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Human Brain Project
Human Brain Project
Human Brain Project
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The Human Brain Project (HBP) was a EU scientific research project that ran for ten years from 2013 to 2023, with a total budget of €1 billion.[2][3][4] Using high-performance exascale supercomputers it built infrastructure that allowed researchers to advance knowledge in the fields of neuroscience, computing and brain-related medicine.[5] Its successor was the European Brain Research Infrastructures (EBRAINS) project.[6]

Key Information

The Project, which started on 1 October 2013, was a European Commission Future and Emerging Technologies Flagship. The HBP was coordinated by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and was largely funded by the European Union.[7] The project coordination office was in Geneva, Switzerland.[8]

Peer-reviewed research finds that the public discussion forum (the Human Brain Project forum) was actively utilized and showed resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The HBP forum has been most actively utilized and useful for solving questions related to programming issues and questions close to HBP core areas.

Strategic goals and organisation

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The 2013 HBP Summit–the inauguration of the Project–took place in the EPFL Learning Centre in October 2013. It brought together scientists from over 100 Partner Institutions.

Fundamental to the HBP approach is to investigate the brain on different spatial and temporal scales (i.e. from the molecular to the large networks underlying higher cognitive processes, and from milliseconds to years). To achieve this goal, the HBP relies on the collaboration of scientists from diverse disciplines, including neuroscience, philosophy and computer science, to take advantage of the loop of experimental data, modelling theories and simulations. The idea is that empirical results are used to develop theories, which then foster modelling and simulations which result in predictions that are in turn verified by empirical results.[10]

The primary objective of the HBP is to create an ICT-based research infrastructure for brain research, cognitive neuroscience and brain-inspired computing, which can be used by researchers world-wide.

The Project is divided into 12 Subprojects. Six of these develop ICT-based platforms (Subprojects 5-10), which consist of prototype hardware, software, databases, and programming interfaces. These tools are available to researchers worldwide via the HBP Collaboratory. Four Subprojects gather data on empirical neuroscience and establish theoretical foundations (Subprojects 1–4) and one is responsible for ethics and society (Subproject 12). Subproject 11 coordinates the project.

  • SP1 Mouse Brain Organisation: Understanding the structure of the mouse brain, and its electrical and chemical functions
  • SP2 Human Brain Organisation: Understanding the structure of the human brain, and its electrical and chemical functions
  • SP3 Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience: Understanding how the brain performs its systems-level and cognitive functional activities
  • SP4 Theoretical Neuroscience: Deriving high-level mathematical models to synthesize conclusions from research data
  • SP5 Neuroinformatics Platform: Gathering, organising and making available brain data
  • SP6 Brain Simulation Platform: Developing data-driven reconstructions of brain tissue and simulation capabilities to explore these reconstructions
  • SP7 High-performance Analytics and Computing Platform: Providing the ICT capability to map the brain in unprecedented detail, construct complex models, run large simulations, and analyse large volumes of data
  • SP8 Medical Informatics Platform: Developing the infrastructure to share hospital and medical research data for the purpose of understanding disease clusters and their respective disease signatures
  • SP9 Neuromorphic Computing Platform: Developing and applying brain-inspired computing technology
  • SP10 Neurorobotics Platform: Developing virtual and real robots and environments for testing brain simulations
  • SP11 Management and Coordination: General coordination of the project
  • SP12 Ethics and Society: Exploring the ethical and societal impact of HBP's work

The HBP is coordinated by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and involves researchers from over 117 partner institutions in 19 countries across Europe.[5] Notable Partner Institutions include the University of Heidelberg, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and the University Hospital of Lausanne.

The scientific direction is provided by representatives from each of the HBP's Subprojects, which form the Science and Infrastructure Board (SIB). Katrin Amunts from Forschungszentrum Jülich is the Chair of the SIB. Alois Knoll from TU Munich is Vice Chair of the SIB for software. The Directorate steers the daily work of the HBP – it is led by Andreas Mortensen from EPFL.

Funding

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The HBP is funded by the European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) under the FP7 framework, an EU Research and Innovation funding programme. It was one of the two initial Future Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship projects.

The project is split into five phases, each supplied with separate funding. The call for funding for the Project's initial two-and-a-half-year 'Ramp-Up Phase' of EUR 54 million closed in November 2013 and the results were announced in March 2014. Twenty-two projects from thirty-two organisations were selected for the initial funding of EUR 8.3 million.[11] The Ramp-Up Phase ended on 31 March 2016. Funding is reassessed every two years using Specific Grant Agreements (SGA); the first of which began in April 2016 (ending in April 2018), and the second with a total EU funding of 88 Million Euro starting in April 2018 (ending in March 2020). The HBP's total costs are estimated at EUR 1.019 billion, of which EUR 500 million will be provided by the European Commission, EUR 500 million by national, public and private organisations, and EUR 19 million by the Core Project Ramp-Up Phase Partners.[5]

Obstacles

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One of the Project's primary hurdles is the unsystematic nature of the information collected from previous brain research. Neurological research data varies by biological organisation schemes, species studied, and by developmental stages, making it difficult to collectively use the data to replicate the brain in a model that acts as a single system.[12]

Other obstacles include engineering problems involving power consumption, memory, and storage.[13] For example, detailed neuron representations are very computationally expensive,[14][15] and whole brain simulation is at the leading edge of our computational capability.[16]

Implications

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The Human Brain Project moved to Campus Biotech in 2014.[8]

Technologies generated by the HBP and other similar projects offer several possibilities to other fields of research. For instance, a brain model can be used to investigate signatures of disease in the brain and the impact of certain drugs, enabling the development of better diagnosis and treatment methods. Ultimately, these technologies will likely lead to more advanced medical options available to patients at a lower cost.[12]

In addition, detailed brain simulation requires significant computing power, leading to developments in supercomputing and energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing techniques. Computational developments can be extended into areas such as data mining, telecommunications, appliances, and other industrial uses.[12]

The long-term ethical consequences of the Project are also considered. The Project follows a policy of Responsible Research and Innovation, and its Ethics Advisory Board is responsible for monitoring the use of human volunteers, animal subjects, and the data collected. Implications on European society, industry, and economy are investigated by the HBP Ethics and Society Programme's Foresight Lab.[17]

Criticism

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An open letter was sent on 7 July 2015 to the European Commission by 154 European researchers (750 signatures as of 3 September 2014)[2] complaining of the HBP's overly narrow approach, and threatening to boycott the project.[18] Central to this controversy was an internal dispute about funding for cognitive scientists who study high level brain functions, such as thought and behaviour. However, the HBP stated that there is "no question that cognition and behaviour are vital to the HBP", explaining that cognitive neuroscience research was repositioned in the project to allow the core project to focus on building the platforms. In addition, the open letter called on the EC to "reallocate the funding currently allocated to the HBP core and partnering projects to broad neuroscience-directed funding to meet the original goals of the HBP—understanding brain function and its effect on society". In its response, the HBP said that "while neuroscience research generates a vast amount of valuable data, there is currently no technology for sharing, organising, analysing or integrating this information, beyond papers and even databases. The HBP will provide the critical missing layer to move towards a multi-level reconstruction and simulation of the brain". It added that "cognitive and behavioural neuroscience will become the most significant component of neuroscience in HBP over the course of the project. However, for this to happen the platforms have to be in place first".[19]

Peter Dayan, director of computational neuroscience at University College London, argued that the goal of a large-scale simulation of the brain is radically premature,[20] and Geoffrey Hinton said that "the real problem with that project is they have no clue how to get a large system like that to learn".[21] Similar concerns as to the project's methodology were raised by Robert Epstein.[22]

The HBP has said that its members share the uncertainty surrounding large-scale simulation, but that "reconstructing and simulating the human brain is a vision, a target; the benefits will come from the technology needed to get there. That technology, developed by the HBP, will benefit all of neuroscience as well as related fields".[19]

In 2015 the project underwent a review process and the three-member executive committee, led by Henry Markram, was dissolved[3][23][24] and replaced by a 22-member governing board.[25]

According to a 2019 article, "In 2013, the European Commission awarded his initiative—the Human Brain Project (HBP)—a staggering 1 billion euro grant (worth about $1.42 billion at the time)...the people I contacted struggled to name a major contribution that the HBP has made in the past decade."[26] Another article concluded that "Ultimately, the mega-project did create communities of scientists focused on some common goals, he says. "That's an enduring legacy.""[3]

Legacy

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The European Brain Research Infrastructures (EBRAINS) is a research infrastructure created through HBP "that gathers an extensive range of data and tools for brain related research".[27] EBRAINS consists of a set of infrastructure initiatives (such as brain atlases),[28] tools and services (such as the sPyNNaker software suite for SpiNNaker hardware),[29] and community projects. It is an international non-profit association headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and a member of the European Open Science Cloud association.

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Human Brain Project

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The Human Brain Project (HBP) was a large-scale European research initiative launched in 2013 as one of the European Union's Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship programs, aimed at simulating the through advanced and communication technologies to deepen understanding of function, develop treatments for neurological diseases, and pioneer brain-inspired computing paradigms. Initiated and initially coordinated by Henry Markram at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in , the project integrated multidisciplinary efforts from more than 500 scientists across 155 institutions in 19 countries, focusing on building a comprehensive digital framework for research. The project faced early controversies leading to changes in leadership in 2015. Funded with a total of €607 million, including €406 million from the EU, over its decade-long duration from 2013 to 2023, the HBP sought to create an ICT-based scientific research infrastructure that would accelerate discoveries in neuroscience by combining experimental data, simulations, and neuromorphic hardware. Key components included the development of multiscale brain atlases, high-fidelity simulation platforms like the EBRAINS research infrastructure, and innovations in neuromorphic computing systems such as SpiNNaker and BrainScaleS, which emulate neural processes for energy-efficient computation. The project developed key ICT platforms including those for brain simulation, high-performance analytics and computing, medical informatics, neuromorphic computing, and , with later focus areas on connectivity/dysconnectivity, /, and brain-inspired architectures—enabling collaborative exploration of brain mechanisms underlying , , and disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Notable achievements encompassed the creation of open-access datasets for , advancements in predictive modeling of brain diseases, and contributions to ethical frameworks for research, significantly influencing global efforts in digital brain science. Upon its conclusion, the HBP transitioned its resources into the EBRAINS digital infrastructure, a sustainable platform hosted by the European Brain Research Area (EBRAINS AISBL), ensuring continued access to tools and for ongoing in brain health and . This legacy has established a new paradigm for interdisciplinary , fostering innovations in precision and neuromorphic technologies while addressing challenges in and computational .

History and Background

Origins and Initiation

In the early 2010s, the neuroscience community increasingly recognized the limitations of traditional, fragmented research approaches amid an explosion of data from advances in high-resolution brain imaging, genomics, and electrophysiological recordings. This data deluge, estimated to exceed petabytes annually, highlighted the need for large-scale integrative projects that could unify disparate datasets and enable computational modeling of brain structures and functions. Such initiatives were inspired by earlier efforts like the Blue Brain Project, launched in 2005 at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), which successfully simulated detailed models of mammalian neocortical columns using supercomputing resources, demonstrating the potential of digital reconstruction to accelerate discoveries in neural connectivity and dynamics. Henry Markram, a and director of the , spearheaded the development of the Human Brain Project (HBP) proposal starting around 2009, drawing on lessons from these simulations to advocate for a European-scale endeavor. Between 2009 and 2012, Markram and collaborators refined the concept through consultations with over 200 experts, culminating in a comprehensive report submitted to the in April 2012 that outlined the HBP as a transformative FET (Future and Emerging Technologies) Flagship initiative. The proposal emphasized bridging with (ICT) to address , such as modeling brain diseases and developing brain-inspired computing paradigms. In January 2013, the HBP was selected from six pilot-phase candidates as one of two EU FET Flagships, marking a pivotal endorsement of its ambitious scope. The project officially launched on October 1, 2013, with initial coordination hosted at EPFL under Markram's leadership. At startup, the HBP convened over 80 research institutions from 13 countries, assembling a multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, physicists, computer scientists, and engineers to operationalize the project's infrastructure. This early coalition focused on establishing core platforms for and simulation, setting the stage for a decade-long effort running until 2023. The HBP's foundational vision centered on creating a unified digital framework to integrate data—from molecular to systems levels—with advanced ICT tools, enabling the of regions and ultimately the whole to uncover mechanisms of , , and computation. By fostering across disciplines, the initiative aimed not only to advance fundamental understanding but also to translate insights into medical diagnostics, neuromorphic hardware, and ethical guidelines for .

Key Phases and Milestones

The Human Brain Project commenced with its Ramp-Up Phase from October 2013 to February 2017, during which the focused on initial , the and deployment of versions of six key (ICT) platforms—including , brain simulation, high-performance analytics and computing, medical informatics, neuromorphic computing, and —and the execution of pilot studies to validate their potential. This phase also involved building a user community of research groups, establishing the European Institute for Theoretical Neuroscience, and implementing policies for responsible and transdisciplinary . In July 2014, the project faced significant controversy when over 800 neuroscientists signed an to the , criticizing its scientific strategy, governance structure, and lack of openness, particularly regarding data sharing and collaboration with the broader community. These concerns prompted a process, culminating in a March 2015 independent report by a panel of experts, which confirmed substantial failures in and scientific planning, including an overly ambitious focus on whole-brain that sidelined other approaches. The report's recommendations led to a major between 2015 and 2016, involving the dissolution of the original executive board, the establishment of new independent oversight bodies, a shift in scientific emphasis toward developing enabling infrastructure like data tools and computational platforms rather than comprehensive brain simulation, and governance changes that opened funding decisions to more competitive processes with biennial reapplications. This overhaul also reinstated subprojects in that had been cut earlier. Following the restructuring, the project entered its Core Phase from April 2016 to September 2023, structured across three Specific Grant Agreements (SGAs) under Horizon 2020, during which the primary efforts centered on advancing research through the maturation of the ICT platforms, integrating multiscale data, and fostering collaborative initiatives. A pivotal milestone in this phase was the launch of EBRAINS in 2019 as an interim digital research infrastructure, providing to atlases, tools, and services to support global research. The project concluded on September 30, 2023, after a decade of operation, marked by a final summit in March 2023 that showcased its contributions to digital . By its end, the Human Brain Project had generated over 3,000 academic publications documenting its research outputs.

Objectives and Structure

Strategic Goals

The Human Brain Project's primary goal was to construct an (ICT) infrastructure to advance , brain medicine, and neuromorphic computing, leveraging exascale supercomputers for large-scale simulations and . This infrastructure aimed to integrate diverse data sources and computational tools, enabling researchers to model brain functions at unprecedented scales and translate findings into medical applications, such as understanding disorders of consciousness. The project envisioned deploying pre-exascale systems around 2016–2017, scaling to full exascale capabilities by 2021–2022, to support interactive, data-intensive supercomputing tailored to brain research needs. A core simulation objective was to develop multiscale models spanning from individual neurons to entire brain networks, investigating structure and function across spatial and temporal dimensions. These models sought to simulate brain dynamics holistically, bridging molecular, cellular, and systems-level processes to uncover mechanisms of cognition, behavior, and pathology. By employing high-performance computing, the project aimed to create virtual brain replicas that could test hypotheses in silico, reducing reliance on animal models and accelerating discoveries in neural circuit interactions. In terms of , the project targeted the and integration of data from various species and scales, fostering across experimental modalities like and . This involved developing common ontologies and formats to aggregate heterogeneous datasets, enabling collaborative analysis and knowledge discovery in . The aims focused on deriving brain-inspired algorithms and hardware to enhance and , drawing from neural principles to create efficient, adaptive systems. These efforts sought to emulate efficiency in processing sensory inputs and , potentially revolutionizing energy-efficient paradigms beyond traditional von Neumann architectures. Ethical integration was embedded from the project's in , with the establishment of an independent Ethics Advisory Board to guide decision-making on ethical, regulatory, social, and philosophical issues arising from . This board advised the project's on responsible practices, ensuring societal implications—such as data and dual-use concerns—were addressed proactively throughout the initiative.

Organizational Framework

The Human Brain Project (HBP) was coordinated by the (EPFL) in until 2020, after which leadership transitioned to a new structure emphasizing integrated management across partner institutions. In its final phase, the project was led by Director General Paweł Świeboda, who oversaw overall operations and strategy, and Scientific Research Director Katrin Amunts, who guided scientific direction and infrastructure development. This coordination model ensured efficient execution of the project's multifaceted activities, with the Directorate serving as the executive body responsible for proposing strategies and reporting to higher governance levels. The project's partnerships encompassed 155 institutions across 19 primarily European countries, including , , , and , fostering a collaborative network for . These partners were organized into 12 subprojects, such as those focused on for modeling neural processes and medical informatics for integrating clinical data on diseases. This division enabled targeted advancements in areas like and neuromorphic computing, while the overall collaboration involved multidisciplinary teams of over 500 scientists, engineers, and clinicians working together to bridge , , and . Governance was structured hierarchically to promote transparency and accountability, with the Stakeholder Board as the ultimate decision-making body, comprising representatives from participating countries to approve work plans, budgets, and key appointments. Supporting this were the Science and Infrastructure Board for scientific oversight, the Scientific and Infrastructure for expert advice on technical and clinical matters, and the Advisory Board for regulatory guidance. In response to early criticisms, a 2015 restructuring disbanded the initial executive committee and introduced enhanced external oversight through expanded advisory mechanisms and a more inclusive board structure. While EU-centric in its core funding and partnerships, the HBP incorporated global data contributions via 65 international partnering projects, enhancing its datasets with worldwide inputs.

Funding and Resources

Financial Support

The Human Brain Project (HBP) was primarily funded through the European Union's Horizon 2020 Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship program, with the total budget reaching €607 million over its 10-year duration from to 2023. Of this amount, the provided €406 million in direct contributions, supporting the core project activities across multiple phases. This funding was disbursed via a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) established in , supplemented by three Specific Grant Agreements (SGAs) that outlined phased implementations, along with an additional grant for the Integrated Cloud-Enhanced Infrastructure (ICEI). The funding structure began with the Ramp-Up Phase from October 2013 to February 2017, allocated an initial €54 million from the out of a total phase budget of €72.5 million. This phase focused on initial planning and partner mobilization, with the remaining €18.5 million approximately covered by contributions from national sources and partners. Subsequent phases included SGA1 (April 2016–March 2018) with €89 million from the , SGA2 (April 2018–March 2020) with €88 million, and SGA3 (April 2020–September 2023) with €150 million. Additionally, the ICEI grant (January 2018–September 2023) provided €25 million from the out of a €50 million total budget, supporting enhanced computing infrastructure. These allocations were provided on an annual basis within each SGA to align with project milestones and performance reviews. The balance of the total budget, approximately €201 million, came from member states, public institutions, and private partners across 19 European , including notable in-kind and cash contributions that supplemented funds. For instance, during the Ramp-Up Phase, partners provided an additional €19 million to bridge gaps in the overall cost. Overall, national and other inputs ensured broad stakeholder involvement, with more than 150 institutions participating. Funding oversight was managed by the through the FET Flagship coordination, involving regular audits, ethical reviews, and progress evaluations to ensure compliance with Horizon 2020 guidelines. These mechanisms included independent expert panels that assessed scientific and financial deliverables at the end of each phase, confirming the project's alignment with research priorities.

Resource Allocation

The Human Brain Project allocated its resources across key areas to support its infrastructure-driven goals, with the total of €607 million distributed to enable collaborative research and technological development. Resources supported computing infrastructure, including systems essential for simulations and modeling; data platforms for managing datasets; research subprojects focused on modeling and analysis; and , governance, and dissemination activities. Funding for personnel sustained over 500 staff members, encompassing salaries, training programs, and collaborative exchanges across 155 institutions in 19 countries, fostering interdisciplinary expertise in and . Infrastructure investments emphasized access to advanced supercomputing resources, such as those provided by the Supercomputing Centre, and extensive data storage capabilities integrated into the EBRAINS platform, which hosts thousands of datasets and models. Annual reporting mechanisms facilitated budget adjustments following the 2015 restructuring, shifting emphasis toward platform prioritization and reducing allocations to less feasible ambitions. measures incorporated cost-sharing models among partners, leveraging contributions from national and international entities to optimize resource utilization and extend the project's reach beyond core EU funding.

Research Approach

Methodologies and Technologies

The Human Brain Project (HBP) employed multiscale simulation methodologies to construct bottom-up models of brain function, integrating processes from ion channels and molecular dynamics to cellular networks and entire brain regions. This approach allowed researchers to propagate parameters across scales, such as calcium dynamics time constants, ensuring compatibility between levels through concurrent simulations that exchanged information periodically. For instance, detailed intracellular signaling cascades in single neurons were linked to network-level behaviors, as demonstrated in models of dopamine-induced processes in striatal neurons. Tools like the NEURON simulator facilitated this by converting biophysical models into modular files via Jupyter notebook workflows, enabling high-resolution simulations of subcellular events within larger systems. Data integration in the HBP adhered to the FAIR principles—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable—to standardize neuroscience data across diverse modalities and scales. This involved curating datasets with standardized metadata and providing long-term storage through the EBRAINS infrastructure, which supported discovery, annotation, and reuse by the community. Ontologies, such as openMINDS, played a central role in this standardization, defining consistent terms for anatomical locations, experimental parameters, and data types within a knowledge graph that linked multimodal information from imaging and electrophysiology. Brain atlasing workflows further enabled spatial registration of data to reference templates, like the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas, facilitating interoperability and reducing silos in heterogeneous datasets. High-performance computing (HPC) underpinned the HBP's simulation efforts, leveraging supercomputers to handle the computational demands of brain-scale models. Early phases utilized platforms like IBM's Blue Gene for petascale simulations of cortical columns, evolving toward exascale capabilities to model full-brain networks with single-neuron resolution. The project's Fenix federated resources across European centers, providing access to HPC systems for multiscale co-simulations that integrated cellular and whole-brain levels. These efforts anticipated exascale supercomputers, projected to enable detailed reconstructions of dynamics by processing petabyte-scale datasets from high-resolution imaging. Neuromorphic engineering in the HBP focused on developing hardware that emulated biological neural processing through (SNNs), aiming for energy-efficient computing that mirrored the brain's sparse, event-driven activity. SNNs processed information via discrete spikes rather than continuous values, reducing power consumption while supporting real-time learning and plasticity studies. Key implementations included the system, a million-core platform simulating large-scale SNNs in biological real-time, and BrainScaleS, an analog neuromorphic chip accelerating simulations up to 10,000 times faster than biological speeds. These technologies, integrated into EBRAINS, enabled efficient exploration of network behaviors unattainable with conventional von Neumann architectures. Validation of HBP models relied on quantitative comparisons with experimental data, using statistical methods to assess alignment between simulated and observed network activity. Electrophysiological recordings, such as spike timings and , were benchmarked against model outputs to evaluate metrics like firing rates and patterns. Imaging data from techniques like two-photon microscopy provided spatial validation, ensuring simulated morphologies and connectomes matched empirical distributions. Standardized test suites, developed within the project, facilitated reproducible assessments, confirming model fidelity across scales without to specific datasets.

Key Platforms and Tools

The Human Brain Project developed EBRAINS as its flagship joint platform, launched in 2020, to integrate data, simulation, and analytics services for brain research across Europe. This distributed research infrastructure facilitates collaborative neuroscience by providing access to brain data sets, multilevel atlases, modeling tools, high-performance computing resources, and neuromorphic systems, all designed with interoperability standards to support FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. EBRAINS enables researchers to share, analyze, and simulate brain-related data while accelerating discoveries in neuroscience, medicine, and brain-inspired technologies. A core component of EBRAINS is its suite of brain atlases, which offer 3D multimodal reference systems for rodent and human brains. These atlases integrate structural, functional, and connectivity data across scales, from cellular to whole-brain levels, allowing precise navigation and analysis of neuroanatomical information. For instance, the Human Brain Atlas combines cytoarchitecture, chemoarchitecture, genetics, and functional imaging to create a comprehensive spatial framework for studying brain organization. The project advanced simulation tools essential for modeling neural dynamics. The NEST simulator supports large-scale simulations, emphasizing system-level dynamics, size, and structure over individual morphology, making it suitable for exploring network behaviors in . Complementing this, The Virtual Brain (TVB) provides an open-source platform for personalized whole-brain network modeling, merging structural connectivity data with dynamical simulations to predict brain activity patterns. These tools, accessible via EBRAINS, enable multiscale simulations from microscopic neural circuits to macroscopic brain states. Data services within the project centered on the Collaboratory, a collaborative platform for sharing datasets, models, and software. This system functions as a social networking hub for scientists, promoting through fluid exchange of , processed analyses, theories, and applications, with features for and community-driven curation. Integrated into EBRAINS, it supports long-term storage, DOI assignment, and ethical data management to foster reproducible research. Neuromorphic computing prototypes developed under the project include and BrainScaleS, which emulate brain-like processing for efficient, real-time simulations. , a massively parallel system with one million ARM-based cores connected via a packet-switched network, models asynchronous at biological timescales, enabling simulations of millions of neurons. BrainScaleS, in contrast, uses analog electronic circuits to implement accelerated physical models of neurons and synapses on mixed-signal chips, operating up to 10,000 times faster than biological speeds for rapid prototyping of neural circuits. Both systems are hosted on EBRAINS, supporting hardware-accelerated brain-inspired computing applications.

Challenges and Criticisms

Scientific and Technical Obstacles

One of the primary scientific obstacles in the Human Brain Project (HBP) was the heterogeneity and fragmentation of , which lacked unified standards for collection, formatting, and annotation. Neuroscience research generates vast amounts of from diverse experimental techniques, spanning molecular to whole- scales, species, and developmental stages, often published across thousands of journals without interoperable interfaces. This unsystematic accumulation, frequently unstructured, hindered effective sharing and analysis, as no common protocols or ontologies existed to facilitate integration. Compounding these issues was the enormous volume of data required for and , often exceeding petabytes even for partial reconstructions. For instance, a single at cellular resolution can produce several petabytes, while electron datasets for detailed synaptic mapping may surpass one exabyte. Such scales overwhelmed traditional storage and capabilities, necessitating advanced for management. Computing hurdles posed another major technical barrier, driven by the immense demands of simulating the brain's approximately 86 billion neurons and trillions of synaptic connections. Full-scale simulations require —systems capable of 10^18 floating-point operations per second—to model dynamic interactions, far beyond the petascale limits of early project supercomputers like those providing around 56 teraflops. These simulations also strained , storage, and power consumption, with energy needs capped at about 20 megawatts to remain feasible. Integration difficulties further complicated progress, particularly in aligning multiscale models across biological levels and disciplines. Few prior efforts had successfully linked molecular, cellular, and systems-level into cohesive, dynamic frameworks, requiring novel approaches to unify disparate models while accounting for interdisciplinary variations in and theory. This lack of a foundational unified model amplified challenges in creating predictive simulations. Scalability problems delayed the project's transition to exascale computing, as hardware limitations in programmability, energy efficiency, and interconnectivity persisted despite Europe's planned deployment of such systems by the mid-2020s through initiatives like EuroHPC. Early simulations remained limited to small subsets, such as millions of neurons, underscoring the gap between current capabilities and the demands of brain-scale modeling. To address these obstacles, the HBP pursued iterative refinements to its technical platforms following a 2016 mid-term review, shifting toward a more modular, data-centric . This included enhancements to the EBRAINS research platform for better data federation, standardized ontologies, and scalable simulation tools, enabling routine operations and user-driven updates by the project's later phases. These adaptations emphasized collaborative development of high-performance analytics and neuromorphic computing prototypes to mitigate integration and scalability issues.

Controversies and Debates

In July 2014, over 750 neuroscientists signed an open letter to the European Commission criticizing the Human Brain Project (HBP) for its overemphasis on large-scale brain simulation at the expense of experimental neuroscience research. The signatories argued that the project's heavy focus on computational modeling, such as the development of simulation platforms like those centered on the rat neocortex, neglected the need for broader data collection and empirical studies essential to advancing understanding of brain function. They expressed doubts about the feasibility of the HBP's ambitious goal to create a comprehensive digital reconstruction of the human brain within a decade, describing it as scientifically premature and lacking a realistic integration of diverse neuroscientific approaches. This protest, initiated by prominent figures from institutions like the University of Oxford and the Max Planck Society, called for an independent review and potential reallocation of the project's substantial funding to more balanced initiatives. The open letter prompted a significant response from the , leading to a mediation process that culminated in a major restructuring of the HBP in March 2015. A 27-member scientific panel, convened to address the criticisms, largely endorsed the concerns in a 53-page report, highlighting the need to shift the project's emphasis from overly ambitious simulation efforts to the development of shared data infrastructures and computational tools. This reform dissolved the previous executive board and introduced a new with independent oversight to better integrate the project's 13 subprojects and reinstate elements of that had been deprioritized. The changes aimed to mitigate the risks of the original top-down approach, fostering a more collaborative framework while maintaining the HBP's core infrastructure goals. Ethical concerns emerged as a parallel thread of debate within and around the HBP, particularly regarding the handling of sensitive brain data and the potential risks of brain-inspired (AI). The project's and Society Subproject, established in , addressed these issues through a (RRI) framework, conducting analyses on , neuroethical implications, and the dual-use potential of advancements. Key efforts included developing policies for the EBRAINS to protect individual in large-scale brain datasets, such as those involving and multi-omics information, while mitigating risks like unauthorized access or misuse in AI applications.30006-6) The subproject produced over 100 publications and three formal opinions on topics including AI and data protection, emphasizing proactive measures to balance innovation with societal safeguards. Organizational critiques further intensified scrutiny of the HBP's internal operations, with detractors pointing to excessive management centralization and insufficient transparency as barriers to effective collaboration. The 2015 review panel identified flaws in the project's governance, including a lack of integration among subprojects and conflicts of interest arising from centralized control over funding decisions by a small executive group. Critics argued that this top-down structure stifled diverse scientific input and obscured progress updates, contrasting sharply with more open models like the U.S. BRAIN Initiative. In response, the HBP adopted reforms by June 2015, establishing a 22-member governing board for decentralized decision-making and committing to enhanced reporting mechanisms to improve accountability. Debates on the HBP's scope highlighted tensions between its primarily EU-centric framework and the perceived need for broader global collaboration in neuroscience. Signatories of the 2014 open letter criticized the project's narrow institutional focus, involving over 80 European and select international partners, for potentially limiting its impact by excluding wider global expertise and resources. Comparisons to the U.S.-led BRAIN Initiative underscored these concerns, as the latter's more flexible, multi-vision approach encouraged international participation without a single dominant simulation paradigm. Proponents of expanded scope advocated reallocating HBP funds to support cross-continental efforts, arguing that understanding the brain requires coordinated global input to address complex challenges like neural circuit mapping. Despite these calls, the HBP maintained its European roots while incorporating partnering projects from beyond the EU to foster some international ties.

Achievements and Outcomes

Major Scientific Contributions

The Human Brain Project (HBP) generated over 3,000 academic publications, focusing on modeling, techniques, and data-driven analyses. These outputs, produced by interdisciplinary teams across , advanced understanding of neural dynamics and , with many appearing in high-impact journals. Key discoveries included detailed insights into neural circuits, exemplified by full-scale simulations of the rodent hippocampus CA1 region. These models integrated experimental data from synapses to network levels, revealing mechanisms of and spatial in the hippocampus. Additionally, HBP researchers developed personalized brain models for , enabling simulation-based identification of onset zones with higher precision than traditional methods. This approach, validated in clinical trials, supports tailored surgical interventions and has potential applications in other neurological disorders. In , the project contributed brain-inspired algorithms that enhance efficiency, such as continual learning networks mimicking human to avoid catastrophic forgetting during multitask training. These methods, developed through HBP collaborations, improve AI adaptability and energy efficiency in neuromorphic systems. The HBP curated extensive datasets and multiscale atlases for more than 10 brain regions, including the human , rodent hippocampus, and , facilitating reproducible research through open-access platforms like EBRAINS. These resources integrate histological, connectivity, and functional data, enabling cross-species comparisons and standardized analyses. An independent expert report in 2024 confirmed the HBP's transformative advances in digital , highlighting its establishment of a new paradigm for integrating data, simulations, and in brain research.

Developed Infrastructures

The Human Brain Project (HBP) culminated in the development of EBRAINS, a comprehensive that evolved from an initial launched in 2020 to a fully operational European research infrastructure by 2023. This progression included the establishment of a central hub and a pan-European network of national nodes, enabling collaborative across disciplines. EBRAINS provides integrated services for , including resources for modeling neural networks, and platforms that support the curation, sharing, and analysis of multiscale datasets. A key component of EBRAINS is its integration with supercomputing facilities, such as the JUWELS Booster at , which offers sustained access for large-scale brain simulations post-2023. This modular system, with approximately 71 petaflops of peak power, facilitates ongoing simulations of brain dynamics and supports interdisciplinary applications in and brain-inspired . All EBRAINS platforms adhere to (Findable, Accessible, , Reusable) principles, ensuring that data, models, and tools are openly accessible and publicly available to researchers worldwide without restrictions. This open-access framework promotes ethical , including GDPR compliance for sensitive human-derived datasets, and with global standards to enhance reusability in . EBRAINS sustains educational resources through dedicated portals and workshops that extend beyond the HBP's 2023 conclusion, offering hands-on training in , simulation tools, and . These programs, including annual events like the EBRAINS Brain Simulation School and the EBRAINS Summit 2025, target early-career researchers and foster skills in utilizing the infrastructure for transdisciplinary brain studies. Maintenance of EBRAINS is secured through funding, with a €38 million grant allocated for development and operations until at least 2026, ensuring long-term stability and expansion of its services. This support builds on the HBP's initial tool developments, transitioning them into a permanent, user-driven ecosystem for , as highlighted in a February 2025 exhibition in .

Legacy and Impact

Successor Initiatives

Following the conclusion of the Human Brain Project in 2023, EBRAINS emerged as its primary successor, serving as the European Union's designated research infrastructure for brain science and brain-inspired technologies. Launched in 2019 during the HBP's final phase, EBRAINS provides an integrated digital ecosystem that sustains and expands access to HBP-developed tools, data, and services for , , and applications. As a landmark on the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap since 2021, it coordinates a pan-European network of partners to promote and collaborative research. EBRAINS has secured ongoing EU funding to ensure its longevity, including a €38 million grant under for the EBRAINS 2.0 phase running from 2024 to 2026, which focuses on enhancing atlases, platforms, and AI integration for health. This funding supports expanded services such as GDPR-compliant medical data handling and validation of AI models for clinical use, with plans for sustainable operations aligned with ESFRI's implementation phase starting in 2025. The infrastructure's user community has grown significantly, reaching approximately 10,000 subscribers by 2024, including active researchers from academia, industry, and clinical settings who utilize its resources for projects like personalized modeling. In 2025, EBRAINS continues to advance through initiatives like the EBRAINS Summit (December 8-11) and a new brochure outlining its platform for research. An independent expert review commissioned by the in 2024 commended the HBP's legacy, highlighting EBRAINS as a transformative outcome that has advanced digital and fostered a multidisciplinary community across . The transition from the HBP to EBRAINS involved systematic through partnering projects, education programs, and interdisciplinary workshops, ensuring seamless handover of expertise from over 500 HBP-affiliated scientists to the new governance structure under the EBRAINS AISBL—a non-profit association headquartered in with 8 full members and 35 associates. This shift emphasizes and long-term viability, with national nodes like EBRAINS expanding partnerships to nine institutions by 2024. Internationally, EBRAINS maintains links via the International Brain Initiative, facilitating collaborations with the U.S. on shared data standards and with Japan's Brain/MINDS project on technologies. Additionally, EBRAINS outputs are incorporated into EU AI initiatives, such as those advancing NeuroAI and ethical AI guidelines for healthcare, positioning it as a key enabler in Europe's broader digital and AI strategies.

Broader Implications

The Human Brain Project (HBP) has significantly influenced applications by advancing modeling techniques that enhance diagnostics for neurological disorders. Through the development of personalized network models and integrated simulations, the project has enabled more precise predictions of behavior in clinical settings, facilitating earlier detection and tailored interventions for conditions such as and stroke-related injuries. For instance, tools like combined with (TMS-EEG) have shown potential for broader application in patients with focal damage, improving treatment outcomes beyond traditional methods. In technology, the HBP's work on neuromorphic computing has spurred spin-offs that advance (AI) and . By emulating biological neural networks in electronic circuits, the project produced open-source platforms like and BrainScaleS, which enable energy-efficient on spiking neuromorphic chips. These innovations reduce AI's power consumption significantly compared to conventional systems, supporting applications in , healthcare, and processing at the edge, where low latency and minimal energy use are critical. The project's Ethics and Society Subproject established frameworks for responsible handling of brain data, emphasizing compliance with European data protection laws while addressing broader societal concerns like and equity in research. These guidelines, developed through multidisciplinary analyses, have informed policy discussions on AI governance, contributing to the ethical foundations of regulations such as the EU AI Act by promoting "responsibility by design" in brain-inspired technologies. On a global scale, the HBP's standardized tools, including digital brain atlases and the EBRAINS research infrastructure, have accelerated international collaborations in by enabling seamless and sharing across borders. Partnering projects and open-access resources have fostered synergies with regional and national initiatives, transforming how multidisciplinary teams worldwide conduct brain research and paving the way for successor efforts like EBRAINS. Economically, the HBP's approximately €1 billion investment—combining funding of €607 million with national contributions—has yielded a high through innovations in patents and spin-offs. A 2023 analysis indicated that the project generated 13 times more patent applications per euro invested compared to other initiatives, driving advancements in medical informatics, neuromorphic hardware, and AI that promise long-term societal and industrial benefits.

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