RNI was a private, non-profit research institute located in Menlo Park, founded by Jeff Hawkins in April 2002. The goal of RNI was to develop a theoretical framework for the thalamo-cortical system. Its staff consisted of principal investigators, postdocs, and students who worked closely together and shared this common vision. It fostered a vibrant intellectual environment that lead to the development of many new ideas. RNI also sponsored a weekly seminar series, as well as a guest speaker series at Stanford and occasional symposia.