Project description
Energy-efficient photonic neural networks using non-linear metasurfaces
Artificial neural networks, such as those powering ChatGPT, are transforming society but at a high energy cost – energy consumption doubles every two months. This unsustainable growth stems from the power-intensive hardware required for their complex interconnectivity. Photonics offers a promising alternative, enabling faster and more energy-efficient operations. However, a fundamental building block for implementing photonic neural networks with advanced learning capabilities is missing: a nonlinear activation layer that is non-polynomial and able to cascade its signal to subsequent layers. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CoMet project plans to develop a groundbreaking thermo-optically reconfigurable non-linear metasurface with the aim to further develop the potential for scalable and efficient photonic neural networks, which will help advance next-generation AI.
Objective
With the advent of large language models (e.g. ChatGPT), the use of artificial neural networks has become ubiquitous in our society. However, the energy consumption is currently doubling every two months, leading to an unsustainable growth. This is primarily caused by the extensive interconnectivity that characterizes neural networks’ hardware architecture, which are notably challenging and power-consuming to implement in electronics. Photonics offers a promising solution, enabling faster operations with significantly reduced energy consumption. Fully-connected layers are already available in several photonic platforms, including complex media, one of the applicant’s main areas of expertise. However, optics still lacks a fundamental building block for implementing neural networks with advanced learning capabilities: a nonlinear activation layer that is non-polynomial and able to cascade its signal to subsequent layers.
This MSCA PF will focus on developing a thermo-optically reconfigurable nonlinear metasurface, designed to implement such nonlinear activation layer. With this innovative device, the COMET project will demonstrate that the combination of COmplex media and METasurfaces can provide a scalable, computationally powerful and efficient photonic neural network.
The project will be conducted at Politecnico di Milano with Prof. Michele Celebrano, expert in nonlinear optics and metasurfaces. It will also include a secondment at Sorbonne Université, in Prof. Sylvain Gigan’s group, which specializes in complex media and their applications in photonic computing. The combined expertise of the applicant and the two host institutions will ensure that CoMet makes its unique contribution to the development of more efficient next-generation AI.
The scientific excellence of CoMet, along with the experience gained during the PF, will greatly improve my chances of obtaining an ERC Starting Grant, or secure a tenure-track position to establish my own research group.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics optoelectronics
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics microelectronics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning deep learning
- natural sciences physical sciences optics nonlinear optics
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
20133 Milano
Italy
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.