Objective After decades of perfecting the established way of computing, it is now evident that the fundamental logic of today’s computers will prevent them from ever reaching the efficiency of neural networks as found in nature. Neuromorphic hardware promises a leap forward by following the inherent working principles of biological neural networks. In very-large-scale integrated neuromorphic circuits incorporating an immense number of artificial neurons, the even much larger number of synapses poses the challenge of imitating especially the synaptic functionality in a most compact way. Over the last years, various memristive devices have been proposed to represent the weight of a synapse, determining how well electrical spikes are transmitted from one neuron to another. Existing attempts to achieve spike-timing-dependent plasticity, however, possess inherent problems.The NEURAMORPH project aims to develop a simple and compact circuit element to regulate the access to the memristive device for weight modifications. The dynamics of electrical excitability intrinsic to the employed amorphous semiconductors will naturally be able to mimic spike-timing-dependent plasticity. For full control over the properties of these synaptic access elements, a fundamental understanding of the relaxation processes in such amorphous materials is imperative. To this end, amorphization conditions will be systematically varied over a wide-range to create very distinct amorphous states. As a measure for relaxation the temporal evolution of their electrical properties will then be investigated. Based on experimental results for a variety of materials, molecular dynamics simulations will be employed to elucidate the relationship between elemental composition, structural dynamics and changing electrical excitability. Finally, as proof of concept, a prototype of a neuromorphic chip will be developed incorporating the new kind of synaptic device. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical modelnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Keywords neuromorphic hardware Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2014 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Net EU contribution € 1 297 052,70 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 297 052,70 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Germany Net EU contribution € 1 297 052,70 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 297 052,70 RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN Participation ended Germany Net EU contribution € 202 415,30 Address TEMPLERGRABEN 55 52062 Aachen See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 202 415,30