A quantum technology startup has quietly emerged with a breakthrough solution set to transform the way chipmakers inspect and ensure the quality of their products.
EuQlid, based in College Park, Maryland, has closed $3 million in seed funding to bring its quantum sensing platform out of stealth mode and into commercial deployment.
This infusion of investment and innovation arrives just as semiconductor manufacturers face mounting challenges with complex 3D chip architectures.
EuQlid’s flagship Qu-MRI technology promises a non-invasive way to image defects within chips and batteries, saving manufacturers billions in losses from undetected or misdiagnosed flaws.
How does EuQlid's quantum sensing platform work?
EuQlid’s quantum sensing platform leverages synthetic diamonds engineered with pinpoint defects called nitrogen-vacancy centers. These act as highly sensitive magnetic detectors that map subtle electrical currents inside a device with unmatched spatial accuracy.
The Qu-MRI uses tailored microwaves and lasers to scan chips and batteries, then applies advanced algorithms to reconstruct internal magnetic maps in seconds.
The result is a tool capable of identifying buried defects and irregular electrical flows, even within state-of-the-art CPUs and GPUs.
This process avoids damaging the product, addressing a core weakness in legacy inspection techniques that rely on physical slicing or external probes.
Did you know?
Semiconductors are essential for the manufacture of all major electronic components, including diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits (ICs), also known as microchips.
Why is non-invasive 3D imaging critical for chipmakers?
As chip designs become denser and use stacked architectures, inspecting for flaws using traditional methods becomes riskier and less reliable.
The industry shift to 3D packaging means defects buried deep inside the silicon can evade current detection tools, creating new manufacturing bottlenecks and costly recalls.
EuQlid’s Qu-MRI platform permits full-spectrum, three-dimensional imaging of these hidden vulnerabilities, enabling manufacturers to act before defective products reach consumers.
The quantum approach can catch errors such as improper interconnect stacking or faulty power flows early in production.
What market forces drive demand for quantum defect detection?
The global market for semiconductor metrology and inspection hit $10.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to double within the next decade.
The convergence of smaller manufacturing nodes, increased device complexity, and heightened reliability demands creates strong incentives for chipmakers to upgrade their toolkit.
Industry analysts expect quantum sensing to become a linchpin for next-generation factories, unlocking cost savings and performance improvements.
This perspective is echoed by market leaders and firms such as McKinsey, which named 2025 “The Year of Quantum” with a focus on real-world applications.
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Who backed EuQlid and what sets its team apart?
EuQlid’s $3 million seed round was led by QDNL Participations, a quantum-focused investor, and joined by Quantonation. The startup has already demonstrated robust market traction, boasting over $1.5 million in early customer revenue and winning the $25,000 grand prize at the Quantum World Congress startup pitch competition.
The founding team includes physicists and engineering veterans from Harvard, Yale, the University of Maryland, Cadence, and Texas Instruments.
Their prior work includes the commercial deployment of the Quantum Diamond Microscope, laying the foundation for Qu-MRI’s advanced industrial uses.
What could quantum defect sensing mean for the future?
Industry research centers like IMEC highlight Qu-MRI as a solution to foundational issues in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
As global competition intensifies and device architectures evolve, platforms such as EuQlid’s are likely to set new standards for defect detection and process validation.
With quantum sensing projected to reach a $7-10 billion market by 2040, the technology could expand into batteries, biomedicine, and other fields that demand high-precision internal mapping.
EuQlid is betting that integrating quantum tools into quality assurance will accelerate research, lower costs, and advance technological innovation for years to come.
EuQlid's journey marks an inflection point as quantum technology leaves the lab and enters the production floor. Semiconductor makers may soon regard quantum defect sensing as indispensable, combining precision, efficiency, and scalability to meet the needs of tomorrow’s electronics.
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