Major order for German AI chip specialist Spinncloud

The Dresden-based start-up Spinncloud has received a major order for its AI chips, which are strongly based on the functioning of the human brain and are modeled on a network of nerve cells. The company and the university announced that the largest brain-inspired supercomputer to date will be used at Leipzig University primarily for AI-supported drug research.

The exact financial volume of the "multi-million euro contract" was not specified. The agreement is to be implemented over the next two months.

One fifth of the human brain

Spinncloud is considered by experts to be the most ambitious chip start-up in Europe. The system for the University of Leipzig is said to be able to simulate over 10 billion artificial nerve cells (neurons) simultaneously. This corresponds to around 20 percent of the power of a human brain. At the same time, the "SpiNNaker2" system requires much less power than normal high-performance computers - around 18 times less. "This technology is an example of how to massively accelerate the development of personalized medicines and at the same time strengthen Europe's technological sovereignty in the field of AI and supercomputing."

Lower power requirements - higher speed

In Leipzig, the spinning cloud technology will also be used for the so-called "in-silico screening" of molecules. This means that scientists use computers to test a large number of different molecules - not in the laboratory with real substances, but on the computer. They use special programs to predict how a molecule might fit with a diseased protein, for example. This previously very computationally intensive process is implemented much more efficiently and energy-savingly using the spinning cloud systems.

The first model tests showed that Spinncloud is able to carry out drug discovery with small molecule compounds (small molecule drug discovery) up to 50 times faster than with conventional AI chips. This brings a market for industrial applications, for example in the pharmaceutical industry, within reach.