Munich-based QuantumDiamonds, a developer of quantum tools for accurate chip defect detection, has secured €152 million to establish what it describes as the world’s first production facility for advanced chip inspection systems.
- Established in 2022 by Kevin Berghoff and Dr. Fleming Bruckmaier, QuantumDiamonds develops quantum sensing tools for semiconductor testing and failure analysis.
- The firm focuses on non-destructive inspection of advanced semiconductor chips, including 2.5D and 3D architectures, by using diamond-based quantum sensors with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers.
- These sensors detect magnetic fields generated by electrical currents, allowing precise localization of defects at the micrometer scale, even within complex, buried layers of chip packages.
- QuantumDiamonds’ systems operate across a wide range of conditions, from room temperature to cryogenic and high temperatures, and provide high-throughput, wide-field imaging of wafers and single chips, enabling real-time process monitoring and detailed failure analysis without damaging the devices.
- The company works directly with semiconductor manufacturers to integrate its technology into both research and production environments.
Details of the deal
- The €152 million investment in QuantumDiamonds’ Munich facility is backed by the German federal and Bavarian governments under the European Chips Act.
- QuantumDiamonds will use the €152 million to build its Munich facility, produce quantum-grade diamond sensors, integrate QDM inspection systems in cleanrooms, establish labs with semiconductor partners, and scale from pilot deployments to full-volume production for advanced chip testing.
“This investment marks our transition from research to global production. We’re building the tools the chip industry needs to inspect what was previously invisible—and doing it in Germany, with European IP and talent,” claims Kevin Berghoff, CEO and co-founder of QuantumDiamonds.
