Fortaegis, an Amsterdam-based chip security startup, recently completed a substantial funding round, which its CEO Boudewijn Wijnands described as significantly larger than its previous rounds that collectively raised over 15 million euros. This new funding involves strategic investments from entities like TNO Ventures, the venture arm of the Netherlands Institute for Applied Scientific Research, and a partnership with Prodrive Technologies, which is also taking a stake in Fortaegis. TNO has been a long-standing partner, having contributed to the software foundations of Fortaegis's technology.
The company is developing a 5nm Secure Processing Unit (SPU) that utilizes the unique physical 'fingerprints' or micro-imperfections of each chip to generate cryptographic functions. This innovative approach eliminates the need for centralized key storage and the exchange of cryptographic keys, making systems faster, more secure, and inherently resistant to quantum computing attacks. This method is also presented as a more scalable and less computationally intensive alternative to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum key distribution (QKD), as it operates on standard silicon without requiring specialized optical hardware.
Fortaegis's technology targets critical data applications in various sectors, including defense, telecommunications (6G), automotive, financial technologies, critical infrastructure, and Industry 4.0. The company plans to launch its first products, primarily field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for secure networking in defense and semiconductor applications, in late 2025 and early 2026. By 2028, Fortaegis aims to produce a custom high-performance chip built on advanced 5nm technology. Prodrive Technologies will handle the assembly and integration of these chips in Eindhoven, with Fortaegis emphasizing the importance of a European partner for these tasks. TNO's collaboration also extends to joint research and development in areas like federated learning and emerging network technologies, reinforcing Europe's position in secure, sovereign technology.
