Ericsson and Forschungszentrum Jülich MoU for neuromorphic computing use in 5G and 6G
Ericsson and major European research center Forschungszentrum Jülich are collaborating to develop technologies for the continued evolution of 5G and for the future introduction of 6G (IMT 2030) networks. The organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 24, 2026.The project aims to leverage JUPITER, Europe’s first “exascale” supercomputer, to design and test new artificial intelligence solutions for the complex demands of 6G. The partnership will explore AI models and methods to enhance Ericsson’s core network, network management, and Radio Access Network (RAN).
Important objectives include exploring ultra-efficient, “brain-inspired” computing approaches like neuromorphic computing [1.] to handle intense network tasks and strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure. Modern mobile networks rely heavily on Massive MIMO, a technology where many devices communicate simultaneously via numerous antennas. By exploring novel system architecture approaches like neuromorphic computing, researchers aim to speed up optimization and reduce energy use versus classical methods.
Note 1. Neuromorphic computing is a brain-inspired engineering approach that mimics biological neural networks using analog or digital electronic circuits. It combines memory and processing in one place—similar to neurons and synapses—to achieve extreme energy efficiency, speed, and learning capabilities, moving beyond the limitations of traditional computing architecture. Unlike traditional AI that uses continuous data, neuromorphic systems use “spikes”—discrete events in time—to mimic how neurons communicate. Such systems only consume significant power when processing data (“spiking”), making them ideal for ultra-low-power edge computing, unlike traditional computers that are always on. They can process complex, real-world data (like vision or touch) much faster and with far less power than traditional computers.
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The alliance will study operational strategies like heat recovery to boost energy efficiency in HPC and cloud deployments. The collaboration involves systematic benchmarking of AI methods – including the application of neuromorphic AI – across Ericsson products to assess execution speed, scalability to large datasets, information retention, and storage efficiency. In addition, the partnership will provide insights into the feasibility of cloud strategies based on concepts from the EuroHPC ecosystem, which is establishing a world-class supercomputing infrastructure.
Professor Laurens Kuipers, a member of the Executive Board of Forschungszentrum Jülich, said: “This collaboration has the potential to make a significant contribution to a more sustainable digital future. By combining our excellence in high-performance computing and our research into novel, neuro-inspired computing approaches with Ericsson’s expertise in telecommunications, we aim to develop more energy-efficient network solutions and strengthen a sovereign European digital infrastructure.”
Image Credit: Image: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Kurt Steinhausen
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Nicole Dinion, Head of Architecture and Technology, Cloud Software and Services, Ericsson said: “The future of mobile networks is deeply intertwined with AI and the need for unparalleled energy efficiency. Our collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich, for years a global leader in supercomputing and applied physics, combines their research and computing power with our expertise in all domains of telecoms technology. We will explore architectures that define the next generation of telecommunication.”
The collaboration covers several areas of research:
- AI methods for Ericsson products across the full portfolio: systematic benchmarking of approaches to assess execution speed, scalability to large datasets, information retention, and storage efficiency. Where security and commercial conditions permit, the teams may also use JUPITER for large-scale model training, leveraging its compute resources.
- Energy-efficient computing for AI inference at the radio and edge: developing and prototyping highly efficient solutions for tasks such as radio channel estimation and Massive MIMO – a key technology in modern mobile networks, in which many devices communicate simultaneously via numerous antennas. This includes exploring novel system architecture approaches like neuromorphic computing (e.g., memristors) to speed up optimization and reduce energy use versus classical methods.
- HPC and cloud architectures and operations for AI: researching and implementing Modular Supercomputing Architecture (MSA) concepts from exascale work at Forschungszentrum Jülich – in particular, at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) – and studying operational strategies, such as heat recovery, to boost energy efficiency in HPC and cloud deployments.
The collaboration will provide insights into the feasibility of cloud strategies based on concepts from the EuroHPC ecosystem, which is establishing a world-class supercomputing infrastructure with leading European centers such as the JSC.
ABOUT FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JÜLICH:
Shaping change: This is what drives us at Forschungszentrum Jülich. As a member of the Helmholtz Association with more than 7,000 employees, we conduct research into the possibilities of a digitized society, a climate-friendly energy system, and a resource-efficient economy. We combine natural, life, and engineering sciences in the fields of information, energy, and the bioeconomy with specialist expertise in simulation and data science. www.fz-juelich.de
References:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2026/1/ai-future-will-be-defined-by-the-intelligent-digital-fabric
https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/neuromorphic-computing
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