Southampton will be involved in a new UK centre dedicated to pioneering brain-inspired computer technologies.

The University of Southampton is part of the UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing, which is led by Aston University.

This centre will receive £5.6 million over four years from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The goal is to create a hub for research and technology development in neuromorphic computing, which will address the sustainability challenges faced by current digital infrastructure and AI systems.

Other universities that are part of the research include the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Queen Mary University of London, Loughborough University and the University of Strathclyde.

The researchers have expertise in a variety of fields including neuroscience, non-conventional computing algorithms, photonics, opto- and nano-electronics, and materials science.

By combining their knowledge, the scientists aim to improve the understanding of how the human brain computes information and see how this can be adapted to be used in computers in order to make them more energy efficient.

This would be achieved by blending stem-cell-derived human neuron experiments with advanced computational models, low-power algorithms, and new photonic hardware.

Professor Rhein Parri, co-director and neurophysiologist at Aston University, said: "For the first time, we can combine the study of living human neurons with that of advanced computing platforms to co-develop the future of computing.

"This project is an exciting leap forward, learning from biology and technology in ways that were not previously possible."

Dr Dimitra Georgiadou, fellow co-director of the centre, from the University of Southampton, said: "To address the challenge of substantially lowering the power consumption in electronics, novel materials and device architectures are needed that can effectively emulate computation in the brain and cellular responses to certain stimuli."

The centre will collaborate with policy makers and industry partners to showcase the capabilities of neuromorphic computing in various sectors.

Supporting the centre are industry partners such as Microsoft Research, Thales, BT, QinetiQ, Nokia Bell Labs, Hewlett Packard Labs, Leonardo, Northrop Grumman, and several SMEs.

Their involvement will focus on maximising the centre's societal impact, ensuring that research translates into real-world applications to benefit society.