Munich-based QuantumDiamonds secured €91 million in funding to scale its quantum sensor technology that detects hidden defects in advanced semiconductors. The round includes €76 million from the European Chips Act.
QuantumDiamonds, a spinout from the Technical University of Munich, uses diamond-based quantum sensors to identify microscopic flaws in chip manufacturing that traditional inspection methods miss.
The €91 million funding round, with €76 million backed by the EU's Chips Act initiative, will support scaling production of the defect detection tool. The remaining €15 million comes from other sources.
The technology addresses a critical challenge in semiconductor manufacturing: detecting subsurface defects that can cause chip failures in devices ranging from consumer electronics to industrial systems.
The Chips Act funding reflects Europe's broader push to strengthen semiconductor self-sufficiency and manufacturing capabilities amid global supply chain concerns. QuantumDiamonds' quantum sensing approach represents a specialized application of quantum technology in industrial quality control.
The startup is positioned to serve chipmakers seeking advanced defect detection as production scales to smaller nanometer processes, where precision inspection becomes increasingly complex.
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