The AESEMI working group on Neuromorphic Technologies and AI brings together the research and development activities of the most relevant research centres and universities in the areas related to neuromorphic technologies and AI, promoting the creation of competitive advantages and business opportunities for the Spanish industry.
Neuromorphic technologies seek to replicate through microelectronic and/or photonic designs the brain’s mechanisms for processing information, achieving unprecedented levels of performance and energy efficiency. Neuromorphic technologies are expected to overcome the current limitations of AI chips, enabling the development of third-generation AI – even more capable than its predecessors.
The past few years have seen an explosion in the number of deep-tech startups commercializing neuromorphic chips. According to Yole’s 2024 neuromorphic computing, memory and sensing report, neuromorphic chips are expected to capture up to 57% market penetration across major applications by 2034, while Gartner anticipates a transition from early-adopter to early-majority adoption within the next three to six years. In this context of technological disruption, the fundamental objective of the working group is to position Spain as a pole of reference for the coming third generation of neuromorphic AI.
A main objective of the group is to help capitalize on the innovation opportunities offered by neuromorphic technologies, transforming them into business opportunities through the creation of new deep-tech companies. Another core objective of the group is to facilitate the adoption of neuromorphic technologies by industry by proposing and demonstrating techniques for integrating neuromorphic designs into conventional processing architectures and sensors. In addition, the group wants to help consolidate a design and manufacturing chain for neuromorphic technologies in Spain using materials with new electrical properties and functionalities especially suited to this type of technology.
Therefore, the group’s activities are expected to help achieve the strategic objectives pursued by the PERTE Chip microelectronics and semiconductor initiative, driving innovation at the forefront of the industry, catalyzing the growth of the national fabless sector, and promoting the manufacture of chips based on new materials in Spain.
The AESEMI working group on Neuromorphic Technologies and AI includes leading Spanish universities, fundamental and applied research centers, foundries, deep-tech start-ups and industrial companies, thus consolidating a collaborative platform that fosters synergies between entities of different nature and with presence in different critical sectors: space, transportation, medical, XR, robotics and Industry 4.0. The current members of the group are distributed in nine Autonomous Communities: Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid and Valencian Community. The group is open to receiving new members. Contact coordinator: Xabier Iturbe (xiturbe@ikerlan.es).
The group recently published an overview paper and a leaflet showcasing the most promising ongoing research activities in Spain and emphasizing the opportunities to leverage advancements in neuromorphic technology by Spanish industry.
