Nearfield Instruments achieves unicorn status

Thema:
Digital society
22 June 2026

Nearfield Instruments, a spin-off from TNO, has raised €330 million in the largest deeptech investment round ever in the Netherlands, bringing the company’s total valuation to approximately €1.4 billion. This historic milestone not only underscores the company’s success, but also demonstrates how applied research and a technological edge can grow into global impact. Creating, and especially scaling, deeptech startups is a key pillar of TNO’s strategy to translate technology into industrial impact.

Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from TNO, Nearfield Instruments builds on years of research. The company develops and delivers innovative metrology and inspection systems that enable chip manufacturers to perform highly precise measurements during the production process. This technology helps manufacturers further improve quality, yield and efficiency in chip production. This is becoming increasingly important as demand for ever more advanced semiconductors continues to rise, driven by applications such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and advanced data centers.

Following the spin-out, TNO Ventures invested in earlier funding rounds and is also participating in this round. In addition, TNO supports Nearfield Instruments in the continued development of its technology.

Nearfield's flagship product QUADRA
Nearfield's flagship product QUADRA

Strong international consortium of investors

This Series D funding round was led by new investor Fidelity Investments, marking its first private investment in the Netherlands. Other investors include Temasek, Walden Catalyst Ventures, M&G and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), alongside existing Dutch investors Innovation Industries, Invest-NL, ING and TNO Ventures.

tjark quote - 26

'Nearfield Instruments reaching a valuation of over one billion euros in this funding round is compelling proof that Dutch deeptech companies can grow into global players of significance. Nearfield shows what is possible when groundbreaking R&D is combined with entrepreneurship, focus and perseverance. We are incredibly proud of Hamed Sadeghian and his team.'

Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi

CEO TNO

Nearfield Instruments’ unicorn status marks the first tangible milestone in TNO’s ambition to help create and grow at least two new Dutch unicorns by 2030. TNO is working systematically towards this goal. It currently has a portfolio of more than forty spin-off companies and a strong track record of creating successful spin-outs that have continued to grow after acquisition.

Robin Radar is a striking example. In addition, TNO has a strong pipeline of technologies that will be brought to market through new ventures in the coming years.

TNO Ventures also participates in Fortaegis, Aiosyn and Equal1, and several Dutch venture capital funds, including the Keen Defence & Security Fund.