INCIRT Raises €4.8M for European Chip Architecture

Aachen, Germany – DeepTech firm INCIRT has successfully closed a €4.8 million funding round, propelling its novel chip architecture toward commercialization. The investment, spearheaded by early-stage venture capital firm Lifeline Ventures with participation from High Tech Gründerfonds, signals strong confidence in the company's ability to enhance Europe's semiconductor prowess.

INCIRT, a 2022 spin-off from RWTH Aachen University, is developing a groundbreaking approach to data conversion. Unlike incremental improvements on existing semiconductor designs, INCIRT's architecture focuses on intelligent parallelization to achieve performance gains that traditional methods struggle to match. This strategy aims to bypass the escalating costs and complexities associated with shrinking transistor sizes, a common industry trend.

The core innovation lies in ultra-fast and energy-efficient data converters, critical components that bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds in communication and sensor systems. INCIRT's technology promises up to a 100-fold increase in data conversion speed compared to current solutions. This leap is particularly impactful for high-frequency applications, including satellite communications, advanced mobile networks (5G and beyond), radar systems, and the burgeoning fields of AI and data center infrastructure.

“Our architecture delivers performance enhancements that are difficult to achieve through conventional semiconductor development,” stated Oner Hanay, co-founder and CEO of INCIRT. “Crucially, we are proving that high-performance chips can be manufactured using European technology. This represents a significant stride towards European digital sovereignty, with a vision for INCIRT technology to equip a substantial portion of European satellite constellations within the next decade.”

The company has already demonstrated the viability of its architecture with a working silicon chip produced using 22-nanometer technology within Europe. This achievement underscores INCIRT's commitment to strengthening the European value chain for critical infrastructure without relying on non-European advanced manufacturing nodes. The focus on superior architecture over miniaturization offers a distinct competitive advantage and bolsters regional technological independence.

For the satellite sector, INCIRT's technology offers the potential for higher data throughput and reduced power consumption. This is vital for satellites with limited power budgets, enabling more data transmission per orbit, extended mission lifespans, and potentially more antennas per unit, all while lowering the cost per bit transmitted. In telecommunications, the innovation supports new radio and system designs, promising network operators increased capacity, lower operational expenses, and future-proof platforms for evolving mobile standards.

With this new capital infusion, INCIRT plans to accelerate its product development and industrialization efforts. The funding will also support further technological refinement, validation processes, and the crucial groundwork for initial customer engagements and market entry, positioning the company as a key player in the next generation of semiconductor solutions.