UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing
The UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing is pioneering brain-inspired, energy-efficient computing technologies to address the sustainability challenges facing today’s digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence systems.
Led by the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AiPT) at Aston University, and supported by EPSRC, the centre brings together world-leading researchers from across disciplines - including neuroscience, non-conventional computing algorithms, photonics, opto- and nano-electronics, materials science, and device engineering - to transform the way computing systems are designed and used.
The Centre team includes researchers from Aston University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Southampton, Queen Mary University of London, Loughborough University, University of Strathclyde. The Centre focus on impact is supported by a broad network of industry partners, including Microsoft Research, Thales, BT, QinetiQ, Nokia Bell Labs, Hewlett Packard Labs, Leonardo, Northrop Grumman, and a number of SMEs.
The Centre will act as hub for innovation and collaboration in neuromorphic computing, uniting academic institutions, industry leaders, policymakers, and networks to establish the UK as a global leader in this emerging field.
Our ambition
The Centre will deliver:
- A fully integrated, holistic research framework combining human neuronal data, new computational algorithms, photonics, opto- and nano-electronics, materials science, and novel hardware development.
- The UK’s national ecosystem for neuromorphic computing, supporting knowledge transfer, impact, and innovation.
- An interdisciplinary research community that will extend beyond the initial funding period, continuing to shape the future of neuromorphic computing globally.
Our mission is to reimagine how information is processed, using brain-inspired systems that are inherently more efficient, scalable, and adaptable than traditional computing architectures.
Reimagining AI with Neuromorphic Computing
The global energy footprint of information and communication technologies is escalating at an unsustainable pace, driven partly by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. Today’s AI systems are built on traditional computing hardware with increasingly high power consumption (kW), posing a barrier to scalability and sustainability. In contrast, the human brain performs complex computation and communication tasks using just 20 Watts.
Neuromorphic computing seeks to replicate this astonishing efficiency by mimicking the brain’s structural and functional principles. Yet a significant challenge remains: we still lack a deep, system-level understanding of how the human brain computes at cellular and network scales. A new, EPSRC-funded UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing aims to tackle that challenge directly, blending stem-cell-derived human neuron experiments with advanced computational models, low-power algorithms, and novel photonic hardware.
The Centre stands apart through its:
- Human-focused biology: leveraging hiPSC-derived human neuronal data for greater biological accuracy in neuromorphic system design.
- Holistic co-design approach: integrating insights from neuroscience, materials science, photonics, and computational modelling into a unified research framework.
- National coordination: as the UK’s first interdisciplinary hub in this field, we’re creating a coherent national landscape for neuromorphic innovation, uniting academia, industry, and government.
- Long-term sustainability: the Centre is designed to grow beyond the initial UKRI funding period, establishing an enduring legacy of collaboration, training, and technology development.
Research themes
The Centre’s work is organised across several interdisciplinary focus areas, including:
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| Neuroscience and neurobiology | Computational models | Novel materials and photonics | Device engineering and systems integration | Policy and impact |
| Understanding human brain function at the cellular and network level | Developing algorithms and architectures inspired by biological systems | Designing energy-efficient, scalable hardware | Building real-world applications for robotics, telecommunications, and healthcare | Shaping national and international conversations around sustainable computing |
Get involved
The Centre will host regular events, workshops, and collaborative opportunities. If you’re interested in partnering with us or learning more about our work, please get in touch.