Conference: The 20th U.S.-Korea Forum on Nanotechnology: Energy-efficient Systems for Artificial Intelligence and Quantum & Neuromorphic Applications

The project will support a United States–Korea Forum on nanotechnology, to be held September 14 & 15, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina, at a time when rapid growth in data generation and processing is driving urgent demand for more energy-efficient computing systems. As emerging technologies converge across quantum, digital, and biological domains, there is a critical need to develop new approaches that enable low-power, high-performance sensing and information processing. Neuromorphic systems offer the ability to process complex sensory data in real time with reduced energy consumption, while quantum technologies open new possibilities for advanced sensing and computation. This Forum will provide a platform for researchers, engineers, and stakeholders from both countries to address these challenges and explore transformative solutions. By fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government, the activity will advance innovation in priority areas identified by both nations, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum science, and neuromorphic engineering. The Forum will also promote knowledge exchange, support workforce development, and strengthen international partnerships, contributing to technological leadership, economic growth, and societal benefit. The project will convene leading experts in nanotechnology, sensing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum and neuromorphic systems to define research directions and identify opportunities for collaboration in energy-efficient sensing and computing. The research team will organize focused sessions, invited presentations, and structured discussions designed to integrate advances in materials, devices, and system architectures. Emphasis will be placed on the co-design of hardware and algorithms for low-power operation, as well as on approaches that leverage quantum effects and brain-inspired computation. The activity will build on prior United States–Korea forums by strengthening connections among research communities and funding agencies, and by facilitating the exchange of technical knowledge. Expected outcomes include the identification of key scientific challenges, the development of collaborative research agendas, and the establishment of sustained partnerships that advance the frontiers of nanotechnology and energy-efficient information processing systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2610543 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Myung Jhon | Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, PITTSBURGH, PA | Award Amount: $49,406 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2610543 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2610543.html