Unleashing the Power of Exascale Computing: Genci's 2022 Activity Report
We are thrilled to present the highly anticipated activity report of Genci for the year 2022.
As a leading organization responsible for providing powerful computational and data processing resources, Genci has been instrumental in driving scientific research and innovation at both the national and European levels.
With a mission to promote the use of supercomputing coupled with artificial intelligence, Genci has made significant strides in benefitting scientific research communities, academia, and industrial sectors. Join us as we explore the remarkable achievements showcased in this 68-page report.
Launching Innovative Programs and Initiatives:
Genci’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of computational capabilities is evident through the launch of several groundbreaking programs and initiatives. The report highlights key projects, such as:
- NumPEx: The NumPEx initiative aims to harness the power of supercomputing and AI to drive scientific progress. By providing researchers with cutting-edge computational resources, Genci enables them to tackle complex challenges across various scientific domains.
- Jules Verne Consortium for Exascale: Genci’s partnership in the Jules Verne Consortium demonstrates their dedication to advancing exascale computing. This collaboration fosters innovation and propels research in areas that were once unimaginable.
- CLUSSTER Project: The CLUSSTER project focuses on integrating cloud computing solutions into Genci’s infrastructure. By embracing the cloud, Genci enhances flexibility and scalability, enabling researchers to tackle data-intensive workloads with ease.
- New Supercomputer “Adastra”: Genci’s introduction of the state-of-the-art supercomputer “Adastra” marks a significant milestone. With its remarkable computational power, Adastra empowers researchers to tackle complex simulations, accelerate data analysis, and drive scientific breakthroughs.
Driving Quantum Computing Advancements:
Genci recognizes the immense potential of quantum computing and has made significant progress in this field. The report highlights notable achievements, including:
- National Hybrid Quantum Computing Platform: Genci has played a pivotal role in launching of this platform. This initiative fosters collaboration and enables researchers to explore the capabilities of quantum computing in solving real-world problems.
- Integration of Quantum Systems: Genci has acquired its first quantum systems, marking a significant step towards enabling researchers to harness the power of quantum computing. These systems pave the way for groundbreaking research and innovation in quantum-enabled applications.
- The Quantum Package: Genci’s Quantum Package (PAck Quantique) provides researchers with the necessary tools and resources to explore hybrid quantum computing systems. This initiative promotes the development of novel algorithms and applications that bridge classical and quantum computing.
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence:
Genci has embraced the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, as highlighted in the report:
Bloom Model: Genci’s Bloom Model showcases their efforts to develop cutting-edge AI algorithms and frameworks. By combining supercomputing with AI, Genci facilitates breakthrough research in machine learning, deep learning, and data analytics.
Contributing to Scientific Research and Industry:
Genci is dedicated to supporting scientific research communities, academia, and industrial sectors through different initiatives, as exemplified by their efforts in:
- Reusing Waste Heat: Genci’s innovative approach includes the valorization of waste heat generated by the Jean Zay supercomputer. This environmentally friendly initiative showcases Genci’s dedication to sustainability and efficient resource utilization.
- Grands Challenges: Genci actively supports researchers in tackling grand challenges, providing them with the computational resources needed to address complex problems across diverse scientific disciplines.
- Exemplary Simulations: The report presents compelling examples of simulations conducted with Genci’s resources, showcasing the impactful discoveries and advancements made possible through their support.
- Community of Large Industrial Groups: Genci’s collaboration with large industrial groups highlights their commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry. By fostering partnerships, Genci facilitates the transfer of cutting-edge research and technological advancements into real-world applications.
Genci’s Regional and European Ecosystem:
The report highlights Genci’s active involvement in regional and European initiatives:
- Regional Initiatives: Genci actively contributes to regional development through initiatives like SiMSEO, Competence Center, and MesoNet. These programs encourage cooperation among research institutions and industries, which promotes innovation and contributes to economic growth..
- European Collaborations: Genci’s participation in European collaborations, such as PRACE, EuroHPC, EUPEX, and EPI SGA, underscores their commitment to establishing a strong European ecosystem for high-performance computing. These collaborations facilitate knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and foster a vibrant European research community.
The 2022 Activity Report by Genci demonstrates their commitment to empowering scientific research and driving innovation by integrating exascale computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
Through the launch of groundbreaking programs, the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, and collaborations with research communities and industry, Genci has made significant contributions to advancing scientific frontiers.
Their commitment to sustainable practices and regional and European partnerships further solidifies their position as a leading provider of computational resources.
As we look to the future, Genci continues to pave the way for transformative discoveries and breakthroughs in scientific research and technological innovation.
The French and Dutch governments welcome the decision of the EuroHPC joint venture to host and operate a new European Exascale supercomputer in France
After its acquisition by EuroHPC, this supercomputer will be hosted at the TGCC of CEA by the end of 2025. The Jules Verne consortium aims to deploy a world-class Exascale supercomputer, based on European technologies. It will address major societal and scientific challenges such as climate change, new materials, and personalized medicine. The total cost amounts to 542 million euros, funded by EuroHPC, France, and the Netherlands. The NumPEx program will contribute to software development for these machines.
“The approval by EuroHPC of the Jules Verne consortium’s application is excellent news for French and European research. It marks a significant step forward in securing funding for an Exascale-class supercomputer, with a total value of 542 million euros.
These computing resources will be necessary to tackle the scientific and technological challenges ahead of us, such as climate change, energy transition, or healthcare.”
Said Sylvie Retailleau, French Minister of Higher Education and Research.
And Robbert Dijkgraaf, Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, to conclude:
“It’s excellent news that the European scientific community, led by France and the Netherlands, has joined forces to build the supercomputer proposed by the Jules Verne consortium. Europe is thus reaffirming its position in the global research arena. […] With this immense computing power, scientists have a glimpse of the future, enabling them to help solve fundamental societal problems in areas such as healthcare or the fight against climate change.”
Photo credit : Chris Liverani/Unsplash
What is exascale ?
In today’s world, information has become an essential resource. Massive amounts of data are produced every day, from various sources such as social networks, sensors, scientific simulations, and many more. To efficiently process this data and meet the complex challenges of our time, it is crucial to have powerful computing capabilities.
This is where exascale comes in. Exascale is a measure of computing power that represents one trillion (10^18) floating point operations per second, or one million billion calculations per second. This performance is simply astounding and far exceeds that of all existing supercomputers.
Discover the exascale: The computing power of the future
The race to exascale :
Since the first electronic computers, the computing power of machines has grown exponentially thanks to the advancement of technologies. As computational demands grew more complex, researchers and engineers set themselves the goal of achieving exascale. This has given rise to a veritable race for innovation in the field of supercomputers.
Technological challenges :
Achieving exascale is not just about increasing the speed of processors. This requires a multidimensional approach that integrates several research areas. One of the main challenges is to design more energy-efficient processors capable of processing billions of calculations while minimizing power consumption.
In addition, the architecture of supercomputers must be redesigned to fully exploit the performance of processors. Parallel and distributed architectures, as well as the use of specialized processors like graphics accelerators (GPUs), play a key role in achieving exascale.
Exascale applications :
The exascale opens the way to many possibilities in various fields. In science and research, it will enable more accurate and faster simulations, enabling significant advances in fields such as medical research, meteorology, materials physics, astrophysics and many more.
Exascale is also essential for the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Deep learning models, which require massive amounts of data and computation, will be able to be trained much faster, enabling faster advancements in these areas.
49th ORAP Forum : The PEPR Numpex “Digital for Exascale”
29 novembre 2022, Maison de la simulation
The Digital PEPR for Exascale (NUMPEX) aims to design and develop the software components that will equip future exascale machines and prepare the major application areas to fully exploit the capabilities of these machines.
Major fields of application that relate to both scientific research and the industrial sector.
Register at: https://orap49.sciencesconf.org/