Rotterdam-based chip inspection technology firm raises €331 million in deeptech funding

Nearfield Instruments, a Rotterdam-based company that makes chip metrology systems, has raised 331 million euros in new funding, valuing the firm at 1.6 billion euros, the company said. Nearfield’s technology is used during semiconductor manufacturing to check whether chips meet exact design specifications. Modern chips contain millions of tiny connections and layered structures, and even microscopic deviations can cause defects or performance issues.

Chief executive Hamed Sadeghian said the new capital will be used to further develop products, scale up production, and expand the company’s operations abroad.

“It goes to millions of connections, and the surface has to be accurate down to the nanometer. Our customers are chipmakers, and the process of checking whether everything is going well is becoming increasingly important for them,” Sadeghian said.

The company’s inspection machines use a probe with a tip only a few nanometers wide. It measures interactions between atoms to create a detailed three-dimensional image of a chip’s internal structure. According to the company, this method allows extremely precise measurement without damaging the chips.

Sadeghian said demand for the systems has risen sharply, with deliveries quadrupling over the past 18 months. “Worldwide, machines are installed in all advanced AI chip factories,” he said, without identifying customers.

Nearfield was founded in 2016 from research at the Dutch research organization TNO. TNO Ventures remains a shareholder and is participating in the new funding round alongside existing investors. U.S.-based Fidelity Management & Research is the largest new investor. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority, is investing in the company for the first time.

Sadeghian also highlighted geopolitical tensions and export restrictions affecting the sector. “The uncertainty is our biggest concern, because planning for the future becomes a challenge. The situation is changing rapidly and matters are becoming more transactional,” he said.