Call for Research in Artificial Intelligence Hardware (AIHW)

• Overview
• Research Needs
• White Paper Guidelines
• Timetable and Deadlines

Overview

Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) Global Research Collaboration (GRC) is soliciting white papers in its new Artificial Intelligence Hardware (AIHW) research program. This program is a result of a combination of two previous efforts: System-Level Design (SLD) and Efficiency and Performance for Connectivity Constrained Computing (EP3C). Only a very limited number of white papers will receive eventual funding.

This call, issued to universities worldwide, may be addressed by an individual investigator or a research team. Our selection process is divided into two stages. Interested parties are requested to submit a 1-page white paper, which should identify what can be done in a three-year period beginning January 1, 2020. A successfully selected white paper will result in an invitation to submit a full proposal. These proposals will be further down-selected for research contracts.

The number and size of the contracts awarded will be determined by the availability of funds, and by the number of high-quality proposals. Some of the research selected may be funded through TxACE, directed by Prof. Ken O at the University of Texas – Dallas. Contracts awarded normally support 1-2 graduate students. The funding level requested will be a factor in the selection process. Proposals offering funding leverage (other funding resources related and beneficial to the proposed work) are encouraged and details should be described (ex. Fellowships, student support, fabrication support, etc.).

Each researcher may be involved in at most two white papers.

Research Needs

Our research needs are outlined in the Arttificial Intelligence Hardware research needs document. Researchers should carefully review this document.

White Paper Guidelines

White Papers are limited to 1 page total, using a minimum of 10-point font size, and must be submitted via the SRC web-site by July 10, 2019 @ 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT. Submissions not in compliance with all guidelines will be excluded from consideration.

Please include the following identifying information in your White Paper:

• Project title
• Investigator(s) and university
• Principal investigator's contacts (telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail address).

Please address the following topics in your White Paper:

• Targeted Need: Emphasize area and problem to be addressed; match most relevant topic addressed in the research needs document.
• Approach: Present your strategy for addressing the problem. Describe important findings from your research to date. Describe how your proposed research would advance the state of the art and be useful to SRC member companies.
• Objective and Results: What you plan to accomplish in a 3-year period. What are the anticipated outputs of a successful effort?
• Funding Request and participants: Plan for yearly budget should include overhead charges by your institution. Besides faculty, please also indicate the number of students supported and their degrees pursued. A detailed approved budget is not required at this time.
• Funding Leverage: Leverage funding applicable to the proposed research.
• Background IP: Identify any blocking pre-existing intellectual property on which new results will be based. 

Contract Awardees will be expected to:

• Assign a student to work on the project at the start of the contract.
• Participation in annual project reviews (PIs and students).
• Participation in SRC's Graduate student conference (TECHCON).
• Interact with industry liaisons.
• Submit reports for pre-defined deliverables in proposal.
• Submit publications resulting from sponsored research.
• File patents when applicable.
• Participate in TxACE activities, which highlight the importance, need and progress of research in the analog design space. (If task is placed as part of TxACE).

Timetable and Deadlines

Please direct all technical questions to David Yeh, Program Director, (919)941-9464
All other questions and responses should be directed to LaTanya Holmes, (919)941-9431.