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Qualinx, a Delft-based semiconductor company and FORWARD.one portfolio company, has secured €20 million in new funding from a group of Dutch investors. The capital will be used to bring the company’s first Digital RF product—the world’s smallest, most cost-effective, and energy-efficient GNSS chip—into production. Following this, the company will scale its platform technology for a wide range of other applications, significantly accelerating its path to market.
The first product is a compact 5×5 mm GNSS chip that enables highly accurate positioning by connecting to multiple satellite systems, including Galileo, GPS, and BeiDou. By combining ultra-low power consumption with Digital RF, Qualinx is at the forefront of next-generation connectivity. The chip stands out for its exceptional energy efficiency and reconfigurability, allowing real-time, over-the-air switching between protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GNSS, and indoor positioning - all on a single chip.
Qualinx will begin chip production earlier than anticipated, following the successful completion of its testing phase ahead of schedule. While production was initially planned around a funding round at the end of the year, this recent milestone has accelerated the timeline.
The chip is designed for applications where size, power efficiency, and security are critical - including drones, wearables like smartwatches and AR glasses, and tracking devices. Crucially, all positioning calculations are performed on-chip rather than in the cloud, reducing latency and strengthening protection against digital interference.
At FORWARD.one, we are proud to continue our partnership with Qualinx as they redefine connectivity. Their platform technology is a game-changer; by delivering a single chip that can be reconfigured over-the-air in real time, Qualinx eliminates the need for multiple hardware solutions. The ability to switch between frequencies and protocols on the fly provides an unprecedented level of resilience against spoofing and jamming, making this technology uniquely suited for mission-critical applications. Furthermore, its versatility enables seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor positioning.
Arjan Göbel- Partner FORWARD.one
Manufacturing will take place at GlobalFoundries’ facility in Dresden, Germany. This partnership supports European semiconductor capacity, reducing reliance on Asian foundries while mitigating supply-chain risks and contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Founded ten years ago as a spin-off from TU Delft, Qualinx has now raised a total of €40 million. Earlier funding rounds supported the development of its digital radio architecture, and this week, the company is showcasing its first product publicly at CES in Las Vegas.
Alongside FORWARD.one, the round includes participation from Invest-NL, Waterman Ventures, and InnovationQuarter Capital. Qualinx expects to raise additional capital in the second half of the year to support further scaling and commercialization.
