NeuroSys Future Cluster Presents High Impact Opportunities for the Region

Conventional computer hardware is increasingly reaching its limits – but novel solutions are at hand in the form of innovative hardware concepts such as neuromorphic systems. Modelled on the two basic building blocks of the brain – neurons and synapses – neuromorphic systems have the potential to provide the basis for the powerful and resource-efficient hardware of the future.

The “NeuroSys – Neuromorphic Hardware for Artificial Intelligence Applications” research cluster will conduct research on such novel systems. By transferring fundamental research of the two JARA partners RWTH and Forschungszentrum Jülich into neuromorphic components and algorithms, it seeks to develop a viable technological basis for applications in the field of artificial intelligence, in particular. NeuroSys, a so-called Future Cluster, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Participating in the Cluster4Future initiative, the project is part of the German government's high-tech strategy.

“Our vision is to develop the Aachen-Jülich hub as a world leader in the field of neuromorphic computing for research, development, and application. NeuroSys provides great opportunities for our region and the ongoing structural change in the Rhenish mining area. We will transfer excellent research to local companies and start-ups,” says the coordinator of the cluster, Professor Max Lemme, JARA-FIT member. Lemme is head of the Chair of Electronic Devices at RWTH and managing director of AMO GmbH.

“Our goal is to develop a complete ecosystem – from materials science to dedicated software applications demonstrating the power of the new technology. In addition to our development activities we will address the crucial ethical and socio-economic issues related to AI. Artificial intelligence must be guided by European values: security, privacy, and sovereignty must already be ensured by design.“

According to Lemme, we have the opportunity to achieve technological independence for Europe in this ethically and economically sensitive area. AI is a key technology of the future and will be a building block for the next stage of global development – not only in terms of economic growth, but also for tackling major societal challenges such as climate change, health, work, and mobility.

Involved in the Future Cluster are RWTH, Forschungszentrum Jülich, AMO GmbH, the Aachen Chamber of Commerce IHK, and the companies AixACCT Systems GmbH, AIXTRON SE, AppTek GmbH, ELMOS Semiconductor SE, RWTH Innovation GmbH, and STAR Healthcare. The start-up companies AiXscale Photonics UG, Black Semiconductor, GmbH, Clinomic GmbH, Gremse-IT GmbH are also contributing to NeuroSys.

A press release of RWTH Aachen University: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Die-RWTH/Aktuell/Pressemitteilungen/Februar-2022/~tegrk/Zukunftscluster-NeuroSys-ist-Chance-fu/?lidx=1