In METASPIN we envision a radically new low-power artificial synapse technology based on spintronics nanodevices that will prevent catastrophic forgetting, i.e. the loss of memory of previously learned tasks upon learning new ones, a major flaw currently faced by all artificial intelligence applications. We will develop a new class of neuromorphic hardware that will use magneto-ionics to support synaptic metaplasticity, i.e. a feature inspired by the human brain based on assigning a ‘hidden value’ to the states of artificial synapses to encode how important each state is. This will make it easier or harder to reconfigure the synaptic state upon learning a new task, giving a hierarchy to previously learned information and thus preventing catastrophic forgetting. The synaptic states will be given by the two magnetisation orientations in ferromagnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and by ferro/antiferromagnetic order in materials where the two phases coexist. In all cases, magneto-ionic gating will be used to locally modulate intrinsic magnetic properties to assign ‘hidden states’ to each synaptic state. The magneto-ionic hidden states will translate into a modulation of the switching probability between synaptic states, introducing the metaplasticity functionality. In parallel, we will develop ANNs learning schemes, adapted to our device physics and inspired by biological synaptic activity, that can learn with mitigated catastrophic forgetting. The ultimate goal of this project is to integrate this advanced synaptic technology and learning algorithms into an ANN demonstrator to test multitask learning on proof-of-concept tasks inspired by medical AI, and assess the impact of metaplasticity in catastrophic forgetting.

TOPOCOM is a network of leading European groups from different disciplines and sectors selected to provide comprehensive training on the integrative concepts underlying the science of topological solitons in ferroic materials and their application in unconventional computing. Topological solitons are a rich source of emergent physical phenomena and most promising nanoscale systems for future technology, enabling conceptually new pathways for low-energy information processing and sensing, as well as integrated data storage. Many of the developments in the field have occurred only in the past few years and it is clear that we have only scratched the tip of the iceberg concerning the topological solitons that form in electrically or magnetically ordered materials. To realize their potential, the consortium comprises the best groups in materials synthesis and modelling to stabilize such solitons, modelling and studying their dynamical responses to external stimuli, and designing and fabricating devices, where solitons carry out ultralow-power computing and sensing functions. While clearly a challenging topic, there are major benefits that result from a unified treatment of electric and magnetic solitons as realized in this TOPOCOM. The network spans the whole range from fundamental physics and applied materials science - linking both experimental and theoretical aspects - to industrial-scale production and evaluation. The scientific part (“Training through Research”) is complemented by advanced transferable business and cultural skills training (“Training for Life”), providing Europe with a unique training programme at the forefront in unconventional computing based on electric and magnetic solitons. TOPOCOM will establish innovative solutions for more sustainable information technology and educate the next generation of experts, highly qualified to tackle the technological key challenges of growing complexity in an important sector for EU economic development.