Fredrik Sandin, professor in the WASP-affiliated Machine Learning group at Luleå University of Technology, is main PI behind the EIC Pathfinder Open grant for the project PHINDER. Out of a record-breaking 2,087 proposals submitted this year, Sandin and his co-PIs achieved an outstanding evaluation score of 4.9 out of 5.
“The success of our Pathfinder application would not have been possible without the support from WASP, WISE, the Kempe Foundations, and LTU’s Jubilee Fund,” says Fredrik Sandin. “Their backing enabled collaborations that led to the preliminary results forming the basis of our proposal.”
PHINDER, short for Picosecond-scale Photonic Heterogeneous Integrated Neuromorphic Detector, aims to develop new types of neuromorphic photonic sensor systems capable of analysing light from complex processes at the picosecond level (trillionths of a second), while consuming extremely low amounts of energy. The project combines nanostructured III–V semiconductors, programmable photonic waveguides, and neuromorphic sensor arrays into a unified hardware platform that processes time-varying signals directly on-chip.
The goal is to create an ultra-fast event camera with embedded intelligence for applications where conventional electronics fall short. Potential use cases include 5D imaging particle detectors in high-energy physics, proton computed tomography (CT) for radiation therapy, and adaptive control of chemical processes.
“This grant allows us to take a unique technological leap, from material physics and nanofabrication to system optimization for neuromorphic edge-AI in challenging and exciting application domains,” Sandin says. “What excites me most is the interdisciplinary nature of our project and the potential of the technology. With PHINDER, we aim to design a new type of neuromorphic sensor system fast enough to perceive and control fundamental molecular processes in nature”.
A pan-European collaboration
PHINDER is coordinated by Luleå University of Technology and includes partners from Lund University and NanoLund (Sweden), Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), Universidad de Oviedo and Universidad de Cantabria (Spain), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy), and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (Belgium). Together, these institutions aim to strengthen Europe’s position in neuromorphic technology.
Earlier this year, a national consortium conducted a Vinnova-funded pre-study titled Neuromorphic Sweden: Status, Needs, and Recommendations (2025), which outlines the current landscape and strategic priorities for Sweden to remain competitive in this emerging field. Read the full report.
Building on a WASP-WISE project
PHINDER builds on the foundation of the 2023 WASP-WISE preproject Fast, Robust, and Efficient NanoPhotonic Neuromorphic Computing, a collaboration between Luleå University of Technology and Lund University.
A key contributor to PHINDER is Tommaso Dorigo, a WASP-funded visiting researcher in Luleå.
About the EIC Pathfinder EU grant
The Pathfinder program supports visionary ideas for radically new technologies. It promotes high-risk/high-gain, interdisciplinary collaborations focused on early-stage technology development (Technology Readiness Levels 1–3), up to proof of concept. Funded projects may receive up to €3–4 million.
Published: November 17th, 2025
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