The race for semiconductor leadership is on and European chipstartupsare rising to the challenge.
Europe is already home to high-profile chip companies including ASML, NXP, Arm, and Infineon.
However, it lags behind in manufacturing capacity.
The EU is currently producingabout 10%of the worlds semiconductors.
The UK accounted for0.5% of chip salesglobally in 2023.
The goal is to gain a competitive advantage in next-generation semiconductors.
This is also where the continents startups can play a pivotal role.
This is when a trainedAImodel uses its learned knowledge to analyse live, incoming data togenerate results.
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A key aspect of the technology is in-memory computing.
If successful, the company aspires to provide an alternative to US-based Nvidia theforemost supplierof advanced AI chips.
The funding round included backing from theNATO Innovation Fund.
Gaining an edge for edge AI
Another potential Nvidia challenger is Axelera AI.
In June, Axelera raised a fresh $68mn investment, bringing its total to $120mn.
The round included investment from the European Innovation Council Fund.
Axelera also aims to expand in North America and the Middle East.
The company also expects to reduce manufacturing costs with a process that requires 60% fewer steps.
Notably, such chips could prove transformative for technologies such as GenAI, data centres, and autonomous vehicles.
Black Semiconductor plans to set up a pilot line for 300mn chip production in Aachen by 2026.
Justifiably, the company recentlyraised 254.4mnin one of the largest rounds raised by a European chip startup to date.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
