1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator Program: An Overview

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is a key funding initiative designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Europe, particularly in the DeepTech sector. Launched to foster innovation and accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies, the program aims to bridge the financing gap often encountered by early-stage companies.

Funding Structure: Grants and Equity

The EIC Accelerator offers a blended finance model, which includes both grants and equity investments. Companies can receive a grant of up to €2.5 million to cover innovation-related costs, such as prototyping, testing, and market launch activities. This financial support is aimed at reducing the inherent risks associated with bringing innovative products to market.

In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator provides equity funding of up to €15 million until 2024, which is designed to help startups scale and attract further investments from private sectors. Since 2025, this equity support has been reduced to a maximum of €10 million. This dual-funding approach is tailored to ensure that companies have access to the necessary resources for both development and market expansion, enabling them to leverage additional private investment.

Purpose in the European DeepTech Ecosystem

The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in nurturing the European DeepTech ecosystem by facilitating the growth of high-potential companies that possess innovative solutions. By offering substantial financial backing and mentorship, the program helps these companies navigate the commercialization process, ultimately enhancing Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. The EIC Accelerator not only aims to stimulate innovation but also to create jobs and economic growth within the EU.

Scaling and Funding Support

One of the primary objectives of the EIC Accelerator is to assist companies in scaling their operations. By providing substantial funding and strategic guidance, the program enables startups to refine their business models, optimize product development, and enhance their market positioning. This support is critical for attracting additional investments from venture capitalists and other private sector investors, thus ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.

Case Study: QuantumDiamonds GmbH and the DIAMONIQ Project

Company Overview:
QuantumDiamonds GmbH, based in Germany, is a pioneering company specializing in quantum technologies, particularly in the development of diamond-based solutions for various applications.

Project Overview:
The DIAMONIQ project, which garnered funding through the EIC Accelerator, focuses on the development of a first-in-class diamond-based quantum microscopy technology tailored for immediate applications in the semiconductor industry. This innovative approach seeks to address critical challenges faced by the sector, such as the need for enhanced imaging and measurement techniques that can support the fabrication of advanced semiconductor devices.

Technology Background:
Diamond-based quantum microscopy leverages the unique properties of diamonds, particularly their defect centers, which can be manipulated to detect and measure magnetic fields at extremely small scales. This technology utilizes quantum mechanics, allowing for unprecedented sensitivity and resolution in imaging.

The integration of diamond-based sensors into microscopy systems offers several advantages, including high spatial resolution, minimal invasiveness, and the ability to operate at room temperature. These features make diamond quantum sensors particularly suitable for semiconductor applications, where precision and reliability are paramount.

The DIAMONIQ project aims to commercialize this cutting-edge technology, enabling semiconductor manufacturers to achieve better process control and optimize the performance of their devices. By providing detailed insights into material properties and behaviors at the quantum level, the DIAMONIQ project holds the potential to revolutionize the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Conclusion

The EIC Accelerator program serves as a vital catalyst for innovation in Europe, particularly within the DeepTech sector. Through its comprehensive funding structure, it supports companies like QuantumDiamonds GmbH in their quest to develop transformative technologies. The success of the DIAMONIQ project underscores the importance of this initiative in fostering cutting-edge advancements that not only enhance industry capabilities but also contribute to broader economic growth in Europe.

2 The Funding Rounds

QuantumDiamonds GmbH: Financing and Funding Overview Since EIC Accelerator Win

Summary of Funding Raised and Rounds

QuantumDiamonds GmbH, based in Munich, Germany, specializes in advanced quantum sensing technology using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds. Since its submission to the EIC Accelerator on June 21, 2023, the company has significantly advanced its financial position with a major seed funding round completed in November 2023.

Financing Raised

• Total Announced Seed Round: €7 million (November 2023)
• €3 million equity investment from venture capital firms and angel investors
• €4 million in non-dilutive grant funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator and the Bavarian state government.
• Total Disclosed Funding to Date: Approximately $7.66 million (includes prior grants/support programs).

Details of Recent Funding Round

Round Type:
Seed Round

Date Closed:
November 2023.

Amount Raised:
€7 million total

• Equity: €3 million
• Grants: €4 million

Investors Involved:

• Lead Investors:
• IQ Capital (UK deep tech VC)
• Earlybird Venture Capital
• Other Participating VCs:
• Onsight Ventures
• First Momentum Ventures
• Creator Fund
• UnternehmerTUM
• Angel Investors:
• Several undisclosed individuals from the semiconductor industry contributed alongside institutional investors.

Non-Dilutive Support Providers:

• European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator grant (part of EU's Horizon Europe program)
• Bavarian state government grant/funding support

Use of Funds

QuantumDiamonds intends to use this capital to: - Launch its first commercial product based on their quantum sensor prototype.

Expand its quantum engineering team.

These efforts will help take their existing working prototype into broader market applications across semiconductor manufacturing, medical diagnostics, battery development, and more.

Company Valuations

No explicit post-money or pre-money valuation figures have been disclosed for QuantumDiamonds GmbH as part of public reporting around this seed round or related filings as of May 2025.

Exit Events—IPO/Acquisition/Buyout Activity

As of May 2025:

There are no reports or announcements regarding an IPO, acquisition/buyout offer for QuantumDiamonds.

The company remains privately held with ongoing commercial development activities following their late 2023 seed round completion.

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Sources

• QuantumDiamonds Raises €7 Million in Seed Funding to Advance Nano-scale Imaging Technology
• QuantumDiamonds raises €7M Seed funding for quantum sensing technology
• QuantumDiamonds Raises €7M in Seed Funding – FinSMEs
• Seed financing round: Taylor Wessing advises IQ Capital on QuantumDiamond’s fundraising

-<a href="https://www.osborneclarke.com/news/osborne-clarke-advises-quantumdiamonds-eur-

-[CB Insights—QuantumDiamond Financials & Investors](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/

-[Munich Startup Insights—Funding & Investor Table](https://insights.munich-startup.de/

-[TechFundingNews—€7M funding announcement details ](https://techfundingnews.com/

3 The Press Releases

QuantumDiamonds GmbH: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Advancements QuantumDiamonds GmbH, a German deep-tech startup and EIC Accelerator winner (June 2023 call" class="inline-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Osborne Clarke advises QuantumDiamonds on EUR 7 million seed financing round, has made significant strides in commercializing quantum sensing technology for industrial applications. The company, spun off from the Technical University of Munich in 2022, specializes in diamond-based quantum microscopy systems tailored for semiconductor failure analysis.

Key Developments Since EIC Funding:

• Product Launch: In October 2024, QuantumDiamonds launched the QD m.0, the first commercial quantum device designed for semiconductor chip failure analysis. It employs nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds to detect faults with sub-micrometer resolution, addressing challenges in heterogeneous chip integration and 2.5D/3D packaging.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with industry leaders like Fraunhofer and imec have accelerated product validation and deployment. These partnerships focus on optimizing quantum microscopy for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing.
• Seed Funding: Secured €7 million in seed funding (December 2023) to scale production capabilities, following earlier support from SPRIN-D and UnternehmerTUM’s accelerator programs.
• Technology Validation: The QD m.0’s software integrates machine learning models to reduce measurement time while maintaining precision, enabling real-time fault localization during chip production.

While direct press releases from quantumdiamonds.de are not publicly indexed here, third-party reports confirm their focus on translating academic research into industrial solutions since winning EIC funding.

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Sources

• EIC Accelerator winners June 2023
• QD m.0 Launch Announcement

4 The Technology Advancements

QuantumDiamonds GmbH: Post-EIC Accelerator Progress Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in June 2023, QuantumDiamonds GmbH has advanced its quantum sensing technology for semiconductor failure analysis and expanded commercialization efforts. Below is a detailed overview of their progress:

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Current Capabilities

QuantumDiamonds specializes in diamond-based quantum microscopy, utilizing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in synthetic diamonds to detect nanoscale magnetic fields. Their technology enables non-destructive, high-precision fault localization in advanced semiconductor architectures, particularly for heterogeneous integration (2.5D/3D packaging) and AI-driven chip designs.

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Technological Advancements

• QD m.0 Launch: In October 2024, the company released its first commercial product, the QD m.0, designed for semiconductor failure analysis. The system integrates diamond quantum sensors with machine learning algorithms to reduce measurement time and improve fault detection accuracy across multi-layer chip architectures.
• Roadmap Expansion: Beyond laboratory-based failure analysis services, QuantumDiamonds plans to introduce a self-service microscope by 2025 and an inline quality control system for production lines by 2028.

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Market Demonstration & Partnerships

• Commercial Deployment: The first QD m.0 units are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2024, with initial production already allocated to customers.
• Strategic Collaborations: Partnerships with Fraunhofer Institutes and imec have accelerated integration into semiconductor manufacturing workflows.

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Intellectual Property & Publications

While specific patents or scientific publications are not publicly disclosed post-EIC funding:

• Their proprietary advancements include optimized diamond synthesis techniques and ML-driven data analysis tools embedded in the QD m.0 platform.
• Funding details from November 2023 indicate continued R&D focus on scalability and precision improvements.

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Sources Used:

• Quantum Diamonds – Company website outlining core technology applications.
• ASM International Announcement – Details on QD m.0 capabilities and market impact (October 2024).

The Recursive Article – Insights into sensor innovation (October 2024).

IQ Capital Blog – Roadmap updates (March 2025).

The Quantum Insider Report – Technical specifications of QD m.0 (October 1, 2024).

Munich Quantum Valley News – Funding context including EIC Accelerator support (November 30, 2023).

Note: Dates reflect information availability as of search results provided.

5 The Partnerships and Customers

QuantumDiamonds GmbH: Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing €7 million in seed funding in December 2023 and emerging from UnternehmerTUM’s ecosystem, QuantumDiamonds GmbH has aggressively expanded its partnerships and technological capabilities. Below is a detailed breakdown of its collaborations, customers, and market trajectory:

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Key Partnerships

• Nature: Strategic manufacturing partnership (formalized via June 2024 LoI) to integrate quantum sensors with high-precision machinery.
• Purpose: Accelerate production of microscopy devices for semiconductor failure analysis by leveraging Mey’s industrialization expertise.

• Nature: R&D collaboration announced August 2024 to advance quantum sensing applications in semiconductor diagnostics.
• Purpose: Develop next-generation quantum devices targeting multi-layer chip analysis challenges.

Role: Collaborative projects for optimizing quantum microscopy in advanced chip fabrication processes (cited during QD m.0 launch).

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Product Milestones: QD m.0 Launch (October 2024)

QuantumDiamonds introduced the world’s first commercial quantum device for semiconductor failure analysis, focusing on:

• Functionality: Sub-micrometer current density mapping using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond sensors.
• Customers: Semiconductor manufacturers needing yield optimization in heterogeneous integration processes (explicit customer names remain undisclosed).

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Market Positioning Post-Partnerships

• Technology Leadership: NV diamond production techniques combined with AI-driven analytics position QD as a primary provider of defect-detection tools for sub-3nm chips.
• Scaling Advantages: Mey Maschinenbau’s manufacturing infrastructure supports rapid device assembly, reducing time-to-market for new products like the QD m.0.

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Future Outlook

Recent collaborations with Fraunhofer EMFT and industrial players signal QuantumDiamonds’ focus on becoming Europe’s backbone for quantum-enabled semiconductor metrology, directly addressing challenges in AI-era chip fabrication.

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Sources Used:

Former TSMC Director Dr. David Su Joins QD | Strategic Partnership with Mey Maschinenbau | Fraunhofer EMFT Collaboration | QD m.0 Launch Details

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

QuantumDiamonds GmbH: Team Growth and Strategic Scaling Post-EIC Accelerator Funding

Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in June 2023, QuantumDiamonds has advanced its position in quantum sensing for semiconductor testing through strategic team expansion, product launches, and industry partnerships. While specific headcount figures remain undisclosed, the company’s growth trajectory highlights key developments:

• Funding and Financial Backing: QuantumDiamonds raised a total of $7.66M (€7M+), including a €7M seed round in December 2023[^6^], positioning it to scale operations and refine its quantum sensing technology[^4^][^6^].
• Product Milestone: The October 2024 launch of the QD m.0—the first commercial quantum device for semiconductor failure analysis—underscores technical maturation driven by cross-disciplinary teams in optics, electronics, and machine learning[^1^][^3^][^8^].
• Key Appointments: Dr. David Su, former TSMC director, joined as an advisor and business angel in November 2024 to bolster industry-specific expertise in semiconductor manufacturing[^1^]. His involvement signals strategic targeting of Asian chipmakers alongside existing European partners like Fraunhofer and imec.
• Talent Pipeline: Collaboration with TUM Venture Labs provided access to specialized talent pools, enabling rapid prototyping and commercialization efforts since its 2022 founding. The company emphasizes multi-disciplinary recruitment across quantum physics, engineering, and software development to optimize sensor performance and user interfaces.
• Growth Focus: QuantumDiamonds narrowed its market focus exclusively to semiconductors by late 2024 after initially targeting biology/chemistry sectors—a pivot reflecting heightened demand for failure-analysis tools in AI chip production. Partnerships with industrial players aim to accelerate adoption of quantum metrology tools for 3D chip architectures.

While direct hiring announcements post-EIC are limited beyond Dr. Su’s role expanded software/ML teams are implied by the QD m.0’s “custom ML models” requirement described by CTO Fleming Bruckmaier during its launch event. Management changes among founders or executives have not been reported since the leadership team solidified during early-stage XPLORE/XPRENEURS programs at UnternehmerTUM prior to EIC funding.

Sources

• Quantum Diamonds Newsroom
• TUM Venture Labs Profile
• QD m.0 Launch Article

+ CB Insights Overview + UnternehmerTUM Case Study + Semiconductor Metrology Analysis

7 The Media Features and Publications

Overview of QuantumDiamonds GmbH

QuantumDiamonds GmbH, based in Munich, Germany, is a cutting-edge startup that specializes in developing innovative metrology tools using quantum sensing technology. Founded in 2022, the company has been making significant strides in various high-tech industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, and chemistry, with applications in medical diagnostics, battery development, and more.

Media Features and Publications

QuantumDiamonds has been featured in several notable publications. For instance, German Handelsblatt highlighted the company in their "Startup Check" series, noting its rapid growth and potential to disrupt the chip testing industry, drawing comparisons to ASML's early stages. Additionally, The Recursive has covered QuantumDiamonds' work on atom-sized quantum sensors, emphasizing their potential to redefine measurement standards in high-tech industries.

Podcasts and Interviews

Kevin Berghoff, CEO of QuantumDiamonds, has been featured in a podcast discussing the company's technology and its transformation of deep-tech research into a leading player in the global semiconductor industry. This provides insights into the company's strategic growth and technological advancements.

Conference and Fair Participation

Fleming Bruckmaier, CTO of QuantumDiamonds, participated in a Diamond Quantum Technologies Working Group Online Meeting. This event focused on exploring the impact of diamond-based quantum sensing and computing technologies, highlighting QuantumDiamonds' role in shaping the future of quantum sensing applications.

Involvement in Events

QuantumDiamonds has been actively involved in various events and initiatives related to quantum technologies. Their participation in the German Accelerator U.S. Market Access Program indicates their strategic intent to expand into the U.S. market. Additionally, their involvement with the Quantum Business Network (QBN) and related events underscores their commitment to driving innovation and collaboration within the quantum industry.

Recent Achievements

QuantumDiamonds recently launched the QD m.0, the world's first commercial quantum device for microchip quality inspection. This device offers accurate, non-destructive detection of faults in complex chip architectures, particularly those necessary for AI applications. The company's latest funding round includes support from prominent investors such as Creator Fund, Onsight Ventures, and the EIC Accelerator, totaling $7.66 million.

Sources:

• Insights - Quantum Diamonds
• QuantumDiamonds
• German Handelsblatt Covers Chip Testing
• Meet "Quantum Diamonds" That Can Save Chipmakers Millions in ...
• QuantumDiamonds
• Podcasts - Quantum Computing Report
• Diamond Quantum Technologies Working Group Online Meeting
• Sheahan Diamond Literature Media-Corporate Reference ...
• QuantumDiamonds GmbH | Sifted
• Learn from Kevin Berghoff, CEO of Quantum Diamonds