Debugging for faster time to market: Insights into LUBIS EDA from an independent European case study

[AmandaK]

This blog post is based on an independent case study published by the European IP Helpdesk, which takes a close look at how a formal verification startup like LUBIS EDA navigated the intersection of deep-tech innovation, formal verification, and intellectual property.

Some bugs are loud. Most are quiet.​

In modern microchips, many design errors only show up under very specific conditions, sometimes after huge amounts of work has already been invested. With billions of transistors and increasingly complex architectures, that is no longer an exception. It is the reality of advanced silicon development.

The challenge: bugs that hide where simulation cannot reach​

A core problem faced by many chip development teams today: certain logical errors remain invisible to conventional approaches because they only occur under highly specific corner conditions. When they surface late, the consequences are often severe in terms of cost, schedules, and credibility. LUBIS EDA was founded to address precisely these blind spots. LUBIS EDA is as a deep tech spin off focused on applying formal verification to uncover errors that traditional simulation struggles to reach, and on making these methods more systematic and scalable.

Where the idea came from: a long arc from curiosity to company​

The roots of LUBIS EDA as formal verification startup go back to early hands on coding work and research driven exploration of formal methods. During their PhD research at RPTU Kaiserslautern, Dr. Tobias Ludwig and Dr. Michael Schwarz developed a shared vision around the potential of formal verification beyond academic use. To turn this technical foundation into a viable company, Dr. Max Birtel later joined the founding team with a focus on business development and commercial structure.

The university’s technology transfer office supported the early phase through proposal preparation, commercialization workshops, and first discussions around intellectual property strategy, including patent related questions and freedom to operate assessments.

From early funding to market presence​

LUBIS EDA was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, with a clear focus on formal verification consulting for complex digital designs and EDA.

In 2023, LUBIS EDA was selected for funding under the European Innovation Council Accelerator with the OverSemi project, which focuses on further automating and optimizing formal verification workflows for semiconductor development.

The development of LUBIS EDA is closely tied to its regional and academic environment. Ongoing connections to RPTU Kaiserslautern and interactions within the surrounding research ecosystem, including institutions such as DFKI, CISPA, and Fraunhofer are an important backdrop for growth and collaboration.

Turning research into a company also means turning IP into contracts​

To unlock the second phase of EXIST funding, a licensing agreement with the university was required. The Negotiation and finalization took several months. Contributing factors included the novelty of the funding setup for the university, limited experience on both sides with this type of licensing agreement. For many deep tech founders, this part will feel very familiar. For many founders building a formal verification startup, these IP related hurdles are as real as the technical ones.

Timing, funding, and momentum​

After the OverSemi project was approved under the EIC Accelerator, the team faced challenges around selecting the optimal start of the 24 month project period. These practical constraints are presented as part of the reality of publicly funded innovation.

Why we are sharing this​

This story reflects the realities that many deep tech companies face but rarely document openly. It shows how technical ambition, formal verification expertise, funding mechanisms, and IP strategy intersect in practice.

For the complete and original perspective, including the full context and lessons learned, we encourage you to read the case study directly on the European IP Helpdesk website.

Link to Press Release