The NSW government will place deep tech and advanced manufacturing start-ups at the forefront of plans to kickstart the economy in the post-coronavirus era, after recognising it had not previously taken the sector seriously enough, according to the parliamentary secretary leading the policy push.

Former state attorney-general Gabrielle Upton has held briefings with the local "deep tech" start-up sector in recent weeks as part of a plan to accelerate the commercialisation of research and development in NSW and create a more vibrant innovation-based economy.