How many total Semiconductors companies are there in Europe?

As of May 2026, Europe has 7590 active Semiconductors companies.

How many Semiconductors companies in Europe are funded?

As of May 2026, 2188 companies have received funding in this sector.

What is the total funding raised by Semiconductors companies in Europe?

Semiconductors companies in Europe have collectively raised $38.3B in funding till date.

Who are the top investors in Semiconductors companies in Europe?

The top investors in Semiconductors companies in Europe by number of investments are European Union and EIC Fund.

Which is the highest funded Semiconductors company in Europe?

As of May 2026, IQM has raised $600M in funding, highest among the funded Semiconductors companies in Europe.

How many Semiconductors unicorns are there in Europe?

Europe has produced 2 unicorns in the Semiconductors sector till date.

List of 8,122 Semiconductors Startups in Europe & Market Trends (May 2026)

The Semiconductors sector in Europe comprises 8.12K companies, including 2.19K funded companies having collectively raised $38.3B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 1.36K are Series A+ funded, and 2 have achieved unicorn status.

Semiconductors sector in Europe has seen 864 acquisitions and 192 IPOs. This represents almost 13.0% of all such companies - which is higher than the 5.3% exit rate of tech companies in general.

This sector includes companies that manufacture or develop their own semiconductor ICs, electronic components and softwares for designing them.

Semiconductors sector is also known as Semiconductors & Electronics, Chip Technology or IC Tech.

Includes companies that manufacture ICs like digital, analog, MEMs, Sensors, photonics , embedded hardwares and softwares, display devices, and softwares like EDA tools. Excludes companies that act as distributer of semiconductor and electronic components, equipment manufacturers using electronic components, semiconductor manufacturing equipments, design service providers.

Key Metrics

Total Companies

8.12K

Top Companies

ZEISS, Navitas & more

Total Funding

Funded Companies

Series A+ Companies

Series C+ Companies

Unicorns Created

IPOs

192

Acquisitions

864

Also known as

Semiconductors & Electronics or Chip Technology

View complete details of this sector

There are 8,122 Semiconductors startups in Europe which include ZEISS, Navitas, Essilor International, Murata, NXP Semiconductors. Out of these, 2,188 startups are funded, with 1,360 having secured Series A+ funding, and 2 achieving unicorn status.

Over the past 10 years, an average of 153 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and University of Oxford.

1. ZEISS

Provider of diversified microscopic instruments and medical imaging systems. It develops and distributing semiconductor manufacturing equipment, eyeglass & cine lenses, and binoculars. Its industrial sections develop systems, such as precision metrology products, including CMMs, CT, and optical systems.

Key facts about ZEISS

Founded Year: 1846
Location: Oberkochen (Germany)
Stage: Public
Total Funding till date: $49.8M
Investors: EQT, Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz and 5 Others
Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), May 01, 2023, $*****
Tracxn Score: 76/100 What is this?

2. Navitas

Manufacturer of GaN-based power management ICs. It integrates high-performance GaN power ICs that are fast and small-sized. It has applications in mobile phones, laptops, tablet chargers, LED lighting, data centers, and TV monitors.

Key facts about Navitas

Founded Year: 2014
Location: Dublin (Ireland)
Stage: Public
Total Funding till date: $49.6M
Investors: A&E Investments, Ausvic Capital and 3 Others
Latest Funding Round: Series B, Jan 28, 2020, $*****
Tracxn Score: 71/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 1 of 180 Competitors

View full list of companies in this sector

3. Essilor International

Essilor International engages in the design and manufacture of lenses for all types of visual disorders, including myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. Essilorʼs flagship brands are Varilux, Crizal, Transitions, Definity, Xperio, OptifogTM, Foster Grant, Bolon, and Costa. It also develops and markets equipment, instruments, and services for eyecare professionals. In 2020, the company recorded annual revenues of $16.4 B and a net profit of $96.9 M.

Key facts about Essilor International

Founded Year: 1849
Location: Paris (France)
Stage: Public
Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Jan 01, 2016, $*****
Tracxn Score: 70/100 What is this?

4. Murata

Manufacturer of electronic components, modules, and solutions for various applications. Product offerings include capacitors, inductors, noise suppression products, resistors, and sensors. The company also provides timing devices, optical devices, sound components, and power products. Solutions are available for industries including retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Key facts about Murata

Founded Year: 1944
Location: Kyoto (Japan)
Stage: Public
Investors: Triodos Investment Management, Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty and 1 Other
Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Jun 25, 2021, $*****
Tracxn Score: 70/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 1 of 232 Competitors

5. NXP Semiconductors

Manufacturer of semiconductors and related solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer. The company provides products for vehicle control, electrification, in-vehicle experience, and driver assistance systems. It also offers solutions for building and home automation, factory automation, and healthcare. Furthermore, the company develops semiconductors for home appliances, entertainment, and mobile devices. The company supports edge computing, functional safety, motor control, and wireless connectivity technologies.

Key facts about NXP Semiconductors

Founded Year: 2006
Location: Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Stage: Public
Investors: True Wind Capital, Third Point and 12 Others
Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), May 08, 2024, $*****
Tracxn Score: 70/100 What is this?

Access the full list of 8,122 Semiconductors Startups in Europe

Companies founded year-on-year in the Semiconductors sector in Europe

276 Semiconductors startups in Europe were founded in 2018 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.

Total Number of Companies

Year	No. of companies
2025	5
2024	26
2023	78
2022	89
2021	135
2020	181
2019	232
2018	276
2017	254
2016	258

Stage-wise distribution of Semiconductors sector companies in Europe

Out of the total 8,122 Semiconductors companies in Europe, 2,188 have secured funding. Among them, 1,360 have reached Series A or higher, and 1,167 to Series B or beyond.

Founded - 8,122

Funded - 2,188

Series A+ - 1,360

Series B+ - 1,167

Series C+ - 1,112

Company Stage	No. of companies
Founded	8,122
Funded	2,188
Series A+	1,360
Series B+	1,167
Series C+	1,112

Let us walk you through our Sectors and other offerings
Designed with precision for VCs, PE, IBs, Incubators, M&A, Innovation more

Total funding year-on-year in the Semiconductors sector in Europe

The Semiconductors sector in Europe saw a total funding of more than $25.3B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2019 at more than $5.31B.

Total Funding

Year	Total Funding
2025	$1.53B
2024	$1.36B
2023	$1.31B
2022	$2.32B
2021	$1.81B
2020	$4.95B
2019	$5.31B
2018	$3.9B
2017	$1.51B

Recent Funding Rounds in Semiconductors in Europe

In the year 2025, till September 2025, Semiconductors companies in Europe have raised $1.05B in equity funding across 55 rounds. In the same period last year (i.e. till September 2024), Semiconductors companies in Europe had raised $852M across 72 rounds. So, 2025 has seen a 22.79% rise in funding in Semiconductors companies in Europe as compared to 2024.

Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Semiconductors companies in Europe:

Company	Round Raised	Amount Raised	Funding Date	Investors
Skylark Lasers	Seed	2125	Sep 23, 2025	Par Equity and 1 more
Sonair	Series A	2688	Sep 17, 2025	Scale Capital and 4 more
Cailabs	Series D	2679	Sep 12, 2025	European Investment Bank and 5 more
AI Blox	Seed	2572	Sep 11, 2025	SmartFin
SCINTIL Photonics	Series B	7707	Sep 09, 2025	Yotta Capital Partners and 8 more

See a more detailed list of funding rounds

European Union is the top investor in Semiconductors companies in Europe based on number of companies invested.

Here are some top investors in Semiconductors companies in Europe:

Investor	Location	Top Portfolio Companies
European Union	Brussels (Belgium)	ZEISS, Murata, NXP Semiconductors and U-blox
EIC Fund	Brussels (Belgium)	IQM, Kromek, Cailabs and e-peas
In-Q-Tel	Washington, DC (United States)	Graphcore Systems, Paragraf, Prophesee and Mind Tech
Herald Investment Management	London (United Kingdom)	Kromek, X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries, IQE and Kalray
Battery Ventures	Boston (United States)	SST

See a more detailed list of investors

In the year 2025, till September 2025, 38 acquisitions happened in Semiconductors sector in Europe. Last year, in 2024, a total of 65 acquisitions happened in Semiconductors sector in Europe.

Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Semiconductors sector in Europe:

Company	Acquisition Type	Acquisition Date	Acquirers
DEA HT	Business Acquisition	Sep 05, 2025	Investindustrial
Phasics	Business Acquisition	Aug 27, 2025	Exosens
Plessey	Business Acquisition	Aug 20, 2025	Haylo
U-blox	Business Acquisition	Aug 18, 2025	Advent International
Exception PCB	Business Acquisition	Aug 06, 2025	Wright Industries

See a more detailed list of acquisitions

Acquisition trends in Semiconductors sector in Europe

Here are the acquisition trends in Semiconductors sector in Europe:

Total Number of Acquisitions

Year	No. of companies
2025	38
2024	65
2023	89
2022	75
2021	85
2020	63
2019	58
2018	71
2017	55
2016	53

In the year 2025, till August 2025, 1 IPO happened in Semiconductors sector in Europe.

Here are some recent, important IPOs in Semiconductors sector in Europe:

Company	IPO Date	Exchange Symbol
Smartoptics	Aug 28, 2025	Oslo Stock Exchange (OSLO BORS)
Canatu	Sep 17, 2024	Nasdaq First North (FIRST NORTH NORWAY)
Exosens	Jun 06, 2024	Euronext Exchange (Euronext)
Arm	Sep 14, 2023	National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ)
Tan Delta Systems	Aug 18, 2023	London Stock Exchange (LSE)

See a more detailed list of IPOs

Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Semiconductors in Europe

Most number of Semiconductors startups in Europe have been founded by alumni from University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and University of Oxford.

College	No. of companies
University of Cambridge	37
Imperial College London	21
University of Oxford	13
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	12
University of Manchester	10
INSEAD	8
University of Bristol	8
HEC Paris	6
London Business School (LBS)	6
Stanford University	6

Total funding in Semiconductors companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Europe

In the last 10 years, University of Cambridge graduates' Semiconductors companies in Europe have raised the most funding among top colleges. Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni are second, and University of Manchester alumni are third.

College	Total Funding
University of Cambridge	$1.61B
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$697M
University of Manchester	$284M
INSEAD	$159M
University of Oxford	$130M
Imperial College London	$113M
University of Edinburgh	$108M
Stanford University	$90.4M
Tsinghua University	$82.8M
University of Bristol	$81.6M