The 3rd Workshop on Memristors in Barcelona, from 29-30 June 2026, was organized by the University of Barcelona and the workshop chairs were Prof. Dr. Albert Cirera and Prof. Dr. Blas Garrido.
Mar Puigibert from IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics presented part of the first year results of the project LEOMEM. In that, she studied how the Total Ionizing Dose effects, caused by the X-ray irradiation, affects the 1T1R arrays, which are radiation-hardened-by-design because the standard nMOS transistor has been replaced with an Enlosed Layout Transistor (ELT).
From 29 June to 2 July, the International Conference on Neuromorphic Computing and Electronics (ICNCE) 2026 took place in Aachen — and the DFG Priority Programme MemrisTec was represented by a strong delegation.
Numerous researchers from the MemrisTec projects presented their latest findings — both in the form of talks and at the well-attended poster sessions. Ranging from fundamental work on memristive device physics to system-level approaches in neuromorphic computing, the breadth of contributions impressively reflected the thematic scope of the Priority Programme.
A distinctive feature of ICNCE 2026 was its interdisciplinary audience: experts from memristive electronics, the neurosciences, neuromorphic computing, and adjacent disciplines came together here. This cross-disciplinary dialogue lies at the very heart of MemrisTec — and the conference offered ideal conditions for bridging perspectives across materials science, engineering, computer science, and neurobiology.
Alongside the scientific programme, the conference provided a wide range of networking opportunities. During the breaks, at the poster sessions, and throughout the accompanying programme, new contacts and potential collaborations emerged — valuable impulses that will resonate well beyond the conference itself.
Finally, our sincere thanks go to the organising committee, whose great dedication made possible a smoothly run and scientifically outstanding conference. The successful combination of scientific depth, an open atmosphere, and excellent organisation made ICNCE 2026 a true highlight.We are already looking forward to the next edition, and we thank all MemrisTec participants for their contributions.
The DFG Priority Program MemrisTec (SPP 2262) — “Memristive Devices Toward Smart Technical Systems,” has awarded Dr. Onur Toprak a MemrisTec Young Researcher Award for the Best Publication. The award recognizes Dr. Toprak’s exceptional contribution to the field of memristive devices and reinforces his standing as one of the program’s rising stars.
This honor adds to an already remarkable period in Dr. Toprak’s career. As a MemrisTec PhD student supervised by Prof. Dr. Catherine Dubourdieu at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), he successfully defended his doctoral thesis at TU Berlin, achieving the outstanding grade of 1.0 (Magna cum Laude) — a distinction reflecting the excellence of his research within the MEMMEA project of the MemrisTec Priority Program.
The development of an amorphous Gallium-oxide (a-GaOx) based memristive device that operates via a non-filamentary switching mechanism, distinguishing it from conventional filamentary memristors that often suffer from stochastic variability.
Demonstration of highly repeatable multiple resistance states, a critical property for enabling multi-level memory storage and analog computing applications such as neuromorphic systems.
A detailed analysis of the underlying interface-type switching behavior, providing valuable insight into how oxygen vacancy redistribution governs the smooth and reliable modulation of resistance.
Strong endurance and retention characteristics, positioning the device as a promising candidate for next-generation in-memory and brain-inspired computing architectures.
The MemrisTec Priority Program aims to advance memristive technologies toward smart technical systems. Dr. Toprak’s award-winning contribution exemplifies the program’s mission — bridging fundamental materials science with practical, application-oriented device engineering.
Congratulations to Dr. Onur Toprak on this well-deserved recognition! All the best for your future!
We are delighted to announce that Daniel Schön has been honored with a MemrisTec Young Researcher Award for Best Publication, presented by the DFG Priority Program MemrisTec (SPP 2262) — “Memristive Devices Toward Smart Technical Systems”. The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to the field of memristive devices and underscores his role as one of the program’s rising talents.
The work investigates how thermal effects influence the switching behavior of valence change memory (VCM) cells in highly integrated crossbar arrays. Using a finite element model coupled with a verified compact model of a VCM cell, the authors reveal that spatio-temporal thermal correlations can occur and significantly affect the resistive state of adjacent cells.
Key findings from the publication include:
Thermal crosstalk: Heat generated in an active memristive cell propagates along the electrodes and can influence the resistance state of neighboring devices — an effect particularly relevant for device spacings of just a few hundred nanometers.
Thermal accumulation effect: Due to the thermal capacitance of a VCM cell, the device can remain thermally active after a pulse, thereby influencing the temperature conditions of subsequent pulses. This allows temperature to act as a second state variable alongside conductance.
Spatio-temporal correlations: When pulse spacings approach the thermal time constant of the device (a few nanoseconds), thermal crosstalk and accumulation combine — opening up new possibilities for neuromorphic computing, including emulation of short-term plasticity and paired-pulse facilitation.
As the authors conclude, “spatio-temporal thermal correlations can be observed for device spacings as small as a few hundred nanometers and pulse trains with pauses in the order of the thermal time constant of the memristive device. Based on this effect, novel learning rules can potentially be derived for future neuromorphic computing applications”.
The publication was a great ignition into the authors’ MemrisTec project MemCouple which explores the topic on various levels: from device fabrication via simulation models to the application of neuromorphic computing concepts. Furthermore, another collaboration with Faisal Munir and Stefan Wiefels lead the a publication showing how temperature can be used as a second state variable and how ultra-short pulse trains can be used to emulate short-term plasticity in RRAM devices. This functional behaviour can be at some point exploited to develop novel brain-like computer architectures that operate in the sub-nanosecond range.
This award is a wonderful recognition of Daniel Schön’s dedication, scientific rigor, and creativity — and a great example of how the MemrisTec Priority Program advances both fundamental understanding and application-oriented innovation in memristive technologies. Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone, Daniel Schön, and all the best for your future! 🎉
At this year’s MemrisTec2026 coordination workshop, participants shared the results of the ongoing funded projects as well as the three new associated projects. A key objective was to facilitate exchange among the project teams, a goal further enhanced by the Baltic Sea setting and the pleasant weather. A big thank you from MemrisTec coordinator Ronald Tetzlaff of TUD Dresden University of Technology to all participants and the local organizers from Kiel University led by Martin Zieger, who made this meeting a productive workshop. We look forward to the MemrisTec2027 final workshop in Dresden!
Science knows no gender, and we believe that diverse perspectives are essential to driving innovation and solving the world’s most pressing challenges. MemrisTec is dedicated to create opportunities for scientists from all genders to explore, learn and shape the future of computing.
💡 To all the young women out there dreaming of careers in STEAM: You belong in science, and your contributions will shape the world.
Let’s work together to ensure that every girl knows she can be a scientist, an innovator, and a leader in her field. 🌱✨
Rana Walied Ahmad, M.Sc., successfully concluded his public doctoral defense on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, at RWTH Aachen University. The defense was held as a hybrid event.
The doctoral lecture, titled “Modeling and Simulation of Electrochemical Metallization Memory Cells for Neuromorphic Passive Crossbar Architecture,” addressed the modeling and simulation of electrochemical metallization memory cells, with a focus on their role in neuromorphic computing using passive crossbar architectures. This doctoral work originated from the MEMMEA project.
The successful completion of the defense marks the culmination of Rana Walied Ahmad’s doctoral research in the field of memristive devices and neuromorphic systems.
Emilio Perez-Bosch Quesada has completed his doctorate within the MIMEC framework in collaboration with IHP – Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics in Frankfurt (Oder). His doctoral research focused on HfO₂-based memristive devices, contributing to ongoing work on resistive memory technologies.
The research was carried out as part of the RRAM activities at IHP under the supervision of Eduardo Pérez Diez and Christian Wenger. During his doctoral studies, he worked closely with interdisciplinary teams and gained extensive experience in materials research and device characterization.
Following the successful completion of his doctorate, Emilio Perez-Bosch Quesada plans to continue his academic career in the field of memristors, further advancing research in this area.
From 25–27 November 2025, the MemrisTec Seminar 2025 was held in Leipzig at the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM). The seminar brought together ten PhD, master’s, and diploma students from across the MemrisTec research program.
Participants presented the progress of their theses and discussed their work in an interdisciplinary setting with feedback from peers and senior researchers. The program also included laboratory tours at IOM and invited talks on career paths and the German research landscape.
A lecture on “A Molecular Chemical Route to Quantum Information Processing and Neuromorphic Computing” was given by Kirill Monakhov. The seminar provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange among participants.
A huge thank you from the MemrisTec coordinator Ronald Tetzlaff from Technische Universität Dresden to all participants and the local organizers around Kirill Monakhov from the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering in Leipzig who offered perfect conditions to perform this Seminar.
