€30M investment positions the Netherlands as leader in brain-inspired computing

The Netherlands is making a major move in energy-efficient computing with the launch of the 10X-Factor(y) program, supported by a €9 million NWO grant and a total budget of €30 million from companies and private funders. The initiative aims to create a national ecosystem for neuromorphic technologies, designing computing systems inspired by the energy efficiency and data processing of the human brain.

Led by the University of Groningen’s CogniGron center, the program brings together universities, research institutions, and high-tech companies, including TNO, TU Eindhoven, TU Delft, Radboud University, Astron, Infineon, Snap Inc., and Synopsys. The consortium will cover the full innovation chain, from advanced materials and chip design to system integration and real-world applications.

The program will focus on seven demonstrators addressing use cases from robotics and automation to health monitoring and field sensors. TU Eindhoven will lead three of these projects, including sensor fusion for AR systems, domain-specific architecture for on-chip learning, and health monitoring technologies.

Neuromorphic computing offers a solution to the growing energy demands of AI, enabling real-time processing in low-power environments while addressing privacy concerns. By integrating research, education, and industry, 10X-Factor(y) aims to develop prototypes, train experts, and test applications over the next decade, positioning the Netherlands at the forefront of sustainable, brain-inspired computing.