Date:
26. June 2025
Linda Wetzel
Black Semiconductor has been named a finalist for the 2025 German Founders Award, “Der Deutsche Gründerpreis”, in the “Rising Star” category. This is a big moment for us, and a testament for Europe’s technology future.
Chips are at the heart of today’s digital world, from the phones in our pockets to the AI systems that will shape tomorrow. However, when it comes to the most advanced semiconductor technologies, Europe has long depended on companies and supply chains based in the United States and East Asia. This is especially true of tech giants from countries such as the USA, Taiwan, and South Korea. These regions dominate the design, manufacturing, and innovation of the chips that power our daily lives. As a European solution provider, we claim our seat at the table – to compete, and to lead.
At Black Semiconductor, we inspire the world to rethink computing. Our innovation is all about overcoming data communication bottlenecks and paving the way for the next generation of AI. We combine electronics and photonics on a single chip, powered by the extraordinary properties of graphene. Our technology, we call it Integrated Graphene Photonics, or IGP, enables bilingual chip networks that compute with electrons and communicate with photons.
IGP technology increases the speed at which data travels while making the handling of large amounts of data more energy efficient. As rapid advancements in AI push existing systems to their technological limits, this much-needed advancement in data communication provides a simple yet powerful solution. It can reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign suppliers and foster the development of a robust tech ecosystem.
Our work began in the laboratory almost ten years ago, but it has now evolved into something much bigger—a vital part of Europe’s strategy to secure its digital sovereignty. A significant step in this process was joining the IPCEI ecosystem. This unlocked a substantial public financial commitment of €254.4 million for Black Semiconductor’s IGP, as it was recognized as an Important Project of Common European Interest in the field of microelectronics and communication technologies.
Now, only one year later, being a finalist for the German Founders’ Award shows that semiconductor technology is moving from specialized research to the mainstream, emphasizing the importance of advanced chip technology for everyone. Try doing the math: How many chips do you think you have used today? It’s almost impossible to imagine a world without them. Europe’s future competitiveness depends on developing and producing these next-generation chips.
As finalists, we have the opportunity to spread the message that Europe can be a leader in technology, but only if we invest in innovation and collaborate. We look forward to the awards ceremony in Berlin on September 9, 2025, an important event to demonstrate how innovations like ours can promote Europe’s technological independence.
We couldn’t have come this far without our amazing team, partners, and investors who believe in our vision. Together, we’re pushing boundaries. Stay with us on this journey because Europe’s sovereignty starts with bold innovation.
We use graphene as enabler to create ultra-fast, energy-efficient, and scalable chip fabrics by connecting thousands of chips so they can interact as if they were one.
Black Semiconductor GmbH
Lilienthalstraße 1
52068 Aachen
Germany
