Black Semiconductor secures funding to launch new semiconductor technology in Europe
Black Semiconductor, a spin-off and current partner of the Graphene Flagship, secures EUR 254.4 million in funding to launch new semiconductor technology in Europe.
The German federal government and the State of North-Rhine-Westphalia commit EUR 228.7 million in funding to drive a new generation of chips developed by Black Semiconductor, a technology company specialising in graphene-based chips.
The company has also secured EUR 25.7 million in equity funding led by Porsche Ventures and Project A Ventures, with participation from Scania Growth Capital, Capnamic, Tech Vision Fonds, NRW.BANK, joining seed round investors Vsquared Ventures, Cambium Capital, and Hermann Hauser’s Onsight Ventures.
Set to transform the chip industry, a new generation of chip networks will solve connectivity barriers and multiply computing power and efficiency.
With the funding, Black Semiconductor is positioned to enable the first semiconductor mass production based on the material graphene. This is an important step towards developing the semiconductor value chain in Europe, enhancing the continent’s technological sovereignty. The capital injection facilitates product development, along with graphene production in Europe and the creation of new high-tech jobs in Aachen, Germany.
Black Semiconductor's graphene-fotonic wafer during the probing process.
Photo: Cem Sarac Engin
Author bio
Graphene Flagship
Bringing together 118 academic and industrial partners in 12 research and innovation projects and 1 coordination and support project, the Graphene Flagship initiative will continue to advance Europe’s strategic autonomy in technologies that rely on graphene and other 2D materials. The initiative, which builds on the previous 10-years of the Graphene Flagship, is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. The 2D-Experimental Pilot Line, addressing the challenges of upscaling 2D material production processes for the semiconductor industry, is another key component of the Graphene Flagship eco-system.