Kick-off Workshop of the Nordic Research Network in Unconventional Computing

The workshop is arranged by the Unconventional Computing Nordic Research Network, supported by NordForsk through the programme Nordic Research Networks within Natural Science and Related Engineering Fields.

The network includes researchers from:

• Örebro University, Sweden
• University of Turku, Finland
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
• Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• neuromorphic computing
• brain-inspired computing
• in-materio computation
• reservoir computing
• Ising machines
• cellular automata

Practical information

• Date: 17–18 June 2026
• Venue: LAB 105, Innovasalen, Örebro University
• Format: Lunch-to-lunch workshop
• Participants: Approximately 25 invited participants
• Language: English

The registration is closed.

Invited speakers

17 June

Ayça Özçelikkale, Associate Professor, Uppsala University

Talk title: On the Structure of Neuromorphic Computation: Spikes, Memory, and Reset

Abstract

Neuromorphic computing is an emerging paradigm for low-latency, energy-efficient information processing, in which brain-inspired models such as spiking neural networks play a central role. At the same time, deep state space models have recently shown strong performance in temporal modelling. Although these approaches come from different research traditions, both implement stateful transformations of temporal input sequences. This talk presents a principled correspondence between these models through a dynamical systems approach. It also discusses broader questions about reset, stability and memory in learning, and what these may mean for the design of neuromorphic systems.

About the speaker

Ayça Özçelikkale is Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Uppsala University, Sweden. Before joining Uppsala University, she held a postdoctoral position at Chalmers University of Technology and visiting positions at Ericsson Research, Queen’s University and EURECOM. Her research includes signal processing, machine learning, neuromorphic computing and communications.

18 June

Claudio Gallicchio, Associate Professor, University of Pisa

Talk title: Perspectives on and Beyond Reservoir Computing

Abstract

This talk revisits reservoir computing as an alternative paradigm for sequence modelling, motivated by the well-known difficulties of training recurrent neural networks and the growing demand for efficient, hardware-compatible learning systems. After introducing the core principles of reservoir computing and its natural suitability for neuromorphic and physical implementations, the talk discusses the limitations of conventional echo state networks in terms of long-range information propagation. The second part presents recent research directions on non-dissipative reservoir dynamics and new reservoir architectures that move reservoir computing towards the deep learning regime while preserving fast training and hardware suitability.

About the speaker

Claudio Gallicchio is Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pisa. His research focuses on reservoir computing, recurrent neural networks and dynamical systems for deep learning, with a particular focus on hardware-aware and energy-efficient models. He is involved in several research projects that combine ideas from deep learning and neuromorphic hardware for sustainable artificial intelligence.

Programme

Wednesday 17 June 2026

12:00–13:15
Lunch and registration
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

13:15–14:00
On the Structure of Neuromorphic Computation: Spikes, Memory, and Reset
Ayça Özçelikkale, Associate Professor, Uppsala University
Visual Lab, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

14:00–14:30
Coffee break
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

Talks from partner institutions, Part I

Innovasalen, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

14:30-15:00
Foundations and Applications of Reservoir Computing.
Denis Kleyko (ORU) and Alberto Giaretta (ORU)

15:00-15:15
Quantum Reservoir Computing: What, Why, How, When.
Johannes Nokkala (UTU).

15:15-15:30
Memristive Functionality in GCMO-Based Devices for Future Computing.
Ilari Angervo (UTU).

15:30-16:00
On Nanomagnets and Shortest Paths.
Johannes Høydahl Jensen (NTNU) and Nicolai Waniek (NTNU). 

16:00–16:30
Coffee break
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

Talks from partner institutions, Part II

Innovasalen, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

16:30-17:00
Quantum Leaps and Learning Curves: Quantum (Machine Learning) at DTU.
Caterina Vigliar (DTU) and Mujtaba Zahidy (DTU). 

19:00–21:00
Workshop dinner
Glassery
Änggatan 18, 702 24 Örebro

Thursday 18 June 2026

08:15–09:00
Perspectives on and Beyond Reservoir Computing
Claudio Gallicchio, Associate Professor, University of Pisa
Visual Lab, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

09:00–09:30
Coffee break
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

09:30–10:30
Poster session
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

10:30–11:00
Coffee break
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

11:00–12:00
Tour of Visual Lab and Robotlab
Starting at Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

In parallel: UniCoRN PIs meeting at Innovasalen

12:00–13:00
Lunch
Entré Lounge, ARC – AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity Center

Important information

The network is unable to provide financial support for travel or accommodation. Coffee breaks, lunches and the workshop dinner will be provided at no cost.

Contact

For questions about the workshop, please contact:

Denis Kleyko, Örebro University
Alberto Giaretta, Örebro University