Robert Kunz and Lennart Schierling, both PhD students at the MSE Lab, visited the Future Computing Laboratory at ETH Zurich in February 2026. In a head-out article, they reveal how they found valuable inspiration for their own research at the Winter School:
As PhD students at the MSE Lab, we are working on the development of intelligent sensor systems. An important aspect of these systems is the processing of measurement data into semantic information in the vicinity of the sensor - while minimising energy consumption. One possible solution for this task is the development of processors that are optimised for these applications.
At the Future Computing Laboratory's Winter School, which took place in Zurich from 9 to 12 February 2026, we had the opportunity to learn about different approaches to integrating application-specific computing units into existing processor designs. The week began with an introduction to the production of customised integrated circuits (chips). Typically, this is intended for mass production, which is associated with very high initial costs and makes it difficult for individuals or educational institutions to access. The Tiny Tapeout initiative aims to drastically reduce these barriers to entry. By developing easily accessible development tools and a form of organised bulk ordering, students, for example, can have small designs produced at low cost. Five keynotes from leading researchers on topics such as "End-to-End Open Source Design", "3D Human Foundation Models" and "Challenges in Hardware Implementation for Post-Quantum Cryptography" provided the overarching framework for the rest of the week.
Three days of intensive workshops followed, accompanied by introductory technical presentations in which we created various implementations of hardware accelerators ourselves and compared them using simulations. Our stay was rounded off with insights into the structure and working methods of ETH Zurich, personal discussions with current research partners and an excellent cheese fondue.
Link to the blog post: https://blogs.hrz.tu-freiberg.de/headout/en/inspiration-and-cheese-fondue/
Robert Kunz: Participating in the Winter School made a lasting impression on me. The workshop enabled me to quickly and intensively familiarise myself with a solution strategy for a central problem in my doctoral thesis. The direct contact with the workshop leaders also gave me the opportunity to discuss my own previous approaches in personal conversations and to compare them with those presented. The insights into the working methods of the Integrated Systems Laboratory and the deepening of contacts with research partners provided me with inspiration and motivation for my own research projects.
Lennart Schierling: By participating in the Winter School, I was able to gain deeper insights into the field of digital circuit design, the development tools used in an academic context and the working methods of the key players in this field. The acquired knowledge allows me to better categorise existing technical solutions in the field of my doctoral thesis and inspires me to develop my own research in new directions.
