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 – 9:00
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
AI Reliability, Safety, and Security Challenges for a Trustworthy Metaverse
Prof. Cecilia Metra – University of Bologna, IT
July 8 – 9:00
Abstract: The Metaverse is emerging as a new layer connecting the digital and the real worlds into a unified environment, offering enhanced opportunities to a huge variety of application fields, with potentials for inclusive accessibility to all. AI plays a key role in enabling the metaverse, by providing humans’ interaction with the metaverse, and allowing a personalized experience in the metaverse. AI reliability, safety and security challenges for a trustworthy metaverse will be discussed.
Bio: Cecilia Metra is a Full Professor at the University of Bologna (Italy), from which she received the degree in Electronic Engineering and the PhD in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. She was Vice-President and President of the School of Engineering of the University of Bologna, and 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, and of the Italian Research Project on Security and Rights In the CyberSpace.
She is the 2025-2026 IEEE Director, Division VIII, and she was the 2022-2023 IEEE Director, Division V, and the 2019 President of the IEEE Computer Society.
She is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the IEEE Future Directions “IEEE Metaverse” Initiative.
She is Chair of the Steering Committee of the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Computing, and she was Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing and Computing Now. She contributed to numerous IEEE international Conferences/Symposia/Workshops as General and Program Chair, technical program committee member, and keynote speaker.
Her research interests include reliable, safe and secure circuits for Artificial Intelligence; fault modelling; design for testability; fault tolerance; photovoltaic and energy harvesting systems.
She is an IEEE Fellow.