Crossing the layers from system to material: a necessary evil or just wishful thinking?

Abstract / Description 

These days, it is often stated that for compute scaling to continue to be relevant given the rapid growth of the needs of AI, traditional approaches will no longer work. Instead, we need to connect the R&D across the entire stack. Nonetheless, these layers of abstraction are there for the good reason of a separation of concerns and so this approach may be driven too much from an idealistic "optimal" holy grail perspective. At imec, we've been looking at this system-technology approach across several domains and in this talk we hope to offer some insights and future paths to go down. 

Bio 

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” This quote, attributed to Einstein, Feynman, and others, encapsulates the key element in achieving success in every endeavor in research and development. Whether it pertains to technical or business aspects, this principle drives the three skills that Michael constantly aims to improve: understanding, communicating, and focusing on reducing things to their core.

Currently, Michael Peeters serves as the Vice President and Sector lead of Connected Computing at imec, focusing on creating new approaches to computing, connectivity and their joint architecture, and pushing existing approaches to their utmost performance, to enable continued sustainable growth and the positive impact of computing on society in the coming decade. Previous experiences as CTO for respectively the Wireline and Wireless business lines at what is now Nokia were built on the culture, enthusiasm, teamwork, and love for technology and science fostered during time as a departement director at Bell Labs—with a highlight the creation of the first DSL vectoring MVP—as well as the principles of Free Inquiry instilled by his Alma Mater, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Throughout their research career, which began with a Ph.D. in Applied Physics and Photonics from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Michael has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, numerous white papers, and holds patents in the access and photonics domains. Trained as an electrotechnical engineer, he is a senior member of IEEE and a Fellow of the VUB.

Outside of work, Michael Peeters (imec) balances their quest to discover the perfect lasagna recipe with long-distance running to offset the inherent caloric intake.

They accept both (he/him) and (they/them) pronouns.