Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) hosted the kick-off meeting of TetraNET – “ZnO Tetrapod Network Platform for Neuromorphic Computing” on 25-26 June 2026, bringing together all consortium partners for the first time to launch the four-year research initiative. The meeting took place at KTU’s Santaka Valley (Baršausko str. 59, Kaunas), with a remote participation option available online.
After registration and opening remarks, the morning was dedicated to introductions: each partner institution presented its expertise, equipment and capabilities to the rest of the consortium, giving the group a shared picture of the resources available across the project.
The project is coordinated by dr. Simas Račkauskas (KTU), and brings together partners from Lithuania, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands: Kaunas University of Technology, University of Aveiro, Politecnico di Torino, University of Twente, INP Greifswald, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Nanoversa, and HFA Electronics. Dr. Simas Račkauskas then introduced the project’s overall goals, objectives, work packages and key performance indicators, followed by short presentations covering each of the project’s six work packages (WPs).
After lunch, partners took part in round-table discussions to define concrete action plans for WP1–WP4. After a coffee break, the group addressed the Grant Agreement, Consortium Agreement, and financial aspects of running the project.
The day concluded with a networking dinner at the “AVILYS” brewery restaurant in Kaunas – a chance for partners to continue conversations in a more informal setting.
The second day shifted focus to the operational side of the project. Dr. Račkauskas led a practical session covering the procedure for applying for a secondment, the respective responsibilities of sending and hosting organizations and teams, project reporting requirements, and the System for Grant Management (SyGMa). After a break, partners worked together to align the first-year secondment plan between sending and receiving institutions – a key step in coordinating the researcher exchanges that will drive the project’s collaborative work over the coming year. The meeting concluded with a general discussion and closing remarks, followed by a tour of KTU’s Institute of Materials Science laboratories, giving visiting partners a first-hand look at the facilities where much of the project’s synthesis and characterization work will take place.
With the consortium now aligned on its work plan and first-year secondments, TetraNET partners will begin the collaborative research and researcher exchanges that will underpin the project’s four-year roadmap toward more sustainable, energy-efficient neuromorphic computing technologies.
