Quantum Diamonds secures €91 million EU Chips Act funding for Munich chip‑inspection plant

Munich‑based semiconductor start‑up Quantum Diamonds, a spin‑out of the Technical University of Munich, has raised a total of €91 million to bring its quantum‑diamond microscopy technology to series production. The financing comprises a €15 million equity round led by the World Fund and €76 million of state aid granted under the European Chips Act, making it the first start‑up to receive this manufacturing grant.

The company uses lab‑grown diamonds with atomic‑scale defects to sense magnetic fields, allowing it to image electrical currents inside stacked 3‑D chips without damaging them. This capability can pinpoint hidden defects in minutes rather than weeks, potentially saving chip makers billions by improving yields. Quantum Diamonds plans to use the funds to build a €152 million production facility in eastern Munich, with the first section slated to open later this year, and to more than double its engineering team of 70 employees within 12 months. "This financing is a crucial step to establish quantum sensing in chip factories worldwide," said CEO Kevin Berghoff. The start‑up already works with nine of the ten largest chip manufacturers and aims to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor sovereignty.