CamGraPhIC Secures €25 Million Series A Funding to Advance Graphene Chip Innovation

UK-based photonics startup CamGraPhIC has secured €25 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development of its graphene-based microchip technology, marking a major milestone in next-generation semiconductor innovation. The round was led by the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)—supported by 24 NATO member states—alongside several high-profile investors.

A Breakthrough in Photonic Graphene Chips

CamGraPhIC is developing graphene photonic chips that leverage light and electrical signals for high-speed data transmission. These chips promise to outperform traditional silicon-based solutions by being faster, more energy-efficient, and cost-effective. According to CEO Ben Jensen, graphene’s zero-bandgap nature allows for exceptional scalability and eliminates issues related to latency and bandwidth bottlenecks.

The funding will enable CamGraPhIC to:

Expand R&D operations in Pisa, Italy

Establish a pilot manufacturing line in Milan

Outsource production ahead of commercial rollout

Double its workforce from 17 to 34 within 12 months, and to 68 over two years

Jensen emphasized the strategic vision behind this funding: to position CamGraPhIC at the forefront of AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and advanced communications, areas where graphene’s material advantages can be fully leveraged.

Strategic Backing from Global Investors

The round attracted a strong consortium of global venture capital firms and corporate investors, highlighting growing confidence in photonic technologies and graphene’s potential. Key investors include:

CDP Venture Capital (Italy)

Sony Innovation Fund

Join Capital (Germany)

Bosch Ventures

Frontier IP Group

Indaco Venture Partners

The investment also reflects broader efforts by European and NATO-aligned nations to diversify semiconductor supply chains, support deep tech innovation, and reduce dependency on traditional silicon-based technology.

What’s Next for CamGraPhIC?

With this new capital, CamGraPhIC plans to accelerate its roadmap toward commercialization within the next few years. The company is actively hiring a CFO and building the foundations for global partnerships and scaled deployment.

Graphene photonics are increasingly viewed as a game-changer in the post-silicon era, especially in power-hungry applications like AI model training, quantum computing, and next-gen data centers.