The deeptech startup specializing in semiconductor synthetic diamonds accelerates its pre-industrialization phase
(Grenoble, France – March 28, 2024) – 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.
Acknowledged as the new leading player in this field in France, 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.
Power semiconductors, the cornerstone of the global economy
Controlling and modulating electricity flows, power semiconductors are the driving force behind the development of increasingly electric economies. Their impact is central in terms of system efficiency, power and compactness. They are therefore key to the massive electrification and fortify the decarbonization of entire sectors of the economy.
This fast-growing industry, estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars by 2030, is traditionally based on silicon, still the undisputed leader today. In recent years, new alternative materials known as “wide band gap” semiconductors have emerged and taken significant market share. Diamond, an “ultra wide band gap” semiconductor, is recognized as the ultimate power semiconductor, with a Baliga Figure of Merit score 40 times higher than SiC and 100 times higher than GaN. It will undoubtedly be the material of choice for this new generation of electronic components for power management.
Diamfab: a unique technology to unleash the full potential of semiconductor diamond
Since its creation in 2019, Diamfab has built up an ecosystem of international partners and customers who are helping to develop the technology, including Soitec, Murata, STMicroelectronics, CEA and Schneider Electric.
By reaching industrial standards (wafer size and demonstrator components), deeptech will enable players in the sector to integrate diamond technology into tomorrow’s solutions. The result will be unrivaled performance in terms of efficiency, voltage withstand, thermal management and reduced CO2 impact throughout the process: from manufacture to use.
By supporting Diamfab, the French Tech Seed fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance as part of France 2030, the Fonds Régional Avenir Industrie and Grenoble Alpes Métropole are acknowledging the importance of this technology, as well as their desire to see it develop in France and in a leading European ecosystem.
“On behalf of the French government, Bpifrance is actively participating in the re-industrialization of France, and is working to ensure the country’s sovereignty in strategic sectors such as semiconductors. Diamfab crystallizes these two ambitions: we are proud to be able to support them in this new pre-industrialization phase,” adds Stéphane Lefevre-Sauli, Investment Director at Bpifrance.
“Diamfab, because of its deeptech nature and the industrial nature of the project, fits perfectly into the investment criteria of the brand new Fonds Régional Avenir Industrie, launched by the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region at the end of 2023. We are particularly pleased to support the company at the critical stage of building its pilot line, which will enable it to reach the maturity needed to convince semiconductor manufacturers to invest in this new disruptive technology”, adds Pierre-Antoine Cognard, Business Manager at Kreaxi.
