1. Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) ETHZ Leuven ~ December 3 rd 2002 IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks 1

2. Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) ETHZ Leuven ~ December 3 rd 2002 IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks What is it all about? Exploration of a novel method of information processing by combining natural neurons with Si- technology...... because brains have more powerful parallel computing abilities than any contemporary Si-based computer. 2

3. Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) ETHZ Leuven ~ December 3 rd 2002 Applications Example of parallel processing by cultured neural networks in image processing Possible applications: Image filtering (e.g. sharpening, smoothing) Pattern recognition... 3

4. Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) ETHZ Leuven ~ December 3 rd 2002 How? Signal processing of neural network data requires long living biological neural networks suitable life-maintaining chambers direct contact of neurons to miniaturized CMOS recording and stimulation electronics through an adapted wetware-hardware interface Signal processing of neural network data comprises recording, compressing, analyzing, and eliciting neural activity IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks 4

5. Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) Project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies arm of the IST Programme FET-Open scheme IST-2000-26463 ~ INPRO (Information Processing by Natural Neural Networks) ETHZ Leuven ~ December 3 rd 2002 INPRO Participants DE:University of Kaiserslautern WP2: Interfaces, Cell Cultures, Recording; WP4: Testing (+ WP7: Coordination) CH:ETH Zürich, Physical Electronics Lab WP1: Electronics, Transducers; WP4: Testing CH:University of Neuchâtel WP3: Microfluidics; WP4: Testing I:Scuola Internazionale di Studi Superiori Avanzati WP5: Data Evaluation, Recording; WP4: Testing CH:Leister Process Technologies WP6: Plastic/Si Interface, Exploitation and Dissemination 5