Top 10 semiconductor companies by funds raised in 2025
European semiconductor companies raised substantial funding in 2025, with the ten largest rounds ranging from NXP Semiconductors' €1 billion EIB loan down to IQE's £18 million convertible note, spanning AI chips, photonics, power electronics, memory, and chip cooling. Two graphene-focused companies, Paragraf ($55M Series C) and CamGraPhIC (€25M Series A), secured funding to scale graphene-based electronic devices and graphene silicon photonics respectively, signaling continued investor commitment to graphene's commercial role in semiconductors and optical interconnects.
In 2025, European semiconductor companies saw substantial investment as governments and investors focused on technologies crucial for AI, high-performance computing, next-generation communications, and energy-efficient electronics. Funding targeted companies working on AI chips, photonics, advanced memory, semiconductor materials, chip cooling, and power electronics, highlighting Europe's aim to enhance its semiconductor value chain.
The Netherlands led in funding value, with NXP Semiconductors securing a €1 billion loan from the European Investment Bank and significant rounds for Axelera AI, EFFECT Photonics, and Eyeo. The UK also showed strong activity, particularly in compound semiconductors, photonics, and chip design, while Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and France saw notable funding in specialized semiconductor technologies.
Debt financing was significant alongside venture capital, especially for established manufacturers and capital-intensive businesses. Investors also supported early-stage deeptech startups, with large seed and Series A rounds backing innovations in optical interconnects, graphene electronics, chip cooling, satellite communications, and semiconductor manufacturing.
The largest transactions of the year emphasized Europe's focus on building strategic semiconductor capabilities amid rising AI infrastructure demand and supply chain resilience. From AI accelerators and memory chips to silicon photonics and power semiconductors, investors supported companies developing hardware technologies for future computing and communications.
NXP Semiconductors, a Dutch company, raised €1 billion to support research and innovation in power electronics, microprocessors, and microcontrollers across facilities in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania.
Ferroelectric Memory Company raised €100 million to advance its ferroelectric memory technologies for AI, edge computing, IoT, automotive, and industrial applications, aiming to enhance memory performance and reduce energy consumption.
Axelera AI secured €61.6 million to develop Titania, a scalable AI inference chiplet for data centers and high-performance computing, focusing on energy-efficient AI deployment.
Paragraf, a UK company specializing in graphene-based semiconductor materials, raised $55 million to scale its manufacturing and increase production capacity for its graphene-based electronic devices.
Corintis raised $49 million to expand its microfluidic cooling technology for high-performance semiconductor devices, addressing thermal management challenges in AI processors and data centers.
Swave Photonics raised €33 million to commercialize its holographic display technology for augmented reality smart glasses and heads-up displays, using semiconductor photonics.
CamGaN Devices raised £25 million to scale its gallium nitride power semiconductors for energy-efficient power conversion in data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial systems.
Salience Labs raised $30 million to develop silicon photonic optical switches for AI data center connectivity, enhancing bandwidth and reducing power consumption.
CamGraPhIC raised €25 million to scale its graphene-based silicon photonics technology for high-speed optical communications, improving data transmission and energy efficiency.
IQE raised £18 million through convertible loan notes to provide liquidity and working capital while completing its strategic review.
Source: Graphene Feed