Project title: Computation Systems Based on Hybrid Spin-wave–CMOS Integrated Architectures
Acronym: SPIDER
PN IV Program: Program 5.8 – European and International Cooperation; Subprogram 5.8.1 - Horizon Europe
Project Type: Horizon Europe Award – Institutions
Contract nr. 13PHE ⁄ 2023/01.11.2023 (code: PN-IV-P8-8.1-PRE-HE-ORG-2023-0042)
Project Duration: 01.11.2023-31.05.2026
Project Budget: 115.250,00 RON
Contractor: National Institute of Research and Development in Microtechnologies – IMT Bucharest (www.imt.ro)
Contracting Authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI (www.uefiscdi.gov.ro)

Using an interdisciplinary approach that includes materials science, physics, device fabrication, electronic engineering, circuit design and encapsulation, the Horizon Europe SPIDER project aims to demonstrate a fully operational hybrid spin-wave-CMOS computing system. So far no complex spin-wave-based circuits have been reported. SPIDER will address this problem by developing spin-wave logic circuits based on majority gates. To integrate these circuits in a CMOS environment, SPIDER will design mixed-signal CMOS chips capable of controlling the spin-wave circuits and reading the calculation results. The spin wave and CMOS chips will then be combined on an interposer to achieve the final hybrid system. The SPIDER Horizon  (https://spider-horizon.eu) no. 101075725 project consortium consists of seven partners from six countries, namely Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Belgium (coordinator), Akronic - Akron Integrated Circuits P.C. (Greece), Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (formerly Technische Universität Kaiserslautern), Germany, National Institute of Research and Development for Microtechnology – IMT Bucharest, Romania, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V (FhG), Germany, Technische Universiteit Delft (TUD), Netherlands, and Thales Research & Technology (TRT), France. IMT Bucharest is the coordinator of Workpackage 6 "Device, circuit, and system characterization". The institutional award project will support complementary technical activities as well as promotion actions and inter-institutional collaboration.

The institutional award project will support complementary technical activities as well as promotion actions and inter-institutional collaboration.

Stage 3/2025
During the reporting period (01.01.2025 – 31.12.2025), the activities Act 3.1 - Development of a method for characterizing majority gates with spin waves and Act 3.2 - Participation in international scientific events were carried out.
Within Activity 3.1., a method for characterizing majority gates with spin waves with an operating frequency in the 2-20 GHz range was developed based on the on-chip characterization system of microwave structures available at IMT Bucharest, in combination with a 3D printed platform that integrates permanent magnets.

Test setup for experimental microwave characterization of majority gates with spin waves polarized in an external magnetic field

3D printed support with permanent magnets mounted in the on-wafer characterization system for characterization of spin wave devices

Within Activity 3.2. researchers from IMT Bucharest participated in the international scientific event IEEE International Semiconductor Conference (www.imt.ro/cas). During the conference, Prof. Dr. Sorin Coţofană from the Technical University of Delft, the Netherlands, was invited, with the presentation “Can Boolean Algebra Pave the Highway Towards Effective Spin Wave Logic Circuit Implementation?”. The objectives and main results of the international Horizon Europe project “Computation Systems Based on Hybrid Spin-wave–CMOS Integrated Architectures”, SPIDER (grant no. 101070417) were presented. The conference was attended by about 240 specialists from over 20 countries.
An updated Horizon SPIDER poster was also created, featuring the latest project results. It was displayed throughout the event in the industry exhibition area and was well received by participants.
The paper "Measurement of Electromagnetic Feedthrough in Spin Wave Based Microwave Multiport Devices", authors Alina-Cristina Bunea, Florin Ciubotaru, Fanfan Meng, Christoph Adelmann, Ovidiu-George Profirescu, Dan Neculoiu (underlined authors from IMT), was published, in collaboration with partners within the Horizon SPIDER project, in the ISI Q1 Romanian Journal of information Science and Technology (ROMJIST, vol. 28, no. 2 (2025): 125-137). The paper is available with free unrestricted access on the publication's website at: https://www.romjist.ro/full-texts/paper796.pdf.
All objectives of Stage No. 3/2025 were met, and the results provided for in activity A3.1., namely, the development of a method for characterizing majority gates with spin waves, as well as those provided for in activity A3.2., namely participation in international scientific
Dissemination: Alina-Cristina Bunea, Florin Ciubotaru, Fanfan Meng, Christoph Adelmann, Ovidiu-George Profirescu, Dan Neculoiu, „Measurement of Electromagnetic Feedthrough in Spin Wave Based Microwave Multiport Devices”, Romanian Journal of information Science and Technology (ROMJIST), vol. 28, no. 2 (2025): 125-137. https://www.romjist.ro/full-texts/paper796.pdf (WOS:001538680900002)

Stage 2/2024
During the reporting period (01.01.2024-31.12.2024) the following activities were carried out: Activity 2.1. Working visit, in collaboration with international partners; Activity 2.2. Promotion and dissemination. The main objectives of the two activities were the exchange of knowledge in the domain if the Horizon Europe „Computation Systems Based on Hybrid Spin-wave–CMOS Integrated Architectures”, SPIDER (grant nr. 101070417) project and the dissemination of the results of the SPIDER project in an international, multi-disciplinary event.
In the frame of Activity 2.1., researchers from IMT Bucharest visited IMEC, in Leuven, Belgium, where microwave measurements were performed and spin-wave-based circuits were discussed.
In the frame of Activity 2.2., together with the partners from IMEC, the following research paper was prepared: „Investigation of Electromagnetic Feedthrough in Spin Wave Based Majority Gates”, authors A-C. Bunea (IMT Bucharest), F. Ciubotaru (IMEC), F. Meng (IMEC), C. Adelman (IMEC), O-G. Profirescu (UPB) and D. Neculoiu (IMT Bucharest, UPB). The paper was presented in front of an international audience at the IEEE International Semiconductor Conference and published on IEEE Xplore (https://doi.org/10.1109/CAS62834.2024.10736792). In the frame of the conference, a poster presenting the SPIDER project was also set up.
All the objectives of Stage no. 2/2024 were fulfilled, and the results of the activity A2.1., (working visit, in collaboration with international partners) and the results of Activity A2.2 (dissemination of the results of the SPIDER project in an international, multi-disciplinary event), were obtained.

Stage 1/2023:
During the reporting period, Activity 1.1 – Preparing of presentation materials for the Horizon Europe SPIDER project and participation in the international conference ICPAM-15 (01.11.2023-31.12.2023) was carried out. The main objectives of the activity were the preparation of materials for the presentation of the Horizon Europe project "Computation Systems Based on Hybrid Spin-wave–CMOS Integrated Architectures", SPIDER (grant no. 101070417) and the presentation of the project at the 15th International Conference on Physics of Advanced Materials (ICPAM-15) (November 19-26, 2023, Egypt) as well as the associated autumn school, the 6th Autumn School on Physics of Advanced Materials (PAMS-6).

For this purpose, an A4 flyer was prepared and distributed at the conference, an abstract of the work was sent and an oral presentation dedicated to Romania's involvement in the SPIDER project was held. The conference was attended by Dr. Alina Maria Cismaru, who presented the work with the title "Horizon Europe SPIDER (grant no. 101070417) – Romanian participation in the development of beyond CMOS computing systems (PN-IU-CEI-OE-Premiere OE-2023); PRE-HE-ORG-2023-0042)", authors Alina Cristina Bunea, Dan Neculoiu and Alina Maria Cismaru.

All the objectives of Stage no. 1/2023 were fulfilled, and the results of the activity A1.1., respectively, the presentation materials of the SPIDER project and the participation in the international conference ICPAM-15 were obtained.

1. Alina-Cristina Bunea, Florin Ciubotaru, Fanfan Meng, Christoph Adelmann, Ovidiu-George Profirescu, Dan Neculoiu, „Measurement of Electromagnetic Feedthrough in Spin Wave Based Microwave Multiport Devices”, Romanian Journal of information Science and Technology (ROMJIST), vol. 28, no. 2 (2025): 125-137. https://www.romjist.ro/full-texts/paper796.pdf (WOS:001538680900002)

2. A. -C. Bunea, F. Ciubotaru, F. Meng, C. Adelman, O. -G. Profirescu and D. Neculoiu, "Investigation of Electromagnetic Feedthrough in Spin Wave Based Majority Gates," 2024 International Semiconductor Conference (CAS), Sinaia, Romania, 2024, pp. 101-104, https://doi.org/10.1109/CAS62834.2024.10736792

3. Alina Cristina Bunea, Dan Neculoiu and Alina Maria Cismaru, “Horizon Europe SPIDER (grant nr. 101070417) – Romanian participation in the development of beyond CMOS computing systems (PN-IU-CEI-OE-Premiere OE-2023; PRE-HE-ORG-2023-0042)”, presented orally at 15th International Conference on Physics of Advanced Materials (ICPAM-15) (19-26 November 2023, Egypt).