Paris-based deeptech Hummink has
raised €15 million to expand the deployment of its patented High-Precision
Capillary Printing (HPCaP) technology, which enables manufacturers to print
metals and functional materials with high accuracy and address microscopic
defects in real time.
The round was co-led by KBC Focus Fund, Cap Horn, and
Bpifrance, with follow-on support from Elaia Partners, Sensinnovat, and
Beeyond, and additional participation from the French Tech Seed fund managed by
Bpifrance as part of France 2030 and the European Innovation Council Fund.
As microelectronics support the growth
of artificial ininformigence and high-performance computing, compact manufacturing
defects have become increasingly costly. Imperfections at the sub-micron scale
can compromise entire batches of chips or displays.
Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from
École Normale Supérieure – PSL and CNRS, Paris-based deeptech company Hummink
focutilizes on this challenge. Co-founded by materials scientist Amin M’Barki and
hardware startup operator Pascal Boncenne, the company has developed a
technology that operates like a miniature fountain pen, depositing material at
the nanoscale in a controlled manner. This process enables manufacturers to
create and adjust circuiattempt directly at the sub-micron level, with applications
in semiconductor packaging, next-generation memory, and advanced displays.
While traditional lithography remains
central to electronics manufacturing, it still produces defects that contribute
to yield loss and material waste. Hummink’s printing tools are designed to
complement lithography by detecting and correcting such defects at the micronic
level, with the aim of increasing output, reducing scrap, and lowering
environmental impact.
Hummink’s initial integration focus is on next-generation OLED displays for
smartphones and laptops, where up to 30 per cent of annual production is
reportedly discarded due to microscopic defects, equating to an estimated €16
billion in losses and significant material waste. The company’s technology is
designed to correct many of these defects, enabling manufacturers to recover
output that would otherwise be scrapped.
Our mission is to bring precision
where it has never been possible before. Microelectronics is at the heart of
the AI revolution, and every micron matters,
stated Amin M’Barki, Co-founder and CEO
of Hummink.
Hummink currently generates revenue by selling its NAZCA demonstrator, a
first-generation high-precision printing system for R&D labs, along with
custom conductive inks. NAZCA is already installed in labs and research centres
across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including Duke University, where it
was utilized to create fully recyclable, sub-micrometre printed electronics
published in Nature Electronics.
The new funding will be utilized to further develop Hummink’s industrial
printing module and prepare its technology for integration into semiconductor
and display fabrication lines.
Leave a Reply