Liquid Instruments’ Post

Nearfield Instruments, a Dutch company specialising in high-throughput, non-destructive metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry, has secured significant funding in recent years, including investments from Samsung, one of its customers. In 2019, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation participated in a funding round for Nearfield Instruments, alongside Innovation Industries. This investment enabled Nearfield to develop the world's first ultrafast High-Throughput Atomic Force Microscopy system for metrology applications in semiconductor manufacturing[4]. More recently, in September 2023, Nearfield Instruments announced a €27 million funding round. While Samsung was not mentioned as a participant in this latest round, the company secured investments from ING Corporate Investments as a new investor, along with existing investors Invest-NL, Innovation Industries, and TNO[2]. Nearfield Instruments has been using these investments to expand its product portfolio, worldwide customer support, and production capacity. The company has developed two main products: QUADRA, for surface metrology, and AUDIRA, a recently announced non-destructive subsurface metrology solution[1][2]. It's worth noting that Samsung is mentioned as one of Nearfield's obvious customers, along with other major semiconductor manufacturers like Intel, TSMC, and SK Hynix[1]. This indicates a strong business relationship between Nearfield Instruments and Samsung, beyond the initial investment. Sources [1] ING Bank invests in Nearfield Instruments - Bits&Chips - Bits-Chips https://lnkd.in/e-5WSSgv [2] Nearfield Instruments announces EUR 27 million funding round, ING ... https://lnkd.in/eUMgFS4e [3] Nearfield Instruments accelerates growth with second financing round https://lnkd.in/e3xUxh93 [4] Samsung Venture Investment Corporation and Innovation Industries ... https://lnkd.in/eG293n2w [5] Nearfield Instruments received €12 million new investments from ... https://lnkd.in/eSQr3KMr

#investment #Deeptech // Iloomina AB creates ultra-fast data transmission with silicon nitride based photonics Iloomina is a deep tech company in Chalmers Ventures' portfolio. Among the investors are Chalmers Ventures and Navigare Ventures. Iloomiina has also previously received over 10 million SEK from the EIC European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) Iloomina's technology enables ultra-fast data transmission through silicon nitride based photonics. This is a growing technology area that has the potential to address the ever-increasing demand for greater bandwidth and faster data transmission in everything from fiber optic cables to server rooms. - We are delighted to have acquired competent investors who can join us on our development journey, says Oskar Helgason, CEO of Iloomina. - We see fantastic potential in Iloomina's technology, says David Storek, Pre-seed Investment Director at Chalmers Ventures. Iloomina's unique solution can meet the future needs of fast data transmission, which is becoming increasingly important in upcoming #quantum computers and data centers. // The technology is based on over ten years of cutting-edge research at Chalmers University of Technology. The company was founded by Prof. Torres-Company, Dr. Marcello Girardi, and Dr. Oskar B. Helgason in the field of integrated photonics at the Department of Ultrafast Photonics. Full PR in comment

Pretty cool news: There were 77,800 new business founders in THE LÄND in 2023 – an increase of 4.3% compared to 2022 and the highest number in 12 years 🚀. This shows once again that #BadenWürttemberg is the perfect place for your business – and that you‘re in a good environment: Start-ups as well as global corporations and a strong #SME sector are the backbone of our economy 💪. #THELÄND enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide as a #hightech, industrial and service location and is a leader in sectors traditionally anchored in the Southwest of Germany, such as #mechanical engineering, the #mobility sector, #healthcare and #ICT - but future technologies such as #AI, #quantumcomputing and #greentech also offer extreme growth potential. 👉 Do you want your company to be part of the THE LÄND? We are your partner. Visit ➡ https://bit.ly/3FKiIWI Dr. Christian Herzog

I strongly recommend attending the UK’s first ever Global Semiconductor Alliance International Semiconductor Conference, London, 13-14 March. Please register here: https://lnkd.in/e9-ZZC-S This is a great opportunity to meet with leaders from the global semiconductor industry. The conference will discuss: ✅ Semiconductors for Net Zero, energy efficiency and electric vehicles ✅ Artificial intelligence ✅ Government strategies to mitigate supply chain disruptions ✅ Funding initiatives to propel start-ups to scale-ups ✅ Compound semiconductors ✅ Quantum technologies / computing ✅ Semiconductor manufacturing In partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology #semiconductorindustry #compound #semiconductors #quantumtechnology #quantumcomputing #artificialintelligence #AI #photonics

🇺🇸  “A nation that does not do R&D is a weak nation,” US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm declared at a White House event last week before unveiling a new $5 billion National Semiconductor Technology Center. The NTSC will be the first in more than $11 billion worth of R&D investments into #semiconductor #manufacturing launched as part of the Biden Administration’s 2022 #CHIPSact. While a sizable portion of the new investments will target big manufacturers, the new #funding opens up a wealth of opportunities for emergent players on the US #tech scene. With access to a skilled local workforce, for instance, US companies can leverage more local talent and resources to drive innovation—potentially unlocking access to #innovation #taxcredits in the process. We break down what this boost in investment means for #entrepreneurs and how to maximize access to government-backed R&D rebates to stretch your innovation dollars further. https://lnkd.in/eK2Dagc9

Everything You Need to Know About Accelerating Your Business in Advanced Materials and DeepTech! 🚀

𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗡𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆! The national semicon consortium ChipNL makes an urgent appeal to the new cabinet to invest 100-150 million euros per year over the next six years in an innovation programme for the Dutch chip industry. As a consortium partner, we think it is important to strengthen this call and therefore let our voice be heard here too. The Dutch chip industry is of great value to the geopolitical position of the Netherlands and Europe. However, the lack of focus, public investment and a joint strategy mean that we are in danger of falling behind. Investing in innovation of the Dutch semicon sector means investing in the Netherlands' competitive position on the world stage, in the global companies of tomorrow and thus in the jobs of the future! Read our letter and feel free to share to make your voice heard too. Brainport Development, TNO, Oost NL, High Tech NL

Voltsafe Inc. & Menlo Microsystems, Inc. Innovation with Partnership Nowadays, many Tech companies that want to reach the market with a competitive advantage know that growing can be so expensive and developing news products can take time and money that could lend in a late respond to the fast innovation that tech companies deal with everyday. A solution for this situation is planning a strategy like going in a Join venture with other companies in the same field, that is call Partnership strategy where most of times is a win-to-win relationship, of course this strategy implied that managers know how to implant and operate this strategy, and what are the advantages in a long term, to define what type the partnership they are going through. Voltsafe Inc & Menlo Microsystems are example of this process of Innovation with Partnership. Voltsafe collaborates with Menlo creating a strategic partnership to expedite the new technology that both have created and developed with the intention to advance the smart electrical outlets and connectors for the future of the electrical connections in the world. (Voltsafe Inc., 2022) Both companies are innovators and obsessed with evolution and both are aligned with the premise of energy efficient and sustainable world. Menlo Microsystems, Inc. (2022). Ideal Switch. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/gudGMgkw Voltsafe Inc. (2022). About us. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/gD_DAJDu Voltsafe Inc. (2022, November 15). News. Retrieved from https://lnkd.in/gZzM5Tqe

🌐 The European #ChipsAct is set to boost the #semiconductor industry by attracting over €100 billion in private investments by 2030. 🚀 The investment aims to increase Europe's #manufacturing & #innovation capacity and #technological leadership. Furthermore, funding is also expected for R&D pilot lines, including a €2.5 billion grant for developing advanced #chips in Europe. As announced by imec CEO, the company will host the pilot line for the sub-2 nanometre chips to enable industry, academia and startups to access chip manufacturing technology 🤝 Read more in the our news piece ➡ https://lnkd.in/d7WF4Bny

The True Value of R&D and Bespoke Engineering: Investing in Human Capital and Innovation Is the value of a PhD found in the physical paper the research is printed on? Is a prototype's worth measured solely by its material costs? Certainly not. The real value lies in the growth of human understanding, the skills acquired, and the innovation sparked throughout the process. At the CSIR, we frequently encounter the challenge of conveying the tangible and intangible benefits of bespoke products and research and development to stakeholders focused on immediate returns. However, it's crucial to recognize that the most significant outcomes of R&D are often not immediately visible on a balance sheet. When we invest in R&D, we're investing in the expansion of knowledge and the cultivation of expertise. The process of developing a bespoke solution involves rigorous analysis, creative problem-solving, and iterative testing. Each step contributes to the collective intelligence and capabilities of our team and organization. Moreover, the insights and skills gained from one project often have far-reaching implications. They enhance our ability to tackle future challenges, drive efficiency improvements, and open doors to new opportunities. The human capital developed is a long-term asset that continues to provide value well beyond the life of a single project. Consider the development of a custom medical device. While the prototype itself may represent a modest material investment, the research involved can lead to breakthroughs in healthcare, improve patient outcomes, and even spawn entirely new industries. The true value is in the lives improved and the doors opened by the knowledge gained. In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, organizations that prioritize R&D and invest in their people's development are the ones that lead the way. They are better equipped to adapt, innovate, and deliver solutions that meet the complex needs of society. So, when evaluating the value of R&D and bespoke engineering, let's look beyond immediate costs and outputs. Let's acknowledge the profound value in the expertise developed, the problems solved, and the human potential unlocked. After all, it's the people—their ingenuity, creativity, and dedication—that drive true innovation and create lasting impact. As leaders and innovators, it's our responsibility to champion the importance of investing in human capital through R&D. Let's continue to foster environments where learning and innovation thrive, securing a better future for our industries and communities. #Innovation #R&D #HumanCapital #EngineeringLeadership