Transdisciplinary Development of Neuromorphic Computing Hardware for Artificial Intelligence Applications: Technological, Economic, Societal, and Environmental Dimensions of Transformation in the NeuroSys Cluster4Future

Springer eBooks, pp. 271–301

Abstract

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises economic growth and solutions to global problems but also raises societal concerns. Training AI models has a big carbon footprint due to data processing in fossil-fuel-reliant data centers. If the data centers are outside the European legal space, data processing incurs privacy risks. Besides, reliance on AI aggravates Europe’s dependence on non-European chipmakers, whose supply chains can be disrupted. To address such concerns, NeuroSys develops energy-efficient neuromorphic hardware tailored to AI applications that protect privacy by processing data locally. NeuroSys aims to build a chip plant near Aachen in Germany to support Europe’s technological sovereignty. This depends on an innovation ecosystem where socio-technical transformations emerge in transdisciplinary collaboration. This chapter introduces NeuroSys as a testbed for studying how transformation research can contribute to the sustainability and trustworthiness of AI Made in Europe.

Authors 8

1. Mareike Smolka corresponding Aachen Human Technology Center Faculty of Arts and Humanities

   RWTH Aachen University · Wageningen University & Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Technology Centre, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Knowledge, Technology & Innovation Chair Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

2. Lennart Stoepel Aachen Chair of Management Accounting School of Business and Economics

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Management Accounting, School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Jasmin Quill Aachen Chair of Management Accounting School of Business and Economics

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Management Accounting, School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. T. Wahlbrink Aachen AMO GmbH

   AMO (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   AMO GmbH, Aachen, Germany

5. Julia Floehr Aachen Chair of Electronic Devices Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Electronic Devices, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

6. Stefan Böschen Aachen Human Technology Center Faculty of Arts and Humanities

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Technology Centre, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

7. Peter Letmathe Aachen Chair of Management Accounting School of Business and Economics

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Management Accounting, School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

8. Max C. Lemme Aachen AMO GmbH

   AMO (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   AMO GmbH, Aachen, Germany