QuantumDiamonds Raises €91M for Diamond Microscope Technology
July 10, 2026 – 10:36 am
Image by: QuantumDiamonds
Europe, a significant consumer of semiconductors, currently produces only a tenth of the global total. A three-year-old Munich startup, QuantumDiamonds, aims to change this and has secured €91M in funding to scale its innovative diamond-based chip inspection technology. This round marks the first manufacturing investment for a startup under the EU Chips Act.
The Breakthrough Technology
QuantumDiamonds, a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich, leverages lab-grown diamonds’ tiny atomic flaws to sense magnetic fields with extreme precision. This capability translates into a microscope that can visualize electricity flow through chips in 3D at the nanoscale without damaging them. Their first product, QDm.1, can quickly identify defects buried deep within stacked chip packages.
Addressing a Crucial Industry Need
Chipmakers face a significant yield challenge as they continue to pack more transistors into smaller spaces. Defects that might be missed by traditional optical and X-ray tools can ruin entire batches of chips. QuantumDiamonds‘ technology offers a solution, boasting an ability to pinpoint defects in under a minute—a stark contrast to the six weeks it took one US chip designer to identify a fault.
Market Potential
The inspection market for semiconductors is projected to reach €10.9bn in 2026 and grow exponentially by 2035, according to Global Market Insights. QuantumDiamonds already collaborates with nine of the top ten global chipmakers, underscoring the potential impact of their technology.
Sovereignty and National Champions
The investment pitch emphasizes Europe’s need to reduce its reliance on semiconductor imports from the US and Asia. Daria Saharova, managing partner at World Fund, went further, comparing QuantumDiamonds to ASML, a Dutch company renowned for its chip-making machines that are essential to the global industry.
Funding Details
The €76M grant comes from the German federal government and the Free State of Bavaria. This funding received EU approval on June 23rd as part of a broader European push to manufacture more chips domestically.