Qualinx, a Dutch semiconductor startup spun out of Delft University of Technology, has announced progress towards a fully European semiconductor manufacturing flow for its GNSS chips by partnering with GlobalFoundries' Dresden fab under the European Chips Act framework.
- Qualinx’s QLX3xx GNSS chips tape-out marks first full EU fab flow milestone
- Production uses GlobalFoundries Dresden fab funded by European Chips Act
- Focus on security-critical aerospace and defense chip applications
What happened
Qualinx, a spin-off from Delft University of Technology, revealed that it has successfully initiated an end-to-end chip fabrication flow within Europe for its new ultra-low-power Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system-on-chip. This advancement represents an important first step towards creating a fully automated and trusted European semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
Though Qualinx designs chips in the EU, manufacturing is conducted by GlobalFoundries, an American-headquartered company with a state-of-the-art fab in Dresden, Germany. This site is supported by funding through the European Chips Act to guarantee that sensitive production stages occur entirely inside the European Union, preventing data leakage beyond European borders.
Why it matters
The initiative addresses critical European ambitions for semiconductor sovereignty, especially for chips used in aerospace, defense, and vital infrastructure where supply chain security is paramount. By keeping the entire process—from mask generation to wafer production—within the EU, Qualinx and GlobalFoundries are demonstrating the feasibility of secure, local production amid global supply chain vulnerabilities.
This development also highlights Europe’s current semiconductor focus, which largely revolves around mature process nodes suitable for industrial and automotive applications rather than bleeding-edge technologies. The 12nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator process used aligns well with this demand profile and European policy priorities under the new Chips Act framework.
What to watch next
Attention will turn to how this collaboration evolves and scales, as securing a fully sovereign European chip manufacturing flow depends on ramping up production capabilities and integrating automation for trusted designs. Qualinx’s progress sets a benchmark to motivate other European startups and manufacturers to pursue similar EU-centric value chains.
Meanwhile, European regulators and industry watchers will be evaluating the impact of the Chips Act funding mechanisms, especially as debate continues on the balance between fostering mature node production and pushing towards cutting-edge fabrication technologies. The partnership may serve as a case study for funding strategies and strategic investments in the coming years.