Human Brain Project

The Human Brain Project aims to put in place a cutting-edge research infrastructure that will allow scientific and industrial researchers to advance our knowledge in the fields of neuroscience, computing, and brain-related medicine. It is one of four FET (Future and Emerging Technology) Flagships, the largest scientific projects ever funded by the European Union.

The 10-year Project began in 2013 and directly employs some 500 scientists at more than 100 universities, teaching hospitals, and research centres across Europe.

Six ICT research Platforms form the heart of the HBP infrastructure:
1) Neuroinformatics (access to shared brain data),
2) Brain Simulation (replication of brain architecture and activity on computers)
3) High Performance Analytics and Computing (providing the required computing and analytics capabilities),
4) Medical Informatics (access to patient data, identification of disease signatures),
5) Neuromorphic Computing (development of brain-inspired computing),
6) Neurorobotics (use of robots to test brain simulations).

The HBP also undertakes targeted research and theoretical studies, and explores brain structure and function in humans, rodents and other species. In addition, the Project studies the ethical and societal implications of HBP’s work.

The University of Hertfordshire is an HBP partner since 2016. We conduct research towards Neuromorphic Olfaction, and supply neuromorphic interfaces for olfaction and vision, that shall integrate into models of cognitive architectures developed in the HBP.