The Human Brain Project (HBP) is building a research infrastructure to help advance neuroscience, medicine, and computing. It is one of four FET (Future and Emerging Technology) Flagships, the largest scientific projects ever  funded by the European Union.

The 10-year Project began in 2013 and directly employs some 500 scientists at more than 100 universities, teaching hospitals, and research centres across Europe.

Six ICT research Platforms form the heart of the HBP infrastructure:

• Neuroinformatics (access to shared brain data)
• Brain Simulation (replication of brain architecture and activity on computers)
• High Performance Analytics and Computing (providing the required computing and analytics capabilities)
• Medical Informatics (access to patient data, identification of disease signatures)
• Neuromorphic Computing (development of brain-inspired computing)
• Neurorobotics (use of robots to test brain simulations)

The HBP also undertakes targeted research and theoretical studies, and explores brain structure and function in humans, rodents and other species. In addition, the Project studies the ethical and societal implications of HBP’s work.