BrainChip partners with Penn State to propel AI education
BrainChip, a commercial producer of ultra-low power, fully digital, event-based neuromorphic AI IP, has announced a new partnership with Pennsylvania State University.
The collaboration will incorporate Penn State into the BrainChip University AI Accelerator Programme, equipping students with advanced neuromorphic computing tools essential for developing AI solutions.
Penn State, known for its research in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will integrate BrainChip's neuromorphic computing tools into its curriculum. The incorporation into Penn State’s Neuromorphic Computing Lab will allow students to work with technologies that facilitate the development of AI solutions that could impact various community and global issues.
The BrainChip University AI Accelerator Programme supplies participating educational institutions with event-based technologies that enhance the academic and practical aspects of AI learning. Students in the programme can access these technologies to improve their skills and understanding through real-world applications.
Abhronil Sengupta, Assistant Professor at Penn State’s Neuromorphic Computing Lab, stated: “As part of Penn State’s Neuromorphic Computing Lab, we are dedicated to bridging the gap between nanoelectronics, neuroscience and machine learning.
“By joining BrainChip’s University AI Accelerator Programme, we are better positioned to provide our students with resources needed to enable further research and study into neuromorphic computing. By leveraging BrainChip’s technology with our inter-disciplinary approach to data science and AI, we ensure students are ready to develop solutions for the world’s most pressing issues.”
BrainChip’s Akida™ IP neural processor, which is part of the technology provided, operates with lower power compared to traditional neural network accelerators. This efficiency allows for greater scalability and reduced operational costs. Akida supports various applications, including smart cars, smart homes, and industrial IoT, enabling incremental learning and high-speed inference.
Penn State joins other institutions, such as Arizona State University and Carnegie Mellon University, in participating in BrainChip's accelerator programme, which aims to enhance AI education and application across the globe.
Tony Lewis, CTO of BrainChip, expressed the significance of the partnership:
“For universities like Penn State that pride themselves on delivering a world-class education, forming partnerships with leaders like BrainChip is an ideal way to give students access to frontier technology. We hope by making Neuromorphic Event Based technology readily available, we can give students hands on experience with a new paradigm in computation and open fundamentally new research directions in engineering.
“Neuromorphic event-based computing may be a solution to the inefficiencies inherent in conventional AI computation that is of growing concern to the public. It's important that students engage early and with the right tools. BrainChip is happy to help.”
