Dutch chip equipment startup Nearfield Instruments raises $148 million in funding to ramp up production

Dutch chip equipment startup Nearfield Instruments has raised €135 million (approx. $148 million) in a Series C funding round to ramp up production of its chipmaking tools. The funding round marks the largest deep-tech investment in the Netherlands, further cementing the country’s position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry.

This oversubscribed round was led by new major investors Walden Catalyst and Singapore state fund Temasek, a global investor known for its investments in emerging technologies that address complex and high-impact challenges. Nearfield, a spin-off from the Dutch research institute TNO, plans to use the fresh capital infusion to expand its R&D capabilities and launch several new products.

Founded in 2016 by CEO Hamed Sadeghian, Nearfield aims to revolutionize semiconductor metrology and inspection. The company’s goal is to bridge the semiconductor industry’s metrology and inspection challenges with in-line, non-destructive nanometrology solutions for advanced 3D memory and logic devices.

Nearfield is challenging industry giants like ASML and Applied Materials, aiming to carve out a niche in the lucrative chipmaking equipment market. Its innovative tools are designed to measure and inspect silicon wafers, ensuring the chips produced meet the highest manufacturing standards. Traditional techniques have reached their limits, making Nearfield’s technology crucial for maintaining high production yields, especially for advanced processes used in AI chip manufacturing.

“What is important after every step of manufacturing is what has been processed is measured—so-called metrology—to make sure it meets what was intended… to avoid the loss of good chips,” Sadeghian told Reuters.

Sadeghian expressed excitement over Nearfield’s QUADRA 3D metrology system’s integration into a major high-volume semiconductor manufacturing fab. “This milestone solidifies our pioneering role in advancing critical metrology for leading-edge nodes. With significant contributions from investment leaders, we are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for Metrology & Inspection in the coming decade. This funding will enable us to ramp up production capacity, expand our product portfolio, and strengthen our position as a key player in the semiconductor equipment industry.”

Nearfield’s entry into the chip manufacturing equipment sector, long dominated by a few major players, marks a significant development. The Rotterdam-based company already counts Samsung Electronics as a customer and is engaged with other advanced manufacturers like Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

The surge in demand for AI processors has created a golden opportunity for Nearfield. According to Yole Group research, the market for advanced AI chips is projected to grow 120% this year to approximately $110 billion. These advanced chips require more than 2,000 process steps, and as techniques become increasingly complex, Nearfield’s inspection equipment is needed more than ever.

In addition, Nearfield’s innovative process control solutions are tackling the increasing complexities in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, fueled by the demand for higher performance and lower energy consumption chips. Among these solutions is the QUADRA 3D metrology system, which offers non-destructive, high-throughput, and high-resolution metrology capabilities. Nearfield is actively collaborating with major chip manufacturers worldwide, and the QUADRA system is fully validated and deployed in high-volume manufacturing environments.

Nearfield Instruments Team