Building artificial neuronal networks (ANN) that mimic their biological prototypes is one of the remaining grand challenges in computing. Despite transistor scaling and improved architectures, modern supercomputers require kWs of power to replicate functionality for which living neural networks take only a few Ws. Currently there is no hardware that can provide a high synaptic density with reasonable energy consumption. Hybrid CMOS chips with stacked crossbars of analog non-volatile memory devices (NVM), like memristors, promise to deliver the required high density and connectivity. However, the crossbar architecture suffers from the sneak path problem, neighbouring devices creating electrical shorts around the selected device. Biological systems do not have this problem due to the inherent nonlinearity of their potentiation and spiking. A high nonlinearity can be reproduced in a crossbar by using a selector for each memory device. The selector commonly used is a transistor which limits the scalability and stackability. This project proposes an alternative selector based on a two-terminal MEMS switch. MEMS switches are heavily researched for RF applications, but their high nonlinearity makes them attractive as selectors for NVM. This project will design, simulate and fabricate a crossbar of integrated MEMS selectors and TiO2 memristor devices. Initially, the selectors and memristors will be optimized separately, then monolithically integrated. Their scalability and stackability will be investigated. Finally, a prototype 3x3 crossbar of integrated memristor/MEMS selectors will be fabricated and used to demonstrate vector matrix multiplication - a foundational element of many complex ANNs like a perceptron. The proposed work is not linked to a particular NVM (ReRAM is an example), being suitable for any dense crossbar system that requires selectors. The findings are relevant to the fields of hardware ANNs and non-volatile memories and to major industry players.

This Coordination Action aims to prepare a EuroNanoForum 2019 (ENF2019) conference focused on "Nanotechnology and advanced materials progress under Horizon2020 and beyond", where an overview on cutting edge research in nanotechnology and advanced materials areas will be provided, featuring the opportunity to present the successful industrial implementations. The general objective of the ENF2019 is to attract a critical mass of researchers with relevant results and to facilitate their discussions with various stakeholders acting in nanotechnologies and advanced materials areas in NMBP. Also, EU and national policy makers will be invited and engaged in debates on future challenges and research priorities, especially in the perspectives of post-Horizon2020 scenarios. For that reason, the motto of the ENF2019 will be “Almost there - what’s next?. ENF2019 would be a forum of research and innovation developed under Horizon 2020 open to all entities producing excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to review the achievements during Horizon2020 in world-class science production, innovation and as well as successful links to the public and private sectors working together in delivering innovation in all Horizon2020 priority areas. The event is planned to start with 2-day conference where distinguished speakers will be invited to initiate timely discussions and exchange ideas on scientific issues encountered in nanotechnology and advanced materials progress, as well as key policy, industrial and societal issues. A third day will be dedicated to networking between scientists, industrialists and policy makers to initiate future cooperation in research and innovation, to discuss strategic research priorities and to build partnerships for future funding calls, during the workshops and brokerage events. Industrial and research exhibition and posters are planned to complement the event package.

The main goal of ProBIOnCell is to broaden my expertise by performing state-of-the-art scientific research in the fields of applied physics and cell biology by implementing functionalized AFM tips with natural and/or synthetic ionophores incorporated into biomimetic membranes, for electrochemically testing their ability to detect target ions in cellular cultures, so that to probe and localize cell membrane ion channels, gap-junction and focal adhesion on mouse primary cardiac fibroblast cells. Advancing the characterization of biological cells allows for a deeper understanding and modeling the physiological behavior of biological tissues, with huge potentials in biomedicine for improving the management of cardiovascular diseases and their treatment. From a personal perspective, this project contributes to my first international mobility, which is fundamental for unlocking new career perspectives towards a permanent research position and will be implemented at the National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP) of Bucharest. In order to achieve the main goal of ProBIOnCell some specific objectives are foreseen: O1. Membrane synthesis and ionophores incorporation. Bilipid membranes, hydrogels and liposomes will be synthesized and the incorporation of ionophores investigated. O2. Functionalization of electrodes and AFM tips. This objective involves the deposition or bottom-up construction of the membrane with embedded ionophores at the surface of electrodes and AFM tips. O3. Development of suitable control healthy and pathological fibroblast cell cultures, test the membrane capacity for the detection of target ions by electrochemical methods in the absence and in the presence of inhibitory compounds, and localize ion channels, gap junctions, and focal adhesions by AFM.