The UK's first Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) dedicated to neuromorphic (brain-inspired) computing hardware will be led at UCL with £12.8 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Led by researchers at UCL's Electronic & Electrical Engineering and Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy (STEaPP) departments, the centre, known as Neuroware, will accelerate the development of next-generation computing technologies designed to mimic how the brain processes information. Launching in October 2025, the five-year programme will consolidate the UK's leadership in brain-inspired semiconductor technologies and accelerate their commercialisation.
Led by Professor Tony Kenyon (UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering), the IKC will unite a consortium of top-tier institutions, including the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Strathclyde, Sheffield, Imperial College London, King's College London and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), to drive innovation across a range of chip technologies. These include current silicon-based processors, emerging materials for next-generation chips and photonic (light-based) neuromorphic platforms.
Neuromorphic computing, now recognised as the 'third stream' of semiconductor development alongside digital and quantum, is an emerging class of hardware that processes information in fundamentally different ways, drawing inspiration from how the brain operates. Unlike traditional computers, which rely on sequential processing, neuromorphic computing enables faster, more adaptive and energy-efficient computation. The IKC will focus on translating UK research excellence into commercial impact through spinouts, licensing and industrial collaboration.
Professor Tony Kenyon, Director of the IKC, said: "Neuromorphic computing is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the UK to lead in a transformative technology. We already have the research excellence and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. The Neuroware centre will provide the structure, scale and support to turn that potential into real-world impact. I am delighted to be working with such an inspiring set of academic and industrial partners."
The work of the IKC will include:
- Accelerating early-stage technologies from research (Technology Readiness Levels 1-4) to working prototypes and demonstrators (TRLs 5-7), helping bridge the gap between lab and market.
- Supporting UK deep tech ventures such as Intrinsic, Literal Labs and Fractile with prototyping, IP support and early-stage investment.
- Developing neuromorphic systems for edge AI, Internet of Things (IoT), healthcare and security, including ultra-low-power smart sensors and photonic neural networks.
- Establishing a national industrial user group, with partners including Arm, Intel, Microsoft, HP, Samsung and the Tyndall Institute.
- Benchmarking energy and carbon performance of neuromorphic devices to support adoption driven by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
The new centre builds on the UK and UCL's growing momentum in the neuromorphic field, including NeuMat, a £1.4m EPSRC-funded network co-led by Dr Adnan Mehonic (UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering) with the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh, which brings together UK researchers and industry to advance neuromorphic technologies for energy-efficient AI hardware.
The IKC will act as a national hub for innovation, supporting spinouts, licensing and industrial collaboration. It will also provide access to prototyping facilities, investment networks and policy engagement, with over £13.6 million in additional support already committed by 26 partners across industry, academia and government.
The centre will operate a multi-hub model, with key technologies developed across three core areas:
- CMOS-based systems (Manchester)
- Post-CMOS and unconventional computing (UCL, KCL, Imperial, NPL, Cambridge)
- Neuromorphic photonics (Oxford, Strathclyde)
A fourth workstream in computational neuroscience (UCL, KCL, Sheffield) will underpin the technical programme.
Professor Charlotte Deane MBE, Executive Chair of EPSRC, said: "EPSRC is proud to support this new Innovation and Knowledge Centre, which will place the UK at the forefront of brain-inspired computing hardware. The research on neuromorphic computing systems could transform how we process and interact with information in the future, potentially affording computers that are more energy efficient, feature enhanced parallel processing capability and generally more adaptable."
The IKC will also play a strategic role in shaping national policy and skills development, working with the UK Electronics Skills Foundation, the Ditchley Foundation and UCL's Policy Impact Unit. Over £13.6 million in additional support has already been committed by 26 partners across industry, investment and international research networks.
