AI chips and sustainable reactors: four investments in March
Each month, we list the investments that caught our attention.
Published on April 1, 2025
Our DATA+ expert, Elcke Vels, explores AI, cyber security, and Dutch innovation. Her "What if..." column imagines bold scenarios beyond the norm.
A molten salt reactor: €20 million for Thorizon
The Dutch-French start-up Thorizon has raised €20 million to develop their groundbreaking small modular reactor, Thorizon One. The innovative aspect lies in the use of molten salt reactor technology (MSR) and the possibility of using long-lived nuclear waste as fuel. With a planned start of construction in 2030, the startup aims to revolutionize the energy market by making nuclear energy cleaner and safer.
Tens of millions for plastic recycling company Xycle
Xycle, a start-up in the field of plastic recycling, has raised funds for the construction of a commercial factory in the port of Rotterdam. The exact amount provided by a consortium that includes Dow Chemical, Vopak, ING, Polestar Capital and Invest-NL is not known. According to the FD, the investment would amount to between €75 and €100 million.
€61.6 million for powerful AI chips
Axelera AI, an AI hardware company based in Eindhoven, has announced that it has received a subsidy of €61.6 million for the development of a powerful AI chipset, Titania. The chipset will provide energy-efficient and scalable AI inference, a process that ensures that AI models produce predictions or conclusions.
Better grid flexibility: €3.5 million for Withthegrid
Withthegrid has raised €3.5 million. The company focuses on improving grid flexibility and the control of energy assets – such as solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and charging stations – with a real-time interface, among other things.
This monitoring platform makes it possible to digitally monitor and control parts of the network. This is done with the help of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. Examples include real-time monitoring of transformers, detecting corrosion on steel pipes and detecting leaks in heating networks. This allows owners to efficiently determine when maintenance is needed.