imec.xpand

imec.xpand is an independently managed global venture capital fund headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with an additional office in Amsterdam, that invests in transformative semiconductor and nanotechnology startups where imec's R&D infrastructure and expertise can serve as a decisive competitive advantage. The firm targets early-stage through growth-stage companies (Seed through Series B) across deep tech, AI/ML, photonics, AR/VR, smart healthcare, agri-food, mobility, and smart cities, deploying capital globally with a particular strength in European and U.S. deals. Portfolio companies—including Celestial AI, Mojo Vision, Q.ANT, Nubis Communications, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, Aerospacelab, and Vertical Compute—gain first-line access to imec's €2B+ cleanroom, low-volume manufacturing capabilities, and multidisciplinary research network, making the fund uniquely suited to capital-intensive hardware ventures with long incubation cycles. imec.xpand closed its latest €300 million fund in May 2024, following its inaugural €117 million vehicle raised in 2018, with backing from strategic LPs such as Samsung, SK hynix, Applied Materials, Philips, and BNP Paribas Fortis.