INCIRT, an Aachen-based DeepTech company specialising in broadband data conversion technology, has closed a €4.8 million funding round for the commercialisation of its new chip architecture.
The round was led by early-stage VC fund Lifeline Ventures, with participation from High Tech Gründerfonds.
“Our architecture enables performance gains that are hardly achievable with classical semiconductor development. At the same time, we demonstrate that high-performance chips can also be realised with European manufacturing technology. This is both technologically and strategically a decisive step towards Europe’s digital sovereignty. One goal, for example, is that in ten years all European satellite constellations — around 5,000 to 10,000 units — will be equipped with INCIRT technology,” said Oner Hanay, co-founder and CEO of INCIRT.
Founded in 2022, INCIRT is a DeepTech spin-off of RWTH Aachen. It is developing a new generation of data converters that enable up to 100 times faster data conversion than previous approaches.
According to the company, the technology overcomes key technical limitations of the semiconductor industry without relying on ever smaller and more expensive manufacturing nodes.
Data converters are a vital component of modern communication and sensor systems. They establish how quickly, efficiently, and reliably data is transferred between the digital world and real-world applications.
INCIRT claims that it developed a system architecture that does not focus on optimising existing technology, but on intelligent parallelisation. It has developed an architecture for ultra-fast and energy-efficient data converters. The company notes that the goal of the technology is to overcome key bottlenecks in signal processing and enhance high-frequency applications in satellite communication, mobile networks, radar, as well as AI and data centre infrastructure.
It also strengthens Europe’s semiconductor capabilities and contributes to technological sovereignty. “INCIRT has successfully implemented the technology as a working silicon chip. The chips are produced using 22-nanometer technology in Europe, enabling high-performance semiconductor production without dependence on advanced non-European manufacturing nodes. Instead of ever smaller structures, the focus is on better architecture. This approach strengthens the European value chain for critical infrastructure applications such as satellite and mobile communications,” mentioned the company.
The German startup is an enabler for satellite and telecommunications infrastructure. In satellites, the architecture allows for higher data rates with lower energy consumption. This creates headroom within the limited power budget, enabling more antennas per satellite, more data per orbit, and longer mission durations while reducing the cost per transmitted bit.
In telecommunications, INCIRT supports new radio and system architectures. Network operators gain from increased capacity at the same energy use, reduced operating costs, and future-proof platforms for the development of 5G and beyond.
With the new capital, the company aims to accelerate product development and industrialisation. This funding also supports further technological advancement, validation, and the preparation for initial customer projects and market entry.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/03/germanys-incirt-bags-e4-8-million-for-new-chip-architecture-aimed-at-boosting-europes-semiconductor-capabilities/
