QIA Backs Nearfield in $380M Round as AI Chip Race Heats

QIA joined Nearfield Instruments’ $380 million Series D round, valuing the semiconductor metrology company at $1.6 billion as demand for AI chip infrastructure accelerates globally

The round was led by private equity firm M&R (Management & Research Company) and included participation from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), alongside Temasek, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Innovation Industries, M&G Investments, Invest-NL, TNO Ventures, and ING.

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The Nearfield funding comes as global demand for advanced semiconductors continues to surge, driven by rapid growth in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and data center infrastructure.

Founded in 2016 by Hamed Sadeghian and Roland van Vliet, Nearfield Instruments develops advanced metrology and inspection systems used in semiconductor manufacturing. 

The company’s technology enables chipmakers to measure and inspect microscopic features on advanced semiconductor devices at the nanometer scale, helping improve production yields, quality control, and manufacturing efficiency.

Nearfield currently serves customers across key semiconductor markets, including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the United States, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

As chip designs become increasingly complex, metrology and inspection technologies are playing a more critical role in semiconductor production. Manufacturers require greater precision to ensure advanced chips meet performance and reliability standards while maintaining acceptable yields at scale.

The fresh capital will be used to accelerate product development, expand global operations, strengthen customer support capabilities, and establish new Applications Centers of Excellence worldwide. The company also plans to deepen collaborative research and development efforts with leading semiconductor manufacturers.

QIA’s participation reflects its continued focus on investing in technologies that underpin the global AI ecosystem. As governments and enterprises increase spending on AI infrastructure, investors are broadening their focus beyond AI applications and software to include the semiconductor technologies that enable advanced computing.

The investment also highlights growing interest in semiconductor infrastructure companies, which have become increasingly important as demand for AI computing power rises. While much of the AI investment narrative has centered on models and applications, the tools required to manufacture advanced chips are emerging as a critical layer of the value chain.

For Gulf sovereign investors, exposure to semiconductor technology offers access to one of the most strategically important segments of the global technology industry. As countries across the GCC advance national AI strategies and expand digital infrastructure, investments in semiconductor-related businesses can provide both financial returns and valuable connections to critical technology ecosystems.

With fresh capital and growing industry demand, Nearfield Instruments is positioned to expand its role within the semiconductor supply chain. The company’s next phase of growth will focus on scaling production, expanding customer adoption, and supporting chipmakers as they develop the next generation of AI-enabled semiconductor technologies.

The funding round underscores a broader investment trend: as AI adoption accelerates globally, investors are increasingly targeting the foundational technologies that make advanced computing possible, from semiconductor manufacturing equipment to the infrastructure powering next-generation chips.

Why Nearfield Funding Matters to MENA

QIA’s investment highlights how Gulf sovereign wealth funds are moving beyond AI applications and into the semiconductor infrastructure that powers advanced computing. As countries across MENA invest heavily in AI, data centers, and digital transformation, exposure to critical chip technologies is becoming increasingly strategic.

The deal also reflects growing regional interest in securing a stake across the AI value chain, positioning Gulf investors to benefit from rising global demand for semiconductors and the infrastructure underpinning the next wave of AI innovation