Objective
Building artificial neuronal networks (ANN) that mimic their biological prototypes is one of the remaining grand challenges in computing. Despite transistor scaling and improved architectures, modern supercomputers require kWs of power to replicate functionality for which living neural networks take only a few Ws. Currently there is no hardware that can provide a high synaptic density with reasonable energy consumption. Hybrid CMOS chips with stacked crossbars of analog non-volatile memory devices (NVM), like memristors, promise to deliver the required high density and connectivity. However, the crossbar architecture suffers from the sneak path problem, neighbouring devices creating electrical shorts around the selected device. Biological systems do not have this problem due to the inherent nonlinearity of their potentiation and spiking. A high nonlinearity can be reproduced in a crossbar by using a selector for each memory device. The selector commonly used is a transistor which limits the scalability and stackability.
This project proposes an alternative selector based on a two-terminal MEMS switch. MEMS switches are heavily researched for RF applications, but their high nonlinearity makes them attractive as selectors for NVM. This project will design, simulate and fabricate a crossbar of integrated MEMS selectors and TiO2 memristor devices. Initially, the selectors and memristors will be optimized separately, then monolithically integrated. Their scalability and stackability will be investigated. Finally, a prototype 3x3 crossbar of integrated memristor/MEMS selectors will be fabricated and used to demonstrate vector matrix multiplication - a foundational element of many complex ANNs like a perceptron. The proposed work is not linked to a particular NVM (ReRAM is an example), being suitable for any dense crossbar system that requires selectors. The findings are relevant to the fields of hardware ANNs and non-volatile memories and to major industry players.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radio frequency
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware supercomputers
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science multiphysics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2015
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
077190 VOLUNTARI
Romania
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.