Objective These last fifty years have seen Von Neumann computing architectures boom. Nevertheless, even the most powerful digital computers cannot rapidly solve apparently simple problems such as image interpretation. However, because its structure ismassively parallel and analog, the human brain is able to perform such tasks in a fraction of second. Neuromorphic circuits allow to go beyond conventional digital architectures. An on-chip implementation of these circuits requires to be able to fabricate nanometer sized, analog, reconfigurable, fast components. While the spiking neurons can easily be fabricated with classical CMOS technology, the synapse plasticity is challenging to achieve. In 1971 L. Chua has introduced a new circuit element, called memristor , a non-linear resistance which by definition includes a memory effect. Only last year, a team in Hewlett-Packard has for the first time proposed a device for synaptic applications showing memristive properties based on electromigration of oxygen vacancies in Titanium Oxide. The project NanoBrain aims first at developing alternative memristors based on different physical principles (spintronics and ferroelectricity), avoiding in particular the potential over-heating and fragility of the electromigration-based devices. The final goal of the project is to prove the efficiency of these new nano-synapses by integrating them into functional neural networks. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsspintronicsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE3 - ERC Starting Grant - Condensed matter physics Call for proposal ERC-2010-StG_20091028 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS EU contribution € 1 495 803,00 Address Rue michel ange 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Julie Grollier (Dr.) Administrative Contact Véronique Debisschop (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France EU contribution € 1 495 803,00 Address Rue michel ange 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Julie Grollier (Dr.) Administrative Contact Véronique Debisschop (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data