Diamfab announces €8.7M funding round
The deeptech startup specializing in semiconductor synthetic diamonds accelerates its pre-industrialization phase.
Diamfab, a semiconductor diamond deeptech, has announced a first round of funding of 8.7 million euros, from Asterion Ventures, as well as from the French Tech Seed fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance as part of France 2030, Kreaxi with the Avenir Industrie Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional fund, Better Angle, Hello Tomorrow and Grenoble Alpes Métropole.
Based in Grenoble, Diamfab is a spin-off from the Institut Néel, a CNRS laboratory, the result of 30 years of R&D into synthetic diamond growth. Initially incubated within SATT Linksium Grenoble Alpes, the Diamfab project led to the creation of the company in March 2019, founded by Gauthier Chicot and Khaled Driche, two PhDs in nanoelectronics and recognized researchers in the field of semiconducting diamond.
To address the market for semiconductors and power components for the automotive, renewable energies and quantum industries in particular, the company has developed breakthrough technology in the field of epitaxy and doping of synthetic diamond. Protected by four patents, their expertise lies in the growth and doping of thin diamond layers, as well as in the design of diamond electronic components.
While the power electronics industry has traditionally used silicon, the advent of electric vehicles has accelerated the adoption of new semiconductor materials offering 'far superior' performance. Diamfab's technology paves the way for the use of diamond, recognized as the 'ultimate' semiconductor. The components they develop are lighter, more resistant to high temperatures and more energy-efficient, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, including power electronics in electric cars, industry and electricity distribution networks.
This first round of funding will enable Diamfab to set up a pilot line to pre-industrialize its technology, accelerate its development and thus meet the growing demand for diamond semiconductors.
Diamfab's ambition is to bring semiconductor diamonds to the level of development required by industry, by being at the forefront of this revolution.
"In the development of a cutting-edge industry like ours, each stage is essential. The pilot project will catalyze many discussions with our partners and strengthen our relationships. To be accompanied by investors who are committed to the industry and the climate, and above all who understand its constraints and links, is fundamental. We couldn't have hoped for better partners than those who have rallied around us with Asterion," comments Gauthier Chicot, Chairman of Diamfab.
"Diamfab is at the crossroads of many of today's challenges: industrial relocation, decarbonization, strategic sovereignty... The technology we have developed makes it possible to reduce the historical carbon footprint of semiconductors considerably, and to do so by relocating a key industry for Europe, which is one of our investment priorities with Asterion. Industrial deeptech companies need calm, long-term support, and that's what we provide," explains Charles-Henry Choel, the Asterion Ventures partner in charge of the deal.
