Corintis: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Corintis is an innovative Swiss startup revolutionizing the semiconductor cooling industry with cutting-edge microfluidic cooling technology. Founded in 2022 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland, Corintis addresses one of the most critical challenges facing modern computing: efficiently managing the extreme heat generated by high-performance chips. As artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing demand unprecedented computational power, traditional air and liquid cooling methods fall short. Corintis offers a breakthrough solution by channeling liquid coolant directly inside the silicon chip to maximize heat extraction, enabling chips to run cooler, faster, and more sustainably. This article explores ten fascinating facets of Corintis—from its technology and funding milestones to its collaborations and future impact on the computing landscape.

1. Pioneering Microfluidic Cooling Technology

Corintis' core innovation is its microfluidic cooling technology, which embeds thousands of microscopically small liquid channels directly inside the silicon chips. Unlike conventional cooling methods that cool only the chip surface, Corintis' approach cools hotspots precisely where heat is generated. This targeted method extracts up to 10 times more heat and does so with 50 times higher energy efficiency. Such transformative cooling technology helps overcome thermal bottlenecks that limit the performance and reliability of next-generation GPUs, CPUs, and AI accelerators.

2. Origins and Founding Team

Corintis was founded in 2022 by Remco van Erp, Sam Harrison, and Professor Elison Matioli. Spun off from the prestigious École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and POWERlab, the company draws on decades of academic and industrial research in semiconductor cooling and microfluidics. The founding team combines expertise in engineering, semiconductor design, and manufacturing, enabling Corintis to bridge the gap between chip designers and thermal management solutions effectively.

3. Breakthrough Collaborations and Recognition

The company gained significant attention through a collaboration with Microsoft, which tested Corintis' cooling system on real chips running workloads in data centers. Independent tests showed the technology reduces chip temperatures by up to three times compared to typical cold-plate coolers. Corintis was also crowned the number one Swiss startup of 2025, reflecting its rapid ascendancy and recognition as a leading innovator in high-performance computing infrastructure.

4. Market Demand Driven by AI and Cloud Computing

The rise of AI workloads and cloud services has dramatically increased the power consumption and heat output of data center chips. Traditional cooling methods, mainly air cooling, become inefficient under high heat fluxes, causing slowdowns and energy waste. Corintis addresses these challenges by providing a sustainable cooling solution that reduces power and water consumption while enabling chips to maintain peak performance levels. This technology is crucial for data centers supporting AI innovation and large-scale scientific computations.

5. Manufacturing Scale-Up and Production Capacity

Corintis currently manufactures microfluidic cold plates—metal blocks with built-in liquid channels that transfer heat away from chips—at its European facilities. Initially producing around 100,000 units annually, the company plans to scale capacity to about 1 million cold plates per year within a short timeframe. This ramp-up addresses fast-growing demand from tech industry leaders and enables Corintis to serve hyperscale data centers globally.

6. Strategic Leadership and Investments

In September 2025, Corintis raised $24 million in a Series A funding led by BlueYard Capital. The funding round included prominent investors such as Founderful and XTX Ventures. Notably, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan joined Corintis' board, bringing deep semiconductor industry experience and strategic insight. Former CEO of CoolIT, a liquid-cooling pioneer, Geoff Lyon, also joined the board, strengthening Corintis' leadership team dedicated to revolutionizing semiconductor cooling.

7. Software-Driven Custom Cooling Designs

Corintis complements its hardware innovation with advanced software platforms like Glacierware and Therminator. These platforms automate the design process, optimizing the shape and topology of microfluidic channels tailored for each chip's heat profile. This seamless integration accelerates the production of highly efficient cooling solutions by taking into account chip-specific thermal hotspots and performance demands, thus enhancing thermal management efficiency while reducing development time.

8. Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Data centers worldwide consume vast amounts of electricity and water in cooling processes, contributing significantly to global energy consumption. Corintis' microfluidic cooling technology reduces this environmental footprint by extracting heat more effectively with less energy and water use. This breakthrough aligns with growing industry efforts to develop sustainable computing infrastructure that meets both high-performance demands and environmental responsibility.

9. Industry Applications and Customer Base

Corintis' cooling solutions cater primarily to high-performance computing sectors, including AI hardware, cloud providers, and scientific research centers. Companies like Microsoft have already piloted their technology, and Corintis is actively expanding its customer base across the United States and Europe. The technology is designed to be compatible as a drop-in upgrade for existing cooling systems or to be integrated into chips during manufacturing, offering flexibility to meet various market needs.

10. Future Prospects and Industry Impact

With rapidly escalating demand for advanced computing power, Corintis is well-positioned for significant growth. By 2026, the company aims to further expand its manufacturing capabilities and open offices in major U.S. tech hubs. Their vision to enable a 10-fold improvement in chip cooling capacity is expected to unlock the next 100-fold leap in compute performance, fueling breakthroughs in AI, climate modeling, drug discovery, and more. Corintis could redefine thermal management standards, making it foundational technology for sustainable computing's future.

Conclusion

Corintis stands at the forefront of a thermal revolution in semiconductor technology, providing revolutionary microfluidic cooling solutions that dramatically enhance chip performance and sustainability. Founded by visionary engineers from EPFL, backed by major industry players and investors, Corintis is addressing a critical bottleneck threatening the future of AI and cloud computing. As computing power continues its meteoric rise, Corintis’ innovative approach promises to cool the hottest chips efficiently, reduce data center energy use, and enable technologies that shape the future. How this breakthrough will transform global computing infrastructures and the pace of technological progress remains an exciting story to watch.