A new UK initiative aimed at advancing brain-inspired computing technologies could help deliver smarter artificial intelligence systems and more energy-efficient digital technologies.
Aston University and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, through its Hartree Centre, have announced a partnership to accelerate the development and industrial adoption of neuromorphic computing across the UK.
The collaboration will establish the Aston-Hartree Neuromorphic Centre of Competence, bringing together expertise from academia, industry and the public sector to support the next generation of AI and advanced computing systems.
Neuromorphic computing, sometimes referred to as unconventional computing, is inspired by the way the human brain processes information. Unlike traditional digital systems, the technology is designed to operate in more flexible and energy-efficient ways, potentially enabling faster real-time decision making and reduced energy consumption.
The new centre will act as a hub for joint research, knowledge sharing and international collaboration. Aston University will coordinate activities across the partnership, while the Hartree Centre, based at Daresbury Laboratory within Sci-Tech Daresbury, will contribute expertise in advanced computing and industrial technology adoption.
The Hartree Centre will work closely with Aston University’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, which leads the UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and Computing, known as NeuroSYNC.
The partnership combines expertise in neuromorphic computing, photonics, neuroscience, sensing and data science, with the aim of bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical applications.
Under the agreement, the Hartree Centre will support the development of NeuroSYNC’s neuromorphic computing roadmap. This includes designing proof-of-concept applications in energy-efficient AI and helping create scalable commercial solutions for industry, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises across the West Midlands and the wider UK.
The collaboration will also contribute to future neuromorphic system procurement through benchmarking, evaluation, infrastructure development and integration with existing computing systems.
Initial work will focus on joint research projects, funding initiatives and engagement with sectors including healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing and defence. The partners will also explore combining neuromorphic technologies with high-performance computing to create hybrid systems capable of solving complex real-world problems.
Alongside research and innovation, the partnership aims to strengthen skills development through student placements, secondments and interdisciplinary training programmes intended to support the next generation of researchers and engineers.
Professor Vassil Alexandrov, chief science officer at the Hartree Centre, said the collaboration combined strengths in advanced computing and emerging technologies to accelerate the adoption of neuromorphic systems for UK science and industry.
Professor Mike Caine, interim vice-chancellor of Aston University, said the partnership reflected the university’s wider commitment to digital innovation and complemented the work of the Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute.
Professor Sergei Turitsyn, director of the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies and NeuroSYNC, said the initiative aimed to position the UK and the West Midlands at the forefront of next-generation computing technologies while creating new opportunities for regional innovation and economic growth.
Source: https://www.ukri.org/news/new-uk-centre-to-fast-track-brain-inspired-computing-for-ai/
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