91²Ö¿â

NEXT-AI 2026 is a dedicated workshop on neuromorphic technologies and hardware AI in the UK. This 3-day event will bring together early- and mid-career researchers, industry innovators, start-ups, funders, and policymakers to explore the neuromorphic development stack - from novel materials and platforms to algorithms and real-world applications.

The NEXT-AI workshop will provide a cross-disciplinary platform for early-to-mid-career researchers, industry innovators, and institutional stakeholders working across the neuromorphic computing landscape. The scope spans the full stack of neuromorphic technologies, from emerging materials and photonic/electronic platforms, through algorithmic co-design, to applications in AI and beyond.

The event is designed to:

• Bridge fragmented communities: photonics, electronics, AI/ML, neuroscience-inspired computing, and end-user domains.
• Highlight UK capabilities while embedding them in an international context.
• Empower early-career researchers by giving them visibility, networking opportunities, and leadership roles.
• Engage industry and start-ups to identify real-world challenges, application areas, and investment opportunities.
• Interface with funders and policy makers to align community efforts with national priorities and opportunities.

By bringing together diverse expertise, NEXT-AI will act as a catalyst for collaboration, seeding new partnerships and mapping the emerging landscape of neuromorphic technologies for AI.

The event is organised by the Emergent Photonics Research Centre at 91²Ö¿â in partnership with the   and