Aston University and STFC Hartree Centre set up UK neuromorphic computing hub
Professor Sergei Turitsyn, Director of AIPT and Director of NeuroSYNC at Aston University
Aston University and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Hartree Centre have signed an agreement to create a neuromorphic computing center in the UK with a focus on moving brain-inspired computing from research into industrial use.
The Aston-Hartree Neuromorphic Centre of Competence will be based at Aston University and will bring together academia, industry, and public sector organizations. The partnership is expected to support work in energy-efficient AI, high-performance computing, and emerging digital infrastructure, while also engaging small and medium-sized enterprises in the West Midlands and across the UK.
Neuromorphic computing, also known as unconventional computing, is inspired by the way the human brain processes information. Instead of relying only on traditional digital computing methods, it uses non-digital and more energy-efficient approaches to process data. Supporters of the technology say it could support faster real-time decision-making, lower-energy AI systems, and new forms of computing for data-intensive industries.
New center targets industrial adoption
The partnership is designed to close the gap between early-stage research and commercial deployment. The Hartree Centre, part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and UK Research and Innovation, will act as a delivery partner for the neuromorphic computing roadmap being developed by NeuroSYNC.
NeuroSYNC, the UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and Computing, is led by Aston University’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies. The institute brings expertise in neuromorphic and unconventional computing, photonics, neuroscience, sensing, data science, and innovation.
Under the agreement, the partners will work on proof-of-concept applications in neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient AI. They will also focus on scalable systems that align with industry requirements, including support for SMEs in the West Midlands and wider UK.
The partnership will also examine future neuromorphic system procurement, including benchmarking, evaluation, infrastructure development, and integration with existing computing environments. That could prove important if neuromorphic technologies are to move beyond research projects and into the systems used by industry and public sector organizations.
Professor Vassil Alexandrov, Chief Science Officer at STFC Hartree Centre, says: “This collaboration brings together complementary strengths in advanced computing, emerging computing paradigms, and research and innovation. By working together, we can help accelerate the development of neuromorphic technologies and support their adoption in ways that deliver real impact for UK science and industry.”
Research focus spans healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and defense
The collaboration will begin with joint research and innovation projects, shared funding initiatives, and engagement with stakeholders across healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing, defense, and other sectors.
The partners will also explore how neuromorphic technologies can be combined with high-performance computing to create hybrid systems for complex computing tasks. The Hartree Centre’s role in digital technology translation gives the partnership a route into industry use cases, while Aston’s research base gives it technical depth in areas including photonics and sensing.
The new center will sit alongside Aston University’s Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute, which focuses on digital innovation across industries, services, and society.
Professor Mike Caine, Interim Vice-Chancellor at Aston University, says: "The new partnership builds on the University’s wider commitment to digital innovation and sits alongside the work of the University’s Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute, contributing to a shared agenda around next generation computing, artificial intelligence and societal impact.
“The partnership will draw on complementary expertise across the University while remaining a distinct collaboration focused on translational research and external engagement."
Skills development built into the roadmap
The partners plan to support the center through joint publications, international conferences, training programs, knowledge exchange, secondments, student placements, and interdisciplinary training.
That skills element gives the project an education and workforce angle beyond computing research. If neuromorphic systems become part of future AI infrastructure, universities will need researchers, engineers, and technical specialists who can work across computing, neuroscience, data science, and industrial deployment.
Professor Sergei Turitsyn, Director of AIPT and Director of NeuroSYNC at Aston University, says: “Technology is changing the world. This joint statement of endeavour reflects a shared ambition to position the UK, Aston University, and West Midland - the historical heart of the Industrial Revolution, at the forefront of next-generation computing. Through blending scientific excellence and focus on real-world impact, this partnership will unlock the new transformative opportunities for the region.”
The Aston-Hartree Neuromorphic Centre of Competence will now begin work on joint research projects, funding activity, and industry engagement. Its progress will be watched by sectors exploring lower-energy AI systems, particularly as demand grows for computing infrastructure that can handle complex data without the same energy profile as conventional systems.
