Linköping-based semiconductor startup TekSiC has raised SEK 16 million (€1.45 million / $1.7 million) in a seed funding round led by Turbine Capital to develop Europe’s first commercial production of semi-insulating silicon carbide (SI-SiC) wafers for defence, telecommunications, and sovereign electronics.
The round includes SEK 7.5 million from Turbine Capital, alongside investments from Professor Mikael Östling, Christian von Koenigsegg, and East Sweden Capital.
The funding will accelerate commercialization of TekSiC’s Xforge crystal growth platform while expanding development of its proprietary SI-SiC wafer technology.
Reducing Europe’s Dependence on Foreign Semiconductor Supply
Semi-insulating silicon carbide is a critical material used in high-frequency, high-power radio frequency (RF) electronics that power military radar systems, electronic warfare equipment, satellite communications, and next-generation 5G and 6G infrastructure.
Despite its strategic importance, Europe currently has no commercial supplier of SI-SiC wafers, leaving defence contractors and telecom manufacturers dependent on suppliers in the United States and China.
TekSiC aims to close that gap by building a fully European supply chain for one of the semiconductor industry’s most strategically important materials.
Demand is expected to grow rapidly as NATO countries expand advanced radar capabilities, satellite constellations continue to grow, and AI infrastructure requires increasingly powerful semiconductor technologies.
Built on World-Class Semiconductor Research
Founded in 2021, TekSiC emerged from decades of silicon carbide research at Linköping University, where Professors Erik Janzén and Rositsa Yakimova established one of the world’s leading research environments for SiC materials.
The company’s founders and research engineers all earned their PhDs at the university, translating years of academic research into commercial manufacturing technology.
TekSiC develops both the crystal growth equipment and the production processes required to manufacture semi-insulating silicon carbide wafers.
Its flagship Xforge PVT furnace platform, capable of operating at temperatures above 2,500°C, has already been delivered to multiple industrial customers and is described as a best-in-class solution for silicon carbide crystal growth.
Alongside its furnace technology, the company is also developing proprietary hot-zone components designed to extend equipment lifetime, improve manufacturing yields, and lower production costs.
Strong Commercial Momentum
TekSiC has already achieved several important commercial milestones.
The company recently secured a major order from an international manufacturer entering the silicon carbide wafer market. It is also participating in a national semiconductor initiative supported by Sweden’s Tillväxtverket, working alongside leading European defence, telecommunications, and semiconductor organizations.
Within the programme, TekSiC has successfully demonstrated wafer quality validated by industry partners.
Strategic Investors Back European Semiconductor Independence
The investor group reflects the growing strategic importance of semiconductor manufacturing in Europe.
Among the participants is Christian von Koenigsegg, founder and CEO of Koenigsegg Automotive, whose company already uses silicon carbide in high-performance electric powertrains.
“Silicon carbide has been used in our power electronics since the launch of the Regera. Access to semiconductor material expertise and supply within Europe opens new possibilities for optimisation and customisation, and TekSiC can enable this,” he said.
Professor Mikael Östling, one of Europe’s leading silicon carbide researchers, described TekSiC as the type of deep-tech company Sweden should actively support.
“The science behind TekSiC is world-class and rooted in a research tradition that has shaped the global SiC industry.”
Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Technology Base
For Turbine Capital, the investment goes beyond semiconductor manufacturing.
Managing Partner Karin Edström noted that semi-insulating silicon carbide is a strategic dual-use material with no commercial European supplier and a market expected to grow fivefold by 2030.
As Europe accelerates investment in defence technologies, AI infrastructure, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing, securing domestic access to critical semiconductor materials has become an economic and geopolitical priority.
By combining proprietary manufacturing equipment with advanced wafer production, TekSiC is positioning itself as a key player in Europe’s effort to build a resilient and independent semiconductor ecosystem.
