Unlocking the potential of emergent and collective dynamics for physical computing
Prof. Aida Todri-Sanial – NanoComputing Research Lab, Integrated Circuits, EE Dept., TU/e, NL
July 7 –
Abstract: This presentation introduces a physics-based computing paradigm and architecture, harnessing the collective dynamics of coupled oscillators to enable massive parallelism and energy-efficient computation. This approach overcomes the inherent limitations of classical von Neumann computing, enabling the execution of highly complex functions with remarkably low power consumption. At the core of this physics-based computing lies the interactive dynamics of devices within an open system, naturally minimizing their energy by transitioning to the ground state. The talk will cover computational theory pertaining to physical computing, as well as the materials and devices essential for its physical implementation. Physical computing leverages the intrinsic nonlinearities of devices and the memory of the physical system, enabling energy-efficient, in-memory computations with no data transfer, thus making it suitable as an Ising machines for solving NP-hard problems. Additionally, it serves as an energy-efficient hardware accelerator for AI applications. In conclusion, I will address the current challenges and advancements in energy-efficient physical computing and also cover aspect of verification and scalability.
Bio: Aida Todri-Sanial is a full professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands and Director of Research for the French National Council of Scientific Research (CNRS). Prof. Todri-Sanial was a visiting fellow at the Cambridge Graphene Center and Wolfson College at the University of Cambridge, UK. Previously, she was an R&D Engineer for Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, IL. She has also held visiting research positions at Mentor Graphics, Cadence Design Systems, STMicroelectronics and IBM TJ Watson Research Center. Her research interests are on emerging technologies and novel computing paradigms such as physical computing, neuromorphic and quantum computing. She is the recipient of John Bardeen Fellow in Engineering in 2009, ACM Distinguished Speakers 2016-2018, CNRS Bronze Medal coordinates and participates in several European projects. She received the prestigious NWO AiNED Fellowship and the ERC Consolidating Grant in 2023. She was the General Chair for the 2025 edition of the Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) conference. Website: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/aida-todri-sanial
Security and Reliability issues in the Metaverse
Prof. Cecilia Metra – University of Bologna, IT
July 8 –
Abstract: TBA
Bio: Cecilia Metra is Full Professor of Electronics at the University of Bologna, where she has been working since 1991, and from which she received the Laurea in Electronic Engineering (summa cum laude) and the PhD in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. She has been Vice-President and President of the School of Engineering of the University of Bologna. In 2002, she was Visiting Faculty Consultant for Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, California). She is part of the Italian National Center on High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing (September 2022-present), and of the Italian Research Project on Security and Rights In the CyberSpace – SERICS (January 2023-present).
She is the 2024 IEEE Director-Elect, Division VIII (and will be the 2026-2025 IEEE Director, Division VIII), and was the 2023-2022 IEEE Director, Division V, and the 2019 President of the IEEE Computer Society.
She is Co-Chair of the IEEE Future Directions “IEEE Metaverse” Initiative, and a member of the IEEE Conferences Committee (2021-2024). She was a member of the IEEE European Public Policy Committee – EPPC (2020-2023), of the IEEE Smart Village Governing Board (2020-2023), of the IEEE Award Committee (2022-2023), of the IEEE Theodore W. Hissey Outstanding Young Professional Award Committee (2022-2023), of the IEEE Young Professionals Committee (2021-2022), of the IEEE Diversity & Inclusion Committee (2020-2023). 22), of the IEEE TAB/PSPB Products and Services Committee (2020). She was Co-Chair of the IEEE EPPC Working Group on ICT (2021-2022) and of the IEEE Digital Reality Initiative Project on “Reliable, Safe, Secure and Time Deterministic Intelligent Systems” (2019-2022), and a member of the IEEE Systems Council Advisory Committee (2020-2022), the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) Board of Governors (2015-2017), and of the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors (2013-2017).
She was Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing and of Computing Now, and Associate Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Computers. She has contributed to numerous IEEE international cConferences/Symposia/Workshops/Summits/Meetings as General/Program Chair/Co-Chair (19 times), technical program committee member (more than 100 times), and keynote/invited speaker/panelist (more than 50 times).
She has published (more than 200 papers) in international journals/Proceedings of international peer-reviewed conferences on test and test-oriented design of electronic circuits/systems, on reliable, safe, secure and fault-resilient electronic circuits/systems, on circuits/systems for Artificial Intelligence (AI), on fault tolerance techniques, on error-correcting codes, secure communication protocols, photovoltaic and energy harvesting systems, emerging technologies. Her research has received public and private funding (e.g., from the EU, the Italian Ministries MISE and MIUR, and from Industries such as Intel Corporation, STMicroelectronics, Alstom Transport, Thales, etc.) at national and international level.
She is an IEEE Fellow, an IEEE Computer Society Golden Core Member, and a member of the IEEE Honor Society IEEE-HKN. She received two Meritorious Service Awards, eight Certificates of Appreciation, and the Spirit of the Computer Society award from the IEEE Computer Society.