Developing innovative information processing and computing architectures that work according to the principles of the brain – this is the topic of the international conference ‘Neuro-Inspired Computational Elements’ (NICE). The latest event in a series of conferences that began more than ten years ago is being held in Europe for the first time: It will be held from 25 to 28 March 2025 at the European Institute for Neuromorphic Computing at Heidelberg University. The programme includes lectures, various thematic sessions and poster presentations. The neuromorphic computer system BrainScaleS will also be presented. Around 180 participants are expected to attend the NICE conference.
Heidelberg, March 24, 2025. Conference: Novel computing architectures based on the principles of the brain
The latest event in the ‘Neuro-Inspired Computational Elements’ series will take place at Heidelberg University
Conventional computer systems are designed for exact calculations with their fixed programme architecture. However, incomplete or ‘noisy’ data sets are difficult to process. Modern methods of artificial intelligence now offer alternatives, but suffer from their enormous need for computing power and thus their high energy consumption, as well as the high data requirements for training. ‘Neuro-inspired or neuromorphic computing systems that combine neuroscience and microelectronics should help to overcome these limitations of traditional AI technology,’ explains Prof Dr Johannes Schemmel, who heads the Neuromorphic Computing Architectures research group at the Institute of Computer Engineering at Heidelberg University and played a key role in the development of BrainScaleS.
The NICE conference brings together researchers from various scientific disciplines and application areas to provide impetus for the development of next-generation information processing and computing architectures. New technical approaches that are at an early to medium stage of development are presented at the event. The interdisciplinary exchange is intended to identify ways to accelerate the development of these systems. The topics to be covered at this year’s event include neuroscience-inspired algorithms, artificial neural networks and biosignal processing.
The BrainScaleS neuromorphic computer system is based at the European Institute for Neuromorphic Computing at Heidelberg University. This novel system developed in Heidelberg makes it possible to partially simulate fundamental functions of the brain – its learning ability and energy efficiency – using the methods of modern microelectronics. The BrainScaleS technology platform is part of the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure, which was created as part of the Human Brain Project. The aim of this major European project was to translate scientific findings from brain research into brain-inspired innovations for computing, medicine and industry and to establish a new type of computer-based research infrastructure for the neurosciences.
Further information:
(https://niceworkshop.org) – NICE-Konferenz 2025
(http://www.kip.uni-heidelberg.de/einc/index.html) – European Institute for Neuromorphic Computing
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