Weyl semimetals are a recently-discovered class of topological quantum materials predicting unexpected and extraordinary transport properties. Their electronic band structure features valence and conduction bands crossing in paired Weyl nodes with opposite chiralities. In such systems the conduction electrons behave as topologically-protected massless quasiparticles with an ultra-high carrier mobility and well-defined spin-momentum locking configurations. The unique combination of these properties has attracted the attention of the scientific community that is currently striving to unveil the complex physics underlying Weyl semimetals. Besides, from a technological perspective, Weyl semimetals are expected to provide an ideal platform to test novel device functionalities in the areas of information technology, energy conversion and sensing. Nonetheless, being a newborn field in science, so far the research activities have focused on Weyl semimetals in the form of bulk single crystalline materials. The main objectives of this action are to comprehensively investigate the yet-unexplored properties of Weyl semimetals at the nanoscale and to define possible integration routes for new-generation microelectronic devices. For this purpose, epitaxial thin films of Weyl semimetals will be used as referent systems to probe the influence of different control parameters (e.g. by substrate-induced strain, film thickness, interfaces, external electric and/or magnetic fields) on their structural and electronic properties. Eventually, the potential impact of Weyl semimetals in current microelectronic schemes will be evaluated by designing prototypes based on field-effect and magnetic heterostructures. In this context, the state-of-the-art facilities and the well-established expertise in the fabrication and characterization of complex nanostructures present at IBM Research Zurich offer an ideal environment to tackle the challenge of studying Weyl semimetals at low-dimensionality.

PlasmoniAC invests in neuromorphic computing towards sustaining processing power and energy efficiency scaling, adopting the best-in-class material and technology platforms for optimizing computational power, size and energy at every of its constituent functions. It employs the proven high-bandwidth and low-loss credentials of photonic interconnects together with the nm-size memory function of memristor nanoelectronics, bridging them by introducing plasmonics as the ideal technology for offering photonic-level bandwidths and electronic-level footprint computations within ultra-low energy consumption envelopes. Following a holistic hardware/software co-design approach, PlasmoniAC targets the following objectives: i) to elevate plasmonics into a computationally-credible platform with Nx100Gb/s bandwidth, um2-scale size and >1014 MAC/s/W computational energy efficiency, using CMOS compatible BTO and SiOC materials for electro- and thermo-optic computational functions, ii) to blend them via a powerful 3D co-integration platform with SixNy-based photonic interconnects and with non-volatile memristor-based weight control, iii) to fabricate two different sets of 100Gb/s 16- and 8-fan-in linear plasmonic neurons, iv) to deploy a whole new class of plasmo-electronic and nanophotonic activation modules, v) to demonstrate a full-set of sin2(x), ReLU, sigmoid and tanh plasmonic neurons for feed-forward and recurrent neurons, v) to embrace them into a properly adapted Deep Learning training model suite, ultimately delivering a neuromorphic plasmonic software design library, and vi) to apply them on IT security-oriented applications for threat and malware detection. Succeeding in its targets will release a powerful artificial plasmonic neuron suite with up to 3 orders of magnitude higher computational efficiencies per neuron and 1 and 6 orders of magnitude higher energy and footprint efficiencies, respectively, compared to the top state-of-the-art neuromorphic machines.

Cloud storage and computing, big data analytics and social media are driving the need for higher bandwidth communications in data centres (DCs). Concurrently, disaggregation and virtualization trends in the DC are forcing the traffic to be between servers and storage elements in the east-west direction. These changes require massive switching capabilities from the discrete switch elements. However, the technology is rapidly reaching a limit. The result is a multi-layered DC topology with high power consumption and long latency. The L3MATRIX project provides novel technological innovations in the fields of silicon photonics (SiP) and 3D device integration. The project will develop a novel SiP matrix with a scale larger than any similar device with more than 100 modulators on a single chip and will integrate embedded laser sources with a logic chip thus breaking the limitations on the bandwidth-distance product. Use of embedded laser sources and integration with a full logic CMOS chip are innovative steps that will have a profound effect on the European market as these technologies will make a noticeable change in the power consumption, performance and cost of DCs. A novel approach will be used with embedded III-V sources on the SOI substrate which will eliminate the need to use an external light source for the modulators. L3MATRIX provides a new method of building switching elements that are both high radix and have an extended bandwidth of 25 Gb/s in single mode fibres and waveguides with low latency. The power consumption of DC networks built with these devices is 10-fold lower compared to the conventional technology. The outcome of this approach is that large networks, in the Pb/s scale can be built as a single stage, non-blocking network. The single mode nature of the SiP chip allows scaling the network to the 2000 m range required in modern DCs.

PROTON aims at improving existing knowledge on the processes of recruitment to organised crime and terrorist networks (OCTN) through an innovative integration between social and computational sciences. Moving beyond the state of the art, this integration will support evidence-based policies at the international, national and local level. To achieve its aim, PROTON will complete three specific objectives: 1. Investigate the social, psychological and economic factors leading to OCTN (WP1 and 2), including their connection with cybercrime and the cyberspace (WP3). The factors will be transformed into input (WP4) for PROTON’s final outputs, PROTON-S and PROTON Wizard (WP5), designed for helping policy makers to act more effectively against OCTN. 2. Develop PROTON-S, agent-based modelling (ABM) simulations of the effects of different societal and environmental changes on OCTN. PROTON-S will generate virtual societies in a computer laboratory, enabling to test the impact of different scenarios on the evolution of, and particularly individuals’ recruitment to, OCTN. 3. Develop PROTON Wizard, a user-friendly software tool embedding the results of the ABM simulations. PROTON’s impact will improve the quality of prevention policies on OCTN, providing at the same time significant innovations in the social, technological and computational sciences. PROTON-S, based on simulations, will bear no ethical and societal risks, and will create a breakthrough in the understanding of OCTN, enabling better policies and stimulating further innovation. PROTON Wizard will provide the first support tool for policy makers at the international, national and local level, giving easy access to the most advanced scientific research. The participation of different policy makers and potential end-users throughout the whole project will make sure that the final results specifically meet their needs and expectations.