From Nanoscale Synapses to Neuromorphic Intelligence
Bridging Spintronics, Neuroscience, and AI

Project by

Christoforos Moutafis
Senior Fellow 2024–2025

This project explores how nanoscale spintronics-based components can be combined with ideas from neuroscience to create next-generation computing systems. Specifically, it focuses on skyrmionics nanosynapses—nanoscale devices that use magnetic skyrmions to achieve non-volatile, multi-level conductance changes. The goal is to develop energy-efficient, durable artificial synapses.

Christoforos Moutafis and his NeuroΣky team have recently made major progress in building and testing these nanoscale devices for neuromorphic applications. Working together with researchers from the Institute of Neuroinformatics (INI) at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, Christoforos will also study neuroscience-inspired learning models tailored to these spintronic synapses. They aim to evaluate how well these models can be integrated into practical crossbar architectures for edge AI technologies.

During his senior fellowship at the Collegium Helveticum, Christoforos will also reflect on the sustainability and societal implications of AI. By connecting physics, nanotechnology, and AI hardware, this interdisciplinary project aims to help shape the future of neuromorphic computing.