The University of Strathclyde is set to bring its neuromorphic photonics expertise to the UK’s first centre for brain-inspired computing innovation.
Strathclyde will be among a consortium of UK institutions collaborating on the country’s first Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) dedicated to neuromorphic – or brain-inspired – computing hardware.
Led by University College London (UCL), the centre, known as Neuroware, is being supported by £12.8 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and will launch next month.
Over the next five years, researchers at Neurowave will work to develop next-gen computing systems that mirror the way the human brain processes information, hopefully resulting in technologies that are faster and more energy-efficient, capable of transforming industry.
It is hoped the work will help underpin new advancements in edge AI, healthcare and security, including through ultra-low-power smart sensors and ultrafast photonic neural network systems.
Strathclyde’s contribution will focus on research into neuromorphic photonics – brain-inspired computing systems that use light rather than electricity to process information – one of three core technical strands of the centre.
Meanwhile, other key areas of focus for the centre will include silicon-based processors, next-generation materials, and unconventional platforms such as photonic neuromorphic systems, with Neurowave bringing together researchers from across the UK, including from universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, and the National Physical Laboratory.
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A dedicated industrial user group, including major firms such as Arm, Intel, Microsoft and Samsung, will guide commercial engagement and adoption.
“Neuromorphic computing is emerging as a key technology for efficient and versatile computation,” said Professor Antonio Hurtado, UKRI Turing AI Fellow in Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics.
“Photonics, thanks to its use of light signals, offers faster and lower-power operation. Combining together neuromorphic and photonic technologies opens exciting paths toward novel light-powered, brain-like computing.
“We’re thrilled to work with world-leading partners to advance this research and its impact in the UK.”
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