German quantum sensing company
QuantumDiamonds GmbH has announced an investment of more than €150 million to
establish a production facility for quantum-based chip metrology systems. The
facility, planned for eastern Munich, is expected to receive significant public
support from the German federal and Bavarian governments under the European
Chips Act.
QuantumDiamonds, a spin-off from the
Technical University of Munich, develops and commercialises quantum sensing
technologies for semiconductor metrology and failure analysis. Its patented
Quantum Diamond Microscopy (QDM) systems are used by foundries and integrated
device manufacturers worldwide.
The company recently reported that QDM
can identify internal defects in commercial package-on-package devices that are
not detected by conventional techniques such as lock-in thermography and CT
X-ray imaging. QuantumDiamonds says these results have contributed to increased
demand for its systems. Initial deployments have been completed in Europe, with
additional installations planned for Q1 2026 in the United States and Taiwan to
support development and qualification work at major semiconductor manufacturers.
QDM systems use nitrogen-vacancy (NV)
centres in diamond to map electrical current with micrometre-level precision in
a non-destructive manner and on short timescales, including within complex chip
packages. The company positions this capability as relevant for advanced 2.5D
and 3D architectures used in AI, mobile, and automotive electronics.
According to Kevin Berghoff, CEO and
co-founder of QuantumDiamonds, the investment marks the company’s shift toward
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.
The Munich site is expected to include
sensor production lines for quantum-grade diamond substrates, cleanroom
integration for QDM inspection systems, and joint development laboratories with
semiconductor partners, alongside application support for fab integration and
inline process control.
The project has been designated as a
first-of-a-kind facility under the European Chips Act. After evaluating
alternative locations in the United States, including Phoenix, Arizona, the
company selected Germany as its industrial base, citing access to specialised
expertise, an established supply chain ecosystem, and public–private innovation
frameworks in Europe.
QuantumDiamonds has also received a
start-of-works confirmation, indicating that construction can begin without
affecting future eligibility for public funding, and allowing the company to
proceed with activities such as equipment procurement and facility
preparations.