Irish deep-tech company Impedans has raised €3.5m in funding for its sensor technology that is used in areas such as chip making.
Impedans develops intelligent sensing platforms for radio-frequency (RF) and plasma process monitoring. Use cases of the technology include process development, tool design, process control, fault detection and classification, primarily in the semiconductor industry. The technology can also be used in the vacuum coating, medical device, hard disk and aerospace sectors.
Impedans was founded in 2004 by Mike Hopkins and is based in Dublin. The Series B funding round was backed by several new and existing investors, including SOSV and Enterprise Ireland.
SOSV general partner Bill Liao said, “SOSV is proud to back such a global and strategically significant technology in the chip-making space. This round backs a real Irish deep-tech win and is a shining example of team Ireland punching well above its weight. Great team, great market, great technology and great timing.”
Leading the Impedans team is CEO Dr David Gahan, who was previously a postdoctoral researcher at Dublin City University studying RF plasma properties. Grahan said, “this is a significant milestone for our company as we grow to meet the demands of the global semiconductor market, forecasted to reach $1trn by 2030. Our patented technology enables companies to both reduce scrappage and increase process repeatability, critical factors for this burgeoning industry. This funding is key for driving a strategy of continuous innovation and will help to consolidate our position as leaders in the field”.
Despite the prevailing economic conditions, Impedans expects the semiconductor market to achieve low double-digit growth in 2022 as demand for chips continues.
Gillian Baker, a senior development adviser at Enterprise Ireland, said, “Enterprise Ireland is proud to continue its support for this Irish-owned global leader. Their key markets offer tremendous potential for growth, and we are confident that they are positioned to capitalise on this.”
Source: Silicon Republic
