A multidisciplinary consortium joins the SiliconBurmuin initiative to position the Basque Country as a benchmark in neuromorphic technology
Coordinated by IKERLAN and funded under the Elkartek 2023 programme for collaborative fundamental research, SiliconBurmuin brings together a multidisciplinary consortium with expertise in neuroscience, mathematics, microelectronics and AI that, in addition to IKERLAN, includes: UPV/EHU (departments of Computer Architecture and Technology and Electronic Technology), Vicomtech, CAF R&D, the GAIA Cluster, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, BCBL (Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language), BCAM (Basque Center for Applied Mathematics) and IIS BioBizkaia.
Together they are working on the development of neuromorphic perception systems to optimise the efficiency and capabilities of current AI sensors and processors.
With an $8 billion global neuromorphic technology market expected by 2034, SiliconBurmuin offers a unique opportunity to position the Basque Country as a leader in technological innovation, ahead of the neuromorphic AI era.
Today, AI relies on sensors and processors whose operation and architecture has hardly changed in decades, adopting a brute-force approach: acquiring and processing large volumes of data. This approach involves high energy consumption and processing time, generating limited useful information. In contrast, neuromorphic sensors and processors mimic the efficiency of biological perception systems (mainly vision, and to a lesser extent hearing, touch, smell and taste), to acquire and process only relevant data, significantly reducing energy consumption and processing time compared to brute-force-based AI processors.
This paradigm shift introduced by neuromorphic technology has led to the emergence of numerous startups commercialising their own chips, reflecting the opportunity for innovation in the semiconductor industry for the first time in decades. These companies join technology giants such as Intel, Sony and IBM, which have also developed neuromorphic chips that are being tested in pre-commercial prototypes for sectors such as robotics, healthcare, consumer, space and automotive.
The SiliconBurmuin initiative
In this context, SiliconBurmuin aims to create a multidisciplinary community in the Basque Country combining science, technology and industry, similar to those that have given rise to the majority of neuromorphic start-ups in Europe. The initiative has the backing of the Basque Government, and is completed with the Basque Microelectronics Hub (BMH), creating an institutional link with the Spanish PERTE Chip and the EU Chips Act.
The main scientific-technological objective of SiliconBurmuin is to research and convert neuroscience knowledge into neuromorphic technology and intellectual property (IP) that can be adopted in the next generations of AI chips to cover the most demanding needs of the industry. Initially, the focus is on vision applications for autonomous train navigation and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, SiliconBurmuin aims to generate benefits for Basque industry and society:
Strengthening the strategic position of the Basque Country in the semiconductor sector through the creation of technology companies dedicated to commercially exploiting the neuromorphic IP generated in SiliconBurmuin.
Demonstrating the potential of neuromorphic chips and generating competitive advantages in key sectors of the Basque economy. Some of these chips are expected to integrate neuromorphic IP generated at SiliconBurmuin in the future, establishing a connection between Basque semiconductor companies and industrial adopters in the Basque Country.
The first phase of the project, which has a budget of €2M, ends in March 2025 and a second phase is planned that will focus on machine vision and medical applications. The initiative is aligned with other European initiatives such as NimbleAI (https://www.nimbleai.eu), also coordinated by IKERLAN, creating synergies and maximising impact.
As the organisations in the consortium underline, with a global neuromorphic technology market projected to reach $8 billion by 2034, SiliconBurmuin offers a unique opportunity to position the Basque Country as a leader in technological innovation, ahead of the neuromorphic AI era.
