Revolutionary storage technologies: Osnabrück receives millions in funding!

Revolutionary storage technologies: Osnabrück receives millions in funding!

The University of Osnabrück is once again receiving support from the German Research Foundation (DFG). This approval lasts for another three years and includes around 6.3 million euros to advance groundbreaking research projects in the field of main memory technologies. The working group for embedded software systems is headed by Prof. Dr. Olaf Spinczyk, who also coordinated the priority program “Disruptive main memory technologies”. His team investigates innovative approaches to improving storage technology in computer systems.

Already in 2019, Intel set new standards with the introduction of memory modules that retain and do not lose data even in the event of a power failure. These modules are initially intended for servers, but could also be used in modern laptops. The new technology allows a standby state without power consumption and a quick restart of the system, which significantly increases efficiency. In view of these developments, the question arises as to whether classic storage media such as hard drives or SSDs will still be needed in the future.

Innovations and their effects

The French start-up UPMEM has caused a sensation with its special memory modules, which are additionally equipped with computing power. These modules have hundreds of small processors that enable parallel data processing. This computing power can speed up applications by a factor of ten to a hundred, but also carries the risk of slowing down other applications. With its support, the DFG promotes research into technologies that will play a central role in the future.

As part of the aforementioned priority program, the SMAUG subproject is also led by Prof. Spinczyk and Dr. Birte Friesel, furnished. It aims to model new storage technologies so that it supports the development of efficient system software, including operating systems and databases. These models should be created automatically and linked to applications and data in order to optimize the allocation to suitable storage media.

Conclusion and outlook

With the return to the DFG funding program, new approaches to implementing innovative storage technologies are also being found, particularly with regard to non-volatile main memory modules that can be integrated into server processors. These new technologies promise not only a significant increase in processing speed, but also reduced energy consumption and increased system reliability.

The challenges of modern computer science, especially with regard to system software, require combined research efforts. With a variety of projects carried out as part of the funding program, from energy efficiency to new architectures, the University of Osnabrück is setting an example in the development of contemporary and powerful computer systems. The future of storage technology is promising and promises innovative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.

For more information on this topic you can consult the reports University of Osnabrück and the German Research Association see.