On October 12-16, 2026, we had a week of neuromorphic computing in Nijmegen and Groningen, the Netherlands

From 12 to 14 October 2026, the TOPOCOM Doctoral Candidates attended Brainspiration 2026 at Culture House Lindenberg in Nijmegen, hosted by Radboud University. Most of us are trained as materials scientists and physicists, so neuromorphic computing was largely new territory, and the conference put us side by side with electrical engineers and computer scientists working on brain-inspired hardware. The talks started from the basics, treating a neuron as a capacitor with voltage-controlled conductances and showing how memristors can mimic ion channels to produce spikes. They then moved on to energy-efficient in-memory computing, nonlinear computing in silicon and neuromorphic integrated optics. Most DCs also presented their posters and poster pitches, which sparked many interesting discussions.
We then travelled to Groningen (15–16 October) for a TOPOCOM workshop hosted by Prof. Beatriz Noheda's group at CogniGron, the Groningen Cognitive Systems and Materials Center. This workshop was organised by the DCs themselves, led by Yuean Zhou and Anusree Navallur, and the programme was built around our own questions. Many talks were close to TOPOCOM's research: topological defects in magnetism, domain-wall–domain interconversion in a polar conducting oxide, topological charge and spin transport in the quantum Hall regime, and multimodal AFM analysis of resistive switching in TiO₂. On the computing side, Prof. Herbert Jaeger's talk on a semantic theory of universal computation sparked one of the most thought-provoking discussions of the week. He argued that the brain is less a single unified theory than a vast “bag of tricks,” and that brain-inspired hardware still lacks the equivalent of the compilation hierarchy that takes digital computers from transistors to programs. The DCs presented their posters again here, and the conversations that continued over dinner will shape how we think about putting domain walls, skyrmions and other topological structures to work for computing. We thank Prof. Beatriz Noheda's group and Memoona Ismail for hosting us, the Brainspiration organisers, and all the speakers for their time and their patience with our questions.

On April 20-24, 2026, we had our fourth TOPOCOM Workshop in Villach, Austria

The 4th TOPOCOM Workshop, hosted by Infineon Technologies in Villach, Austria, brought the network together for a dynamic program bridging academic research with industrial innovation. The sessions offered diverse perspectives on the future of hardware, ranging from advancements in neuromorphic computing and research in industry to insights into career paths, deep-tech startups, and emerging AI tools for science. Beyond the lectures, the workshop provided a platform for doctoral candidates to showcase their evolving research through talks and posters, sparking lively discussions that transformed the conference room into a hub of collaborative energy.
Complementing the scientific rigor, the workshop featured unique social experiences that integrated the local culture and environment. From the fantastic atmosphere provided by Infineon to a memorable visit with Japanese Macaques in a natural, barrier-free setting, the event balanced technical depth with meaningful networking. Set against the scenic backdrop of Villach, the workshop further strengthened the collaborative spirit of the network, blending professional growth with unforgettable shared experiences.

On May 26-30, 2025, we had our third TOPOCOM Workshop in Heraklion

The third TOPOCOM Workshop was held at the University of Crete and marked the third time the network came together for a dynamic five-day program focused on topological solitons in ferroic materials and their role in unconventional computing. The lectures covered topics such as materials synthesis, spin textures, functional properties, and computational models. The scientific sessions were complemented by workshops on presentation skills, academic publishing, and innovation frameworks, offering valuable input on both research and communication practices.
Beyond the academic program, the workshop included a peripatetic walk—an informal discussion while exploring the scenic surroundings—and a seaside group dinner. These cultural and social elements provided space for deeper conversations and helped strengthen the already well-established collaborative spirit of the network even further.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Crete, the workshop offered a well-rounded mix of scientific depth, professional development, and shared experiences—including swimming in the sea, visiting a vineyard, and enjoying delicious local food—all in a truly inspiring environment.