Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the way we interact with computers. This brings with it new challenges and opportunities for the entire industry. In »STANCE«, our researchers from the division »High Performance Computing« together with our colleagues from Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, are establish a long term industrial and academic alliance to push for the adoption of spiking and neuromorphic technologies by the broader industry.
Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) and neuromorphic systems are systems that aim to increase the energy efficiency and performance of computers by mimicking the complex processes of the human brain. These systems require less energy, and their latency is reduced by minimizing the flow of information through event-based processing and the co-location of computing elements and memory. Thus, providing a new platform for innovation. We believe that through this alliance, we will overcome the main bottlenecks hindering adoption, for example, technology fragmentation, incompatibility, and overall trust in this novel technology.
Collaboration and Innovation – Integration of Neuromorphic Technologies
The goal: Establish a long term industrial and academic alliance to push for the adoption of spiking and neuromorphic technologies.
Under the name »STANCE«, the aim is to create an alliance that brings together neuromorphic hardware and software development companies, start-ups, industry partners and research institutes. By simultaneously identifying bottlenecks and problems at all levels, i.e. hardware, software and application requirements, we as an alliance will find concrete solutions for business problems. In this way, we create more confidence in the maturity of this technology and in the continuity in their implementation for current and future users.
We see »STANCE« as a business catalyst, which facilitates the adoption of neuromorphic technology via a variety of activities, for example,
- by supporting joint research and development opportunities
- by maintaining a broad neuromorphic platform and knowledgebase for finding technology solutions
- importantly by bring together users and solutions providers
STANCE Knowledge Hub: Central Knowledge Pool for Neuromorphic Computing
Researching and developing neuromorphic computing systems and their applications is a multifaceted and complex challenge that encompasses numerous disciplines from materials science to chip design and software development. In order to successfully integrate novel neuromorphic technologies into industrial practice, knowledge from these different disciplines must be brought together, coordinated and their visibility increased. The STANCE Knowledge Hub has therefore set itself the goal of pooling this knowledge and promoting the integration of these technologies into the applications of the future.
Multidisciplinary Approach Overcomes Integration Barriers
To facilitate this process, the right expertise in the form of technical skills, publications and products is pooled in a multidisciplinary knowledge hub. In this way, the integration barrier of experts from product development, applied research and basic research can be lowered and new technologies become more accessible.
In its knowledge hub, STANCE has set itself the task of collecting and organizing this information on the specialist knowledge of existing and emerging technologies. STANCE is therefore an ideal point of contact both for industrial companies that want to incorporate neuromorphic computing into their products and for research partners.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as a Source of Knowledge
The STANCE Knowledge Hub draws on the extensive knowledge base and diverse expertise within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. With thirteen Fraunhofer Institutes focusing on different aspects of neuromorphic technologies and their applications, a profound knowledge base is provided.
More information about STANCE on our website. There is also a new white paper available for download: www.itwm.fraunhofer.de/stance