Creoir closes a seed round for defence voice AI, Acconeer's radar goes into vehicle production and Copenhagen gets a quantum chip factory. Google's planned data center in Medelpad, northern Sweden, could draw as much power as all of Stockholm. Our partner Lightbringer opens its Built to scale series with a session on patents for physical AI.
New on the site this week: the soft funding calendar, 20 non-dilutive programs across the Nordics and the EU with what they fund, who qualifies and the next deadline.
ON THE PLATFORM
The funding map now lists 171 [investors](https://www.nordichardtech.com/funding/) active in Nordic hardtech, alongside 1190 [companies](https://www.nordichardtech.com/companies/) in the ecosystem directory. There are 42 open [jobs](https://www.nordichardtech.com/jobs/) and 10 upcoming [events](https://www.nordichardtech.com/events/) live on the site right now. Browse the map, check the open roles or find the next event below.
FROM OUR PARTNER LIGHTBRINGER
Built to scale 01: why physical AI teams end up under-patented
Lightbringer opens its Built to scale series with a live session on IP in robotics and hardware: teams count prototypes shipped, investors and acquirers count inventions filed. It covers what to file and when, whether shipping first costs you the patent, and how to split IP across sensors, software and mechanics. Hosted by Dominic Davies, Lightbringer CEO and patent attorney. Via Lightbringer
THE NORDICS
Google's Medelpad data center could draw as much power as all of Stockholm
Google's planned data center in Medelpad risks consuming electricity equal to Stockholm's total demand, raising questions about grid capacity and pricing as tech companies compete for renewable power. Via Breakit
Creoir closes seed round from Gungnir Capital for defence voice AI
Oulu-based Creoir builds voice AI systems for defence applications and has raised seed funding from Swedish venture fund Gungnir Capital. Via ArcticStartup
Acconeer's 60 GHz radar enters vehicle production
Acconeer's A121 radar sensor has moved into vehicle production, marking a step from pilot programs into series automotive use. Via Elektroniktidningen
Quantum Foundry Copenhagen to open 5,300 square-meter chip facility
Quantum Foundry Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation are building a 5,300 square-meter facility in Copenhagen dedicated to quantum chip manufacturing. Via Evertiq
Rebaba raises SEK 44.1 million for second-life battery storage
Swedish energy technology company Rebaba closed a SEK 44.1 million seed round to expand battery energy storage systems built from repurposed cells. Via Tech.eu
Sivers builds in-house photonics production on AI datacenter demand
Sivers IMA is scaling up its own photonics manufacturing to meet surging demand from AI datacenter customers. Via Elektroniktidningen
Finland mounts radar sensors on wind turbines to detect drones
Researchers in eastern Finland are testing radar sensors mounted on wind turbines to detect drones, with plans to expand the trial to more sites and improve detection capability. Via Ingeniøren
THE WORLD
The Exploration Company raises EUR 387 million for reusable rocket engine
European space company The Exploration Company closed a EUR 387 million Series C round to accelerate development of its Nyx reusable capsule and a high-thrust rocket engine. Via EU-Startups
Nvidia backs Spanish photonics spinout IPronics in USD 125 million Series B
Nvidia led a USD 125 million Series B round for IPronics, a Spanish photonics spinout. Via Sifted
Ground A raises over EUR 9 million for laser-based counter-drone systems
German defencetech startup Ground A raised more than EUR 9 million in pre-seed funding to scale its laser-based counter-drone hardware and software after emerging from stealth. Via Tech.eu
Jaipur Robotics raises EUR 4.3 million to bring computer vision to waste plants
Swiss industrial AI company Jaipur Robotics raised EUR 4.3 million in seed funding to expand its computer vision and automation technology for waste-to-energy and other industrial plants. Via Tech.eu
HIGHLIGHTED STARTUP
# LayerLogic opens an investment round
LayerLogic builds a portable biosensor platform that gives food producers microbiological answers in minutes on the production floor, instead of waiting days for lab results. Slow testing today means waiting time, scrapped batches and large costs. The first application targets Listeria, with more bacteria and markets to follow.
The company has completed paid customer pilots, signed LOIs corresponding to over EUR 2 million in first-year revenue, and is now opening an investment round to finish the technology, industrialise the product and take the last step to commercial launch. Contact André Persson to learn more: andre.persson@layerlogic.se