European QuantumDiamonds Startup Secures €76M to Accelerate Chip Production with Quantum Tech

QuantumDiamonds, a European startup spun out of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has secured €76 million in government funding to develop cutting-edge equipment that accelerates chip quality control. The funds were allocated by the European Commission, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, and Bavarian authorities as part of the EU’s semiconductor industry development initiative.

The startup’s technology relies on quantum sensors that detect chip defects in just two minutes—a process that traditionally takes weeks. Its equipment is already in use by leading semiconductor manufacturers in Taiwan, South Korea, and the U.S. According to CEO Kevin Berghoff, clients save hundreds of millions by reducing inspection time and improving yield rates.

At the core of the solution are synthetic diamonds, whose microscopic properties enable non-destructive analysis of electrical current across all chip layers. This is particularly vital for multilayer semiconductors, which are becoming the standard for AI data centers and high-performance applications. QuantumDiamonds plans to expand production and transition from lab-based to mass-scale quality control in fabrication facilities.

In addition to the grant, QuantumDiamonds raised €15 million in venture capital from investors including World Fund, Earlybird, and Bayern Kapital. The company has already established a hub in Taiwan and deployed equipment at Eurofins EAG Laboratories in California. Over the next 12 months, the startup aims to double its engineering team in Munich, where 70 employees are currently based.