Qualinx
Qualinx is a Dutch fabless semiconductor company developing ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT radio chips based on patented Digital RF technology, targeting OEMs in wearables, asset tracking, telecom, and defense with mass production of its QLX3Gx SoC planned for H2 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Qualinx does
Qualinx is a Dutch fabless semiconductor company founded in 2015 as a spin-off from Delft University of Technology, developing ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT radio chips based on its proprietary patented Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology. The DRF architecture transfers most analog RF functions into the digital domain, enabling CMOS scaling benefits that the company claims deliver up to 10x lower power consumption (1 mW versus 20 mW for legacy solutions) and roughly 30% of the form factor of conventional GNSS chips. The product portfolio consists of the QLX3Gx dual-band GNSS System-on-Chip (flagship, sampling now with mass production scheduled for H2 2026) and the QLX3Ax programmable triple-band Analog Front End Receiver (launched January 2025), both supporting multi-constellation tracking across GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS, QZSS, and SBAS. The QLX3Gx is the first ultra-low-power GNSS receiver to offer hardware-native Galileo OSNMA authentication for spoofing protection, developed in collaboration with EUSPA.
The company sells directly to enterprise customers — OEMs, device manufacturers, and system integrators — targeting wearables, asset tracking, livestock management, telecommunications synchronization, UAVs, and aerospace/defense applications. Distribution is primarily direct sales supported by a Developer Evaluation Kit (QLX3Gx EVK) for engineering validation, with quote-based enterprise pricing rather than publicly disclosed unit prices. Revenue mechanics rely on chip sales with optional IP licensing of its patent-protected DRF technology. The company is backed by approximately €40M in disclosed funding across rounds led by FORWARD.one, InnovationQuarter Capital, Invest-NL, and Waterman Ventures, with RVO Innovation Credit support, and has established sovereign European manufacturing at GlobalFoundries Dresden under European Chips Act co-funding.
Qualinx firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Qualinx
- Legal name
- Qualinx B.V.
- Website
- https://qualinx.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Qualinx is a Dutch fabless semiconductor company developing ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT radio chips based on patented Digital RF technology, targeting OEMs in wearables, asset tracking, telecom, and defense with mass production of its QLX3Gx SoC planned for H2 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Qualinx industry classification
Industry- Product category
- GNSS Semiconductors
- NAICS
- Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS) (HDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth) (HDAHAMAE)
Keywords
Where Qualinx is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delft
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Qualinx business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Semiconductor Chip Sales: Qualinx generates revenue through the sale of its proprietary GNSS radio chips and IoT semiconductors. The company sells both finished chips (QLX3Gx, QLX3Ax) and Evaluation Kits (EVK) to OEMs, device manufacturers, and system integrators. Products are at sampling stage with mass production scheduled for H2 2026.
- IP Licensing: Qualinx's core innovations are patent protected and originate from founders' PhD research in Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology. The company may generate revenue through licensing its proprietary technology to other semiconductor manufacturers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | QLX3Gx Dual Band GNSS SoC - Enterprise semiconductor chip for mass market IoT, wearables, and asset tracking applications |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | QLX3Gx Evaluation Kit (EVK) - Developer evaluation kit for chip testing and integration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Qualinx product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Qualinx designs and sells ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT radio semiconductor chips built on its patented Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology. Its commercial portfolio includes the QLX3Gx dual-band GNSS System-on-Chip, the QLX3Ax programmable triple-band Analog Front End Receiver, and the QLX3Gx Evaluation Kit for developer testing. The chips target battery-constrained positioning, tracking, and timing applications in wearables, asset tracking, livestock management, telecommunications synchronization, UAVs, and security-critical aerospace/defense use cases.
Product overview
Qualinx is a deep-tech fabless semiconductor company offering a family of ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT chips powered by its proprietary patented Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology. Its product portfolio consists of the QLX3Gx dual-band GNSS System-on-Chip (the flagship product) and the QLX3Ax triple-band Analog Front End receiver, both of which leverage DRF to deliver industry-leading power efficiency, fully software-reconfigurable RF performance, and multi-constellation multi-band tracking in a single compact chip. The QLX3Gx EVK is a companion evaluation kit for developer testing and integration. The DRF platform underpins both chips, enabling analog signal processing functions to be implemented in the digital domain — a common technological foundation shared across the product line — while supporting protocols including GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and GLONASS. Qualinx also recently completed full Galileo OSNMA hardware-native authentication integration on the QLX3Gx family, making authenticated/anti-spoofing positioning available for mass-market battery-constrained devices for the first time.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Digital RF: Qualinx's proprietary digital radio frequency technology enabling ultra-low power, reconfigurable GNSS and IoT chips
- Dragonfly
- Qualicare
- QLX3Ax
- QLX3Gx
- QLX3Gx EVK
Products and services
- QLX3Gx Dual Band GNSS System-on-Chip Highly integrated dual-band GNSS System-on-Chip combining an ultra-low-power Digital RF Front End with an advanced GNSS Baseband engine for positioning, navigation, timing, and connectivity applications. Delivers industry-leading 1 mW power consumption, multi-constellation multi-band tracking (GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS, QZSS, SBAS), and hardware-native Galileo OSNMA authentication for spoofing protection. Designed for OEMs building wearables, asset trackers, livestock trackers, UAVs, and security-critical aerospace/defense devices.
- QLX3Ax Analog Front End Receiver Programmable triple-band Analog Front End (AFE) receiver delivering ultra-low power consumption and fully reconfigurable DRF-FE (Digital RF Front End) operation. Enables multi-constellation GNSS support, concurrent multi-band operation, and BOM cost and PCB footprint reduction. Targeted at GNSS module integrators and OEMs needing a flexible front end for their positioning solutions.
- QLX3Gx Evaluation Kit (EVK) Plug-and-play Evaluation Kit for the QLX3Gx GNSS chip, enabling engineers and product teams to evaluate multi-constellation GNSS performance in real-world conditions, measure power consumption, and test reconfigurability before committing to volume chip orders. Includes USB-C interface, antenna, software, and user manuals.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10x lower power consumption than conventional GNSS solutions (1 mW vs 20 mW)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Qualinx
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Qualinx technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Qualinx partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and supporting.
- GlobalFoundriesflagshipCompleted first fully European end-to-end semiconductor manufacturing flow at GlobalFoundries' Dresden fab on FDX technology. Qualinx served as launch customer with sophisticated GNSS SoC design for secure PNT applications. Sovereign manufacturing flow to be scaled to additional customers by 2027. Project co-funded by European Chips Act.
- Deutsche TelekomsupportingCollaboration announced to ensure production data remains processed and stored within European networks as part of European chip sovereignty initiative.
- EUSPA (EU Agency for the Space Programme)flagshipPartnership under Fundamental Elements EU R&D funding mechanism to develop consumer-grade, low-power GNSS receiver for Galileo's OSNMA authentication service. EUSPA identifies OSNMA as strategic priority for improving resilience against spoofing. Development completed in 2026 with full OSNMA support on QLX3Gx.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Qualinx competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- u-blox: Swiss fabless semiconductor company specializing in GNSS positioning and wireless communication chips for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Most direct competitor to Qualinx in the low-power GNSS chip space with established customer base.
- Nordic Semiconductor: Norwegian fabless semiconductor company specializing in ultra-low-power short-range wireless SoCs for IoT applications. Comparable in fabless model, European deep-tech positioning, and focus on power-efficient wireless chips.
Broad incumbents
- Broadcom: Global semiconductor incumbent with significant GNSS chip business through its connectivity and broadband divisions. Leverages massive scale and integration to offer bundled connectivity solutions across smartphones, wearables, and IoT.
- Qualcomm: Dominant mobile SoC vendor with integrated GNSS capabilities. Competes with Qualinx in the broader positioning chip market through its Snapdragon platforms for smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices.
- MediaTek: Taiwanese fabless semiconductor company with significant GNSS chip offerings integrated into mobile and IoT SoCs. Competes in positioning chip market with scale advantages and broad product portfolio.
- STMicroelectronics: European semiconductor incumbent with broad portfolio including GNSS and IoT connectivity solutions. Potential competitor in European sovereign semiconductor supply chain for automotive and industrial customers.
- Sony Semiconductor (Altair Semiconductor): GNSS chip provider through Sony's acquisition of Altair Semiconductor. Offers cellular IoT and GNSS solutions targeting wearables and asset tracking applications similar to Qualinx's focus areas.
Emerging players
- Ceva Inc. Licenses DSP-based IP for GNSS and connectivity, including the Ceva-XC platform used in many GNSS chips. Relevant as a potential licensor/competitor in the GNSS IP space that Qualinx also monetizes through its DRF patents.
Others
- Synopsys: Major semiconductor IP and EDA tools provider with GNSS positioning IP offerings. Comparable as a semiconductor ecosystem participant that competes in the IP licensing dimension of the GNSS value chain.
- Trimble: Provider of GNSS-based positioning solutions for surveying, agriculture, and asset tracking. Comparable as a downstream consumer of GNSS technology in the asset tracking and precision positioning verticals Qualinx targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Qualinx social profiles
Digital presenceQualinx financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Qualinx leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Qualinx funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Qualinx M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Qualinx
What does Qualinx do?
Qualinx designs and sells ultra-low-power GNSS and IoT radio semiconductor chips built on its patented Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology. Its commercial portfolio includes the QLX3Gx dual-band GNSS System-on-Chip, the QLX3Ax programmable triple-band Analog Front End Receiver, and the QLX3Gx Evaluation Kit for developer testing. The chips target battery-constrained positioning, tracking, and timing applications in wearables, asset tracking, livestock management, telecommunications synchronization, UAVs, and security-critical aerospace/defense use cases.
Is Qualinx a public or private company?
Qualinx is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Qualinx founded?
Qualinx was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Qualinx based?
Qualinx is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Qualinx make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Semiconductor Chip Sales are the primary driver. The others are IP Licensing.
Who are Qualinx's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are u-blox and Nordic Semiconductor. Broad incumbents are Broadcom, Qualcomm, MediaTek, STMicroelectronics and Sony Semiconductor (Altair Semiconductor). Ceva Inc. is listed as an emerging player. Others are Synopsys and Trimble.
Does Qualinx have an API?
No public API is recorded for Qualinx.
What industry is Qualinx in?
Qualinx's product category is GNSS Semiconductors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHABAA, Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS), with a secondary code of HDAHAMAE, RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth). Its NAICS code is 334290 and its SIC code is 3576.