DFM Platform
DFM Funding Monitor

Spiking hybrid edge computing for robust optoelectronical signal processingbroad

SpikeHERO · Horizon Europe grant · 2025-10-01–2029-09-30

EC contribution

€4,229,806

Total cost

€0

Beneficiaries

4
About the data

Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01 · scheme HORIZON-EIC · topic HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-04. CORDIS record →

Objective

SpikeHERO’s ambitious goal is to design, experimentally realize, and validate a heterogeneous system for low-energy communication and data processing at the edge. It will pursue a holistic approach that maximally leverages a co-design process encompassing both novel integration techniques and the exploration of systems combining electrical and optical chiplets. SpikeHERO will exploit advanced integration technologies, beyond CMOS devices and non-von Neumann architectures in the form of electrical and optical Spiking Neural Networks. When used as a fiber to the edge (FTTE) system to demonstrate a novel optical interconnection, SpikeHERO will significantly reduce the energy consumption from 7-10 W to 1-2 W, while increasing the bandwidth from 10 GHz to 30 GHz. The requirements for SpikeHERO are derived from challenging use cases in the context of smart edge devices as well as inputs from industry partners. The utilized co-design process allows to optimize the overall system performance with regards to the energy efficiency of the entire system. After the overall system is specified and the subsystems are developed and tested, integration can take place through an advanced packaging solution. Besides the advances on the hardware development in SpikeHERO, a digital twin including the optical and electrical Spiking Neural Network is developed. SpikeHERO directly addresses the specific objective of the EIC challenge aimed at reducing energy consumption in smart edge devices by exploring and implementing novel materials, 3D multi-die heterogeneous integration, beyond CMOS devices, and non-von Neumann architectures. The project proposes a unique integration of optical and electrical Spiking Neural Networks that operate conjointly to enhance processing speed and power efficiency, setting a new standard for energy-efficient computing at the edge.

Beneficiaries (4)

OrganisationCountryRoleEC contributionSME
FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV DE coordinator €1,461,312
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN NL participant €1,362,230
HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE BELGIUM BE participant €871,250
ARGOTECH AS CZ participant €535,014 Yes

Get the EU Defence Funding Calendar — free

The full calendar of open EU defence and dual-use funding calls, sorted by deadline, updated nightly. Delivered with DFM Analysis, our weekly briefing on who is funding what in European defence.

We store your email to send the calendar and the weekly DFM Analysis briefing. Nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.

Or browse all open defence & dual-use calls on the funding calendar →

Defence Finance Monitor is an analytical and informational product. Grant data is official CORDIS; the paid Annual Professional subscription is handled on DFM Analysis.

DFM Analysis, our free weekly newsletter, tracks the EU defence-funding programmes, calls and decisions behind this page. Subscribe free →