Sylvain Saïghi

Sylvain Saïghi is a lecturer and researcher in electronics at the University of Bordeaux, affiliated with the IMS laboratory (Intégration du Matériel au Système), a joint unit of CNRS, the University of Bordeaux, and Bordeaux INP. He specializes in neuromorphic engineering and low-power artificial intelligence systems.

His research focuses on developing hardware-based artificial intelligence solutions inspired by the human nervous system. He designs electronic circuits and chips that mimic neurons and synapses using memristors and spiking neural networks, enabling energy-efficient 'intelligent' sensors for edge computing applications such as speech and pedestrian recognition. His work lies at the intersection of electronics, neuroscience, and machine learning, aiming to reduce the energy footprint of AI technologies.

The trends in his publications reveal a sustained focus on neuromorphic hardware, particularly in implementing plasticity and learning mechanisms in solid-state devices. His work spans from fundamental analog neuron modeling to advanced spintronic neural networks, consistently targeting energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing systems.

Sylvain Saïghi leads the 5-year Green AI chair at the University of Bordeaux, launched in 2021, dedicated to designing frugal and sustainable AI solutions. He has secured significant research funding through this initiative and collaborates across disciplines and institutions.

• Multilayer spintronic neural networks with radiofrequency connections (Nature Nanotechnology, 2023)
• Learning through ferroelectric domain dynamics in solid-state synapses (Nature Communications, 2017)
• Plasticity in memristive devices for spiking neural networks (Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2015)
• Neuromorphic silicon neuron circuits (Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2011)
• A Library of Analog Operators Based on the Hodgkin-Huxley Formalism (IEEE TBioCAS, 2011)

Sylvain Saïghi has advised several students in the fields of neuromorphic engineering and AI hardware, though specific names are not listed in the provided text. He actively participates in public science outreach, including events like the European Researchers’ Night, and has been featured in media outlets such as TV7, Sud Ouest, and Science et Vie.

He is a key member of the IMS laboratory team, where he leads research in neuromorphic systems and contributes to interdisciplinary projects linking electronics, neuroscience, and sustainable computing. His lab focuses on designing and testing novel hardware architectures for intelligent edge devices.