TNO Invests in Dutch Startup for Breakthrough in Chip Security
Amsterdam, Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
TNO partners with Fortaegis to develop a groundbreaking security chip to enhance cybersecurity in military and civilian sectors, due to market by 2028.
A Strategic Partnership for Innovation
On 23 July 2025, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) announced a strategic partnership with Fortaegis, a deep-tech start-up based in Amsterdam, aiming to accelerate the development of next-generation security chips. This collaboration represents a significant investment directed towards creating ‘super secure’ chips that integrate security directly into the hardware, which promises enhanced protection against advanced threats, including those posed by quantum computing advances [3][5].
Understanding the Technology
Fortaegis’s technology relies on the use of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs), which exploit tiny, unavoidable imperfections in the manufacturing process to render each chip physically unique. This method eliminates the need to store cryptographic keys in databases, making systems inherently more secure against both conventional and quantum-enabled threats [5][6]. This built-in security model offers a significant advantage over traditional solutions, where cryptographic security depends on potentially vulnerable external software layers.
Market Implications and Future Plans
The security chips resulting from this partnership are expected to reach the market by 2028, primarily targeting military and strategic applications. However, their dual-use capabilities also make them suitable for civilian applications, such as protecting autonomous vehicles, drones, and critical infrastructure like telecom and energy grids [4][5]. This initiative embodies the Netherlands’ commitment to bolstering cybersecurity and fostering innovations that can propel the nation’s economic and technological stature.
Investment and Economic Impact
While the exact size of TNO’s investment remains undisclosed, it is reported to be larger than Fortaegis’s previous funding rounds. This injection of capital is not only expected to expedite development but also to foster employment, with Fortaegis planning to expand its workforce from 53 to over 100 employees by 2026. This investment from TNO aligns with its broader strategy to fortify the Netherlands’ position in the global cybersecurity arena [6].