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Crosspoint In-memoRy CompUting Systems

Project description

Satisfying big data centres hunger for more power

More data, more power. The power consumed by data centres is likely to triple in the next decade. Poor energy efficiency is due to the physical separation between the central processing unit (CPU), where data are computed, and the memory, where data are stored. There is a way to solve this. A new paradigm has been already developed to execute machine learning (ML) tasks in just one step within memory. In this context, the ERC-funded CIRCUS project will build on this technology to improve its scalability and technical feasibility by simulations and realisation of a small-scale prototype. The project will also conduct a market search and draft an investor-ready business plan.

Objective

Every second, our smart phones deliver a wealth of information that can be used to monitor the traffic, the financial transactions, and even the spread of a dangerous disease. The processing of these big data into a meaningful information requires specific machine learning (ML) algorithms, which essentially consist of regression techniques for inference, classification and prediction. The conventional digital computers are not designed to optimally solve these problems with efficient time and energy consumption, which is one of the reasons why the power consumption by data centers worldwide is expected to triple in the next decade. Such a poor energy efficiency is essentially due to the physical separation between the central processing unit (CPU), where data are computed, and the memory, where data are stored, according to classical von Neumann computer architecture. In the frame of our ERC-CoG RESCUE, my group has developed a new paradigm to efficiently execute ML tasks in just one step within the memory. Instead of moving data from the memory to the digital CPU, an analogue computation is directly operated within the data, thus breaking all previous limits of time and energy consumption (10.000x reduction in the number of operations, hence time, and 1.000x in energy). Our in-memory technology is modular and universal, thus can be implemented in any existing memory and computing technology to accelerate ML tasks in future smartphones and data centers. In the ERC-PoC CIRCUS, we aim at bringing this technology to a higher maturity level, demonstrating its scalability and technical feasibility by simulations and realization of a small-scale prototype. In the meantime, we will also perform a comprehensive market search to recognize opportunities and draft an investor-ready business plan for raising future investments to further advance the solution toward industrial exploitation.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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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.

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.

ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2018-PoC

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Host institution

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 149 463,75
Address
PIAZZA LEONARDO DA VINCI 32
20133 Milano
Italy

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Region
Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 149 463,75

Beneficiaries (1)

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