Black Semiconductor

Black Semiconductor is a deep-tech company headquartered in Aachen, Germany, pioneering a new era of chip connectivity through the integration of graphene-based photonics with standard silicon electronics. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Daniel Schall and Sebastian Schall, the company addresses the physical limitations of current copper-based chip interconnects, such as bandwidth bottlenecks, high latency, and excessive heat generation. By leveraging the unique optical properties of graphene, Black Semiconductor develops high-performance photonic circuits that enable chips to communicate via light, significantly enhancing data transfer speeds and energy efficiency for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence applications.

The company is currently advancing its technology from research to industrial-scale mass production. A major milestone in this journey is the establishment of 'FabONE' in Aachen, a state-of-the-art facility designed for the pilot production of 300mm graphene-photonic wafers. This facility represents a critical step towards seamless integration into existing CMOS manufacturing lines, ensuring scalability and commercial viability. In 2024, Black Semiconductor secured €254.4 million in funding, including substantial support from the German government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia under the IPCEI ME/CT program, as well as private investment led by Porsche Ventures and Project A Ventures. This capital injection is dedicated to accelerating R&D initiatives and expanding their manufacturing capabilities to strengthen Europe's technological sovereignty in the global semiconductor market.