What CISC Semiconductor does

CISC Semiconductor GmbH is a privately held Austrian deep-tech company founded in 1999 and headquartered at the Lakeside Science and Technology Park in Klagenfurt, with an engineering and NFC interoperability testing lab in Graz and a wholly owned US sales subsidiary (CISC Semiconductor Corp.) in Mountain View, California. The company designs, manufactures, and supports proprietary hardware and software for testing, encoding, and verifying wireless identification and IoT systems, serving the semiconductor, automotive, logistics, payment, retail, wireless IoT, and consumer IoT industries. Its two flagship platforms are RAIN Xplorer Inline (RFID/RAIN, 800 MHz to 1 GHz, up to 100k UPH with AES 128 crypto and SAM/TAM integration) and NFC Xplorer Inline (13.56 MHz, more than 100k UPH supporting ISO/IEC 14443A/B, ISO/IEC 15693, and NFC Forum tag classes 1-6 with NTAG424 and ICODE DNA authentication). The portfolio also includes a Data Analytics Platform, Edge Gateway, E2E Security Connector, IoT Device Management Platform, NFC Wireless Power Charging (WLC) Development Platform, a Generic Timer Module IP Softcore for semiconductors, and a retail-focused sub-brand called Coyero.

The underlying technology combines inline RF test hardware with API, GPIO, serial, and WebSocket interfaces, optional MIFARE SAM AV3 secure access modules, and field-updateable firmware, enabling integration into production lines running up to 200 m/min. CISC operates an NFC interoperability testing service in Graz using COMPRION TraceCase sniffer technology for protocol decoding and H-field analysis, and contributes to standards bodies including NFC Forum, RAIN Alliance, ETSI, IEC, ISO, AIM Germany/North America, emi3, and ARTEMIS Industry Association. In Europe the firm is an EN ISO9001-certified and audit berufundfamilie 'family-friendly' employer.

CISC makes money through four streams: (1) hardware sales of RAIN and NFC Xplorer Inline systems and antennas, (2) software licenses sold as perpetual with the first 12 months of maintenance included and optional annual maintenance priced at 20% of license price, (3) custom engineering services spanning concept, design and verification, implementation, application, and testing/industrialization (including RISC-V modeling, simulation, and verification), and (4) standards and consulting engagements. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise sales from Austria and the US, supplemented by the Shenzhen Te-lead Technologies channel partnership covering China. CISC participates in EU-funded research consortia such as Energy ECS (EUR 33M, 30 partners, 2021-2024) and TRANSACT (ECSEL JU) and serves a mix of named industrial accounts including LicenSys, Axzon, and a quality-label provider, with active exhibit presence at Labelexpo Asia, Labelexpo, and RFID Journal Live.

Name

CISC Semiconductor

Legal name

CISC Semiconductor GmbH

Website

https://cisc.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CISC Semiconductor GmbH, a privately held Austrian firm founded in 1999, designs and manufactures proprietary RFID, RAIN RFID, and NFC test and encoding equipment and provides wireless identification engineering services to the semiconductor, automotive, logistics, payment, retail, and IoT industries globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RFID and NFC Test Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

UWB, NFC & Short-Range Connectivity ICs (HDAHAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sockets, IC Sockets & Test/Programming Interconnects (HDAHAOAF), Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

Keywords

• RFID test equipment
• NFC interoperability testing
• Wireless identification solutions
• IoT engineering services
• Semiconductor design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Klagenfurt

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Products: Sale of proprietary test equipment including RAIN Xplorer Inline, NFC Xplorer Inline, and related antenna systems and accessories. Hardware includes optional MIFARE SAM AV3 secure access modules and software licenses.
2. Software Licenses and Maintenance: Software licenses for GUI and API applications with optional annual maintenance at 20% of license price. First 12 months of maintenance included free with purchase. Updates provided approximately twice yearly.
3. Engineering Services: Custom engineering solutions covering concept, design and verification, implementation, application, testing and industrialization phases. Services include NFC interoperability testing, RISC-V modeling, simulation, and verification.
4. Consulting Services: Standardization consulting and active participation in industry standards bodies including AIM Germany/North America, emi3, ETSI, IEC, ISO, NFC Forum, RAIN Alliance, and ARTEMIS Industry Association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CISC Semiconductor designs, manufactures, and sells high-speed production test and encoding systems for RAIN RFID and NFC inlays and tags (RAIN Xplorer Inline, NFC Xplorer Inline), provides IoT platforms and connectivity modules, and delivers custom engineering services including NFC interoperability testing, RISC-V modeling/simulation, and standardization consulting for the semiconductor, automotive, payment, and wireless IoT industries.

Product overview

CISC Semiconductor offers a comprehensive portfolio of hardware products and engineering solutions focused on wireless communication technologies, RFID/NFC systems, and IoT. The core product line includes RAIN Xplorer Inline and NFC Xplorer Inline for high-speed production testing and encoding of RFID and NFC tags. These are complemented by IoT platforms including Data Analytics Platform, Edge Gateway, E2E Security Connector, and IoT Device Management Platform. Supporting products include NFC WLC Development Platform for wireless power charging design and Generic Timer Module IP Softcore for semiconductor applications. The portfolio spans wireless identification (RFID, RAIN, NFC, BLE), Internet of Energy (IoE), and Communication Modules. CISC also provides Custom Engineering Solutions and holds subsidiaries including Coyero for retail solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coyero: A solution for retailers focused on RFID and wireless IoT technologies.

Products and services

• RAIN Xplorer Inline High-speed performance testing and quality assurance system for RAIN RFID inlays and tags during production. Supports encoding, testing, and locking of data on RFID labels in a single streamlined process with up to 100k UPH testing capability, AES 128 crypto support, and SAM/TAM security modules.
• NFC Xplorer Inline High-speed quality assurance testing and encoding system for NFC inlays and tags during production. Operates at 13.56 MHz supporting ISO/IEC 14443A/B and ISO/IEC 15693 standards with variable H-field strength, NFC Tag classes 1-6, and NTAG424/ICODE DNA authentication with SAM AV3.
• Wireless Identification Solutions Product line covering RFID, RAIN, NFC, and BLE wireless identification technologies and solutions for industrial and consumer applications.
• Internet of Energy (IoE) Industrial IoE solutions for smart energy management and connectivity in industrial environments, including smart energy solutions for mobility and grid management.
• Communication Modules Communication module products for wireless IoT connectivity applications.
• Coyero Retail solutions brand under the CISC ecosystem providing RFID and wireless IoT technology for retailers.
• Custom Engineering Solutions Engineering services covering concept, design and verification, implementation, application, testing, and industrialization phases. Includes NFC interoperability testing, RISC-V modeling, simulation, and verification services.
• NFC Interoperability Testing Lab Leading provider of NFC interoperability testing for NFC-enabled devices using COMPRION TraceCase sniffer technology with integrated H-field measurement, protocol decoding, and detailed debugging capabilities, located at the Graz engineering office.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100k UPH testing capability for RAIN RFID production
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shenzhen Te-lead Technologies Co., LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Distribution partner representing CISC Semiconductor technology in China. Awarded IoT Star Award 2025 on behalf of CISC for NFC Xplorer Inline product in China market.
• Energy ECS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021ECSEL Joint Undertaking funded project (€33M budget) with 30 partners from 8 European countries developing smart energy solutions for future mobility. CISC contributes expertise in hardware and software for secure wireless CPS. Partners include TietoEVRY (coordinator), ams AG, Fraunhofer IMS, Fraunhofer IZM, and others. Project runs 2021-2024 focusing on battery-charging electronics, grid management, energy harvesting, AI, IoT, and ultra-low-power technologies.
• TRANSACT ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021ECSEL JU funded research project developing universal distributed solution architecture for safety-critical CPS transformation. 30 partners from 9 European countries. CISC provides services, verification, and integration of trusted CPS in Smart Cities and Smart Factories. Focus on edge/cloud technologies ensuring performance, safety, security, and privacy of data.
• TietoEVRYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Project coordinator for Energy ECS project. Head of Operations Ari Järvelä leads the overall project coordination for the €33M initiative.
• ECSEL Joint UndertakingcoreOthers · 1 January 2021EU public-private partnership funding Electronic Components and Systems research. Co-finances Energy ECS and TRANSACT projects alongside national funding agencies and consortium partners. ECSEL JU established by EU Council Regulation No 561/2014.
• COMPRIONcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOMPRION TraceCase sniffer technology integrated into CISC's NFC interoperability testing lab. Provides detailed protocol decoding, integrated H-field measurement, and real-time analysis of NFC communication between mobile devices, secure elements, and contactless services.
• CoyerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated company/product mentioned under CISC's business areas for retail solutions, operating at cisc.at domain.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Impinj: Impinj is a leading UHF RFID reader and chip (endpoint IC) manufacturer serving retail, logistics, and asset tracking markets. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor — Impinj's RAIN RFID chips are tested in production using equipment like CISC's RAIN Xplorer Inline, making the two companies complementary in the value chain.
• EM Microelectronic: EM Microelectronic is a Swiss NFC and RFID IC manufacturer (part of the Swatch Group). As a chip vendor whose products (e.g., EM4423, NFC tags) need to be tested in production, EM Microelectronic represents both a complementary ecosystem player and a potential customer for CISC's NFC Xplorer Inline.
• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a major semiconductor manufacturer producing NFC controllers, secure elements, and RFID ICs used in payment, access, and IoT applications. As a supplier of NFC chips that CISC's test equipment validates, ST is an ecosystem participant and potential design-in reference customer.
• Avery Dennison Smartrac: Avery Dennison's Smartrac division is one of the world's largest RFID inlay and tag manufacturers. It is both a customer segment for CISC's inline test equipment (volume tag producers need high-speed QA) and a complementary participant in the RFID value chain.

Broad incumbents

• National Instruments (NI, now part of Emerson): NI provides modular instrumentation and test platforms used in RF, wireless, and semiconductor test applications. While not a specialist in RFID/NFC inline testing, it offers general-purpose PXI-based systems that compete for the same test engineering budgets at semiconductor and electronics manufacturers.
• Rohde & Schwarz: Rohde & Schwarz is a German manufacturer of electronic test and measurement, broadcasting, and secure communications equipment. It competes broadly in wireless device certification and NFC/RFID testing with much larger scale and a global direct sales footprint compared to CISC.
• Keysight Technologies: Keysight Technologies is a global leader in electronic test and measurement instrumentation, offering signal analyzers, oscilloscopes, and wireless test platforms. It serves the same end customers (RFID/NFC tag manufacturers, semiconductor designers) as a broad incumbent across the entire wireless test and measurement stack.

Direct peers

• Voyantic: Voyantic is a Finland-based provider of RFID testing and tag performance measurement systems. It directly competes with CISC's RAIN Xplorer Inline in UHF RFID tag production testing, serving inlay manufacturers and converters with bench and inline test solutions.
• COMPRION: COMPRION is a Germany-based provider of NFC and contactless test equipment, including the TraceCase sniffer that CISC integrates. Although CISC is a partner, COMPRION also sells directly into the same NFC interoperability testing market, serving mobile device makers, payment terminal vendors, and secure element providers.

Emerging players

• DEKRA (formerly AT4 Wireless): DEKRA, via its acquisition of AT4 Wireless, operates wireless device testing and certification laboratories serving mobile, IoT, and connected device manufacturers. It competes with CISC's NFC interoperability testing services in the third-party certification space while also offering broader regulatory and conformance testing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciscsemiconductor
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciscsemiconductor
• Xx.com/_cisc_

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CISC Semiconductor