Dutch Startup Nearfield Secures $148M for Chip Inspection Innovation

2024-07-18 semicon

Rotterdam, Thursday, 18 July 2024.
Nearfield Instruments, a Dutch semiconductor equipment startup, has raised $148 million to accelerate production and market entry of its advanced chip inspection tools. The investment underscores growing demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly for AI chip manufacturing.

Significance of the Funding

The substantial $148 million funding round highlights the critical role that Nearfield Instruments’ technology plays in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. This investment will be pivotal in scaling up production and expediting the introduction of several new tools to the market. It also emphasizes the increasing demand for advanced metrology solutions, particularly in the context of AI chip manufacturing, where precision and efficiency are paramount.

The Technology Behind Nearfield

Nearfield Instruments specializes in developing high-precision metrology systems designed to measure and inspect silicon wafers. These systems ensure that the chips produced meet stringent manufacturing standards. Traditional inspection techniques have reached their limits, and Nearfield’s innovative machines are essential to maintaining high production yields, especially for the advanced processes required to manufacture AI processors. The company’s flagship product, the QUADRA system, combines high-resolution and high-throughput capabilities, making it ideal for non-destructive 3D measurements on advanced semiconductor nodes.

Key Players and Investors

The funding round was led by prominent investors, including Walden Catalyst and Singapore state fund Temasek. Other notable participants included existing investors Innovation Industries and ING. This influx of capital is one of the largest deep-tech investments in the Netherlands, underscoring the country’s leading position in the global semiconductor industry. Nearfield Instruments, founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the Dutch research institute TNO, is based in Rotterdam and has rapidly become a significant player in the semiconductor equipment market.

Impact on the Semiconductor Industry

The semiconductor industry is currently dominated by a few major companies, such as ASML in the Netherlands and Applied Materials in the United States. Startups like Nearfield Instruments face significant barriers to entry due to the high costs and complexities involved in developing cutting-edge chipmaking equipment. However, the demand for advanced AI chips, which is expected to grow by 120% this year to approximately $110 billion, presents a substantial opportunity for Nearfield. As chip manufacturing techniques become increasingly complex, the need for advanced inspection equipment like Nearfield’s becomes more critical.

Looking Ahead: Future Plans

With the new funding, Nearfield Instruments plans to expand its research and development capabilities, enhance its product portfolio, and increase its production capacity. The company anticipates multiple orders for its QUADRA system by the end of 2024, bolstered by the introduction of the new Lightning Mode feature, which significantly boosts image acquisition speed. Nearfield’s CEO, Hamed Sadeghian, emphasizes the importance of metrology in ensuring high yields in chip production, stating that precise measurement at every manufacturing step is crucial to avoid the loss of good chips. The funding will also enable Nearfield to strengthen its position in the market and continue its mission of revolutionizing chip manufacturing.

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