A 鈧�30M investment positions the Netherlands to lead next-generation brain-inspired computing
The Netherlands is taking a major step toward energy-efficient computing with a 鈧�9 million grant from the NWO Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC) Long-Term Program, awarded to the 10X-Factor(y): Towards a Dutch ecosystem for neuromorphic technologies project, which will manage a total budget of 30 million euros, coming mainly from companies and private funders. From 黑料福利网 Federico Corradi of the Neuromorphic Edge Computing Systems Lab is involved as applicant. Also Aida Todri-Sania of the NanoComputing Lab is a co-applicant.
10X-Factor(y) will establish a national ecosystem for neuromorphic technologies: an emerging field that designs novel types of computing systems, inspired by the data processing principles of the brain. By bringing together leading research institutions, companies and applied universities, the initiative seeks to accelerate the development of next-generation computing systems that are orders of magnitude more energy-efficient than current solutions and enable real-time processing.
CogniGron at the University of Groningen will lead the consortium in collaboration with partners including TNO, TU Eindhoven, University of Twente, TU Delft, Radboud University, and Astron, and a range of high-tech companies such as Infineon, Innatera, Snap Inc., Synopsis, Batenburg Beenen, Sencure, IMChip, Oxford Instruments, and OPT/NET. Together, they will work across the full innovation chain, from advanced materials, devices and chip design to system integration and applications.
The aim is to lower the threshold to adopt neuromorphic technologies for real-world solutions. To this end, the program is designed around 7 demonstrators representing 7 use cases ranging from automation & robots, health monitoring & diagnostics to field sensors. 10X-Factor(y) will have the critical mass for realizing these demonstrators and lay the basis for bringing such novel technologies to market. Working on the upcoming challenges within a 10-years project is a unique opportunity.
Role of 黑料福利网
黑料福利网 is one of the core academic partners and will lead three of the seven demonstrators
- Demonstrator 4 鈥� Sensor fusion and compute for AR/vision systems (lead: Federico Corradi, together with Sander Stuijk and Snap Inc.)
- Demonstrator 7 鈥� Domain-specific architecture design for on-chip learning (lead: Aida Todri-Sanial, with Synopsys)
- And we contribute substantially to Demonstrator 3 (Health monitoring and diagnostics) and across WP1 (Event-based sensing), WP2 (Autonomy), WP3 (Real-time processing) and WP4 (Learning & adaptation).
Future-proof computing inspired by the brain
Modern computing faces a critical sustainability challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving energy demand to levels that already limit the capacity of data centers and challenge the power grid. It also hinders the use of AI at places where power is limited, as health sensors or devices in remote locations. Instead, data is communicated into the cloud, resulting in severe privacy issues.
These issues cannot be tackled with incremental changes but requires different computing paradigms like neuromorphic computing, which takes inspiration from the extreme energy efficiency of brains for information processing. This approach consists of using one or more of the principles used by the brain: use of analogue signals, implementation of asynchronous (event-based) processing, communication and information encoding via spikes and bringing the processor closer to the memory.
An ecosystem for research, education and industry
The KIC targets programs that address societal challenges faced by the Netherlands. The results should contribute to realizing economic opportunities and, thus, private investment is crucial. KIC-LTP programs are expected to lead to long-term and sustainable innovations.
The Netherlands is uniquely positioned to lead the neuromorphic computing revolution: It is one of the few countries with expertise spanning the entire neuromorphic value chain, supported by existing initiatives such as , , and the newly formed and national research programs in AI, computing, photonics and semiconductors. The 10X-Factor(y) program builds on this foundation by integrating fragmented efforts into a coordinated, industry-driven ecosystem.
10X-Factor(y) will form an integrated community linking industry with research and education. In the span of ten years, it will develop prototypes, train new experts, and test real life applications. With shared infrastructure, co-design platforms, and responsible innovation frameworks, the program will establish the Netherlands as a global leader in sustainable, energy-efficient neuromorphic computing.
Groningen Cognitive Systems and Materials Center (CogniGron) is a leading multidisciplinary research center at the University of Groningen for research and development on neuromorphic computing. CogniGron was founded on a large gift from the Ubbo Emmius Foundation (UEF).