every challenge, with a deep commitment to solving complex problems that define the next era of HardTech innovation.
