NumPEx launches a new monthly webinar series: first session on 28 September
A new monthly webinar series is starting this September, bringing together the NumPEx community and a broader scientific audience around key results and emerging challenges in scalable scientific computing.
Starting in September 2026, NumPEx will host a monthly webinar series, with sessions held on the last Monday of each month, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM (CEST).
The series will provide an opportunity to highlight scientific results, technological developments and strategic topics connected to the challenges addressed by NumPEx. Designed for a broad audience, the webinars will combine scientific content with accessible context, helping participants understand how each topic contributes to the wider objectives of the NumPEx programme.
The sessions will feature one or more speakers, depending on the topic, and will be open to the wider scientific community. Some webinars will focus on recent scientific achievements, while others will explore strategic issues such as the role of AI in high-performance computing or approaches towards more sustainable computing.
First webinar: scaling inverse problem resolution across multiple nodes and GPUs
The series will kick off on 28 September 2026 with a session by Benoît Malézieux on:
Scaling inverse problem resolution across multiple nodes and GPUs with a simple API
Scientific imaging pipelines are increasingly relying on neural networks, opening up new possibilities for solving complex inverse problems. However, training these models on very large images and volumes can require substantial computational resources and presents significant engineering challenges.
This first webinar will introduce a distributed framework integrated into the open-source DeepInv library, designed to facilitate training and inference across multiple GPUs and computing nodes through a simple and user-friendly API.
The approach will be illustrated through large-scale inverse problems, where individual data samples can contain hundreds of millions of pixels or voxels. The session will provide an opportunity to explore how distributed computing can help scale these approaches while making the underlying technology more accessible to researchers.
Beyond the technical aspects, the webinar will put these developments into perspective within the broader challenges of scalable scientific computing, one of the key areas addressed by NumPEx.
28 September 2026 – 1:30-2:30 PM (CEST)
Online – Zoom
Free access – no registration required
Thomas Hérault explores fault tolerance in HPC at COMPAS 2026
At COMPAS 2026, Thomas Hérault highlighted the critical role of fault tolerance in the future of High-Performance Computing, from theoretical foundations to practical solutions for next-generation HPC systems.
From 30 June to 3 July 2026, COMPAS 2026, the French-speaking conference on parallelism, architecture and systems, brought together researchers, young scientists and industry representatives in Anglet, France. Organised by the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) and the LIUPPA laboratory, the conference provided a forum for discussing the latest developments in parallel computing, computer architectures and systems.
The 2026 edition featured a rich scientific programme covering topics ranging from high-performance computing and hardware architectures to distributed systems, cloud computing, energy efficiency, artificial intelligence and resilience. With 128 participants, 67 presentations and 20 posters, COMPAS 2026 highlighted the vitality of the French-speaking research community and fostered exchanges between established researchers, early-career scientists and industry.
Thomas Hérault: addressing fault tolerance at scale
One of the conference’s three invited lectures was delivered by Thomas Hérault (Inria Bordeaux). His keynote, “Fault-Tolerance in High Performance Computing: from Theory to Practice”, addressed one of the key challenges facing the future of large-scale computing: how to design HPC systems and software that can continue operating efficiently despite increasingly frequent hardware and software failures.
As computing systems grow towards Exascale, the sheer number of components involved makes resilience and fault tolerance increasingly important. Thomas Hérault’s presentation explored this challenge from fundamental theoretical concepts through to their implementation in modern HPC environments, including next-generation MPI systems.
His contribution also complemented a dedicated Fault-tolerance session, which he chaired during the conference. The session brought together research on fault tolerance for task-based runtime systems, fault detection in programmable switches and distributed-system resilience, illustrating the breadth of approaches being developed to make future HPC infrastructures more robust.
Why it matters for NumPEx
Resilience is a fundamental challenge for Exascale computing. As systems become larger and more heterogeneous, the probability of failures during long-running scientific simulations increases, making fault tolerance an essential component of the Exascale software stack.
Through its support of COMPAS 2026 and the participation of researchers such as Thomas Hérault, NumPEx contributes to strengthening the French HPC community and to promoting exchanges around the software challenges that will shape the next generation of computing systems.
By connecting research on algorithms, runtime systems, architectures and applications, events such as COMPAS provide an important forum for anticipating these challenges and developing the technologies required to make Exascale computing reliable, efficient and usable for scientific applications.
Saint-Girons V: NumPEx highlights the future of numerical computing at the HPC frontier
From 29 June to 3 July 2026, the Saint-Girons V conference brought together researchers from across the HPC and numerical computing communities to discuss the algorithms, architectures and emerging technologies shaping the future of scientific computing.
The fifth edition of the Saint-Girons Conference took place in Saint-Girons, in the Ariège region of France, from 29 June to 3 July 2026. Building on a conference series that dates back to 1994, Saint-Girons V brought together researchers working at the intersection of high-performance computing, numerical mathematics, scientific applications and computer architectures.
This year’s programme reflected the rapidly evolving HPC landscape. Discussions covered numerical linear and multilinear algebra, numerical optimisation, PDE solvers, AI for scientific computing, HPC for AI, quantum computing, mixed and low-precision computing, randomized algorithms and low-rank approximation. The conference highlighted how advances in algorithms and numerical methods must go hand in hand with developments in hardware and computing architectures.
NumPEx at Saint-Girons V
As part of the programme, Alfredo Buttari (CNRS–IRIT) presented “The NumPEx French PEPR Research Program”, introducing the programme, its objectives and its contribution to the development of the French Exascale software ecosystem. His presentation took place during the conference’s HPC and numerical linear algebra sessions, alongside contributions from leading researchers from academia, research organisations and industry.
The conference provided a particularly relevant setting to present NumPEx. Its focus on the interaction between algorithms, applications and computing architectures closely mirrors one of the central challenges of the transition towards Exascale: developing software and numerical methods capable of fully exploiting increasingly
Looking towards the next generation of HPC
Saint-Girons V also provided a broader perspective on the transformations underway in scientific computing. The rise of AI and massive data processing, the emergence of quantum computing and the move towards new precision regimes are opening new research directions while raising fundamental questions about performance, portability, energy efficiency and numerical reliability.
For NumPEx, these discussions contribute to the wider effort to anticipate the software challenges of the Exascale era, foster connections between the different communities involved in scientific computing and support the development of innovative numerical methods and software.
Beyond the scientific programme, the conference’s informal format encouraged exchanges between researchers and helped create new opportunities for collaboration — a long-standing feature of the Saint-Girons meetings.
AISSAI/GAP 2026: Exploring the Convergence of AI and High-Performance Computing for Science
From 17 to 19 June 2026, Grenoble hosted AISSAI/GAP 2026, bringing together researchers working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and the physical sciences.
From 17 to 19 June 2026, the AISSAI/GAP 2026 – Grenoble AI for Physical Sciences workshop brought together an international community of researchers at the Maison de la Création et de l’Innovation (MaCI), Université Grenoble Alpes. The event was organised as part of the thematic trimester “HPC and AI convergence at the Exascale era”, led by the CNRS AISSAI Center in connection with PEPR NumPEx.
Following the success of its first edition in 2024, GAP 2026 focused on the rapidly developing interface between artificial intelligence and the physical sciences. The workshop explored key research directions including inverse problems, simulation-based inference, data-driven scientific discovery and foundation models for science, while highlighting advances in theory, algorithms and high-performance computing.
The three-day programme featured keynote talks from leading international experts and covered a broad range of scientific applications, including climate and geosciences, astrophysics, neuroscience and engineering systems. Among the invited speakers were researchers from EPFL, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, the University of Tübingen, Inria, CNRS and several international universities.
A dedicated poster session provided an opportunity for participants to present ongoing research and exchange ideas across disciplines. Particular attention was given to work exploring the synergies between AI and HPC in the Exascale era, a central challenge for the future of scientific computing.
For NumPEx, GAP 2026 contributed to a broader effort to foster dialogue between the HPC and AI communities and to explore how their convergence can transform scientific computing at Exascale. By bringing together experts from different fields, the workshop helped identify new opportunities for collaboration and highlighted the methodological and computational challenges that will shape the next generation of AI-enabled scientific applications.
AISSAI Gap 2026 workshop
InPEx 2026: Shaping the Post-Exascale Future Through International Collaboration
From 22 to 25 April 2026, the InPEx community gathered in Niterói, Brazil, bringing together around 120 HPC experts from Europe, Japan, the United States and Latin America to explore the challenges and opportunities of the Post-Exascale era.
The International Post-Exascale Project (InPEx) held its 2026 workshop from 22 to 25 April in Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The workshop brought together around 120 experts from the international HPC community, representing research organisations, universities and national computing initiatives from Europe, Japan, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Launched in 2023 as an international initiative, InPEx was initiated by the French PEPR NumPEx to foster international collaboration and co-design around the future of high-performance computing. The initiative brings together major HPC communities and programmes, including NumPEx in France, EuroHPC in Europe, the US Exascale Computing Project ecosystem and Japan’s national supercomputing initiatives.
Exploring the key challenges beyond Exascale
The 2026 workshop focused on the major technological and scientific challenges emerging as HPC moves towards and beyond the Exascale era.
Five major topics structured the discussions: HPC/AI convergence, GenAI and software engineering, the computing continuum and data management, experimentation with large AI models for science, and international roadmapping. Quantum computing was also addressed as part of the broader convergence between emerging computing paradigms.
The workshop provided a unique opportunity to compare regional strategies and ongoing initiatives. Representatives from Japan, the United States, Europe and Latin America presented their national and regional roadmaps, including developments around AI for Science, quantum computing, AI Factories and future HPC infrastructures.
Dedicated working sessions then brought participants together to address concrete research and technology challenges. Discussions explored topics such as AI and HPC co-design, scalable training and inference, heterogeneous architectures, low-precision computing, AI-driven software engineering, scientific foundation models and the integration of computing resources across the computing continuum.
From shared challenges to international roadmaps
A central objective of InPEx is to move beyond the exchange of information and build shared visions and concrete international collaborations. The Niterói workshop continued work initiated during previous InPEx meetings and contributed to the development of common roadmaps for the Post-Exascale era.
The international roadmapping discussions addressed the future of heterogeneous computing, energy efficiency and the convergence of AI, HPC and quantum computing. The workshop also explored how international communities could coordinate their efforts to address common technological challenges and support future research and funding strategies.
NumPEx at the heart of the international Post-Exascale dialogue
For NumPEx, InPEx represents a major international extension of its mission to anticipate the software and technological challenges of Exascale and beyond.
By initiating and supporting InPEx, NumPEx is helping to create a global forum where HPC communities can share experience, identify common challenges and co-design the technologies needed for the next generation of scientific computing. The initiative also strengthens links between European, American, Japanese and Latin American HPC ecosystems.
The 2026 workshop in Brazil marked another important step in this process, transforming discussions around Post-Exascale computing into concrete international working groups, roadmaps and collaborative activities.
NumPEx BOF@SC23
The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis SuperComputing 2023 will take place in Denver from November 12 to 17, 2023.
During this conference, a birds of a Feather (BoF) connected to the NumPEx program is scheduled, allowing conference attendees to openly discuss current topics of interest to the HPC community.
Several (trans-)national initiatives have recognized the crucial importance of co-design between hardware, software and application stakeholders in the path to Exascale and beyond. It is seen as indispensable for the efficient exploitation of Exascale computing resources in the development of large-scale application demonstrators but also to prepare complex applications to fully exploit the full capacity of Exascale and post-Exascale sytems. Among these projects, we can cite the French NumPEX project (41M€) but also the EuroHPC program, or the ECP project in the US and FugakuNEXT project in Japan. However, these efforts are somehow disconnected while the community would benefit by sharing return of experience, common know-how, and advancing on the new problems arising as exascale machines become more and more available.
Building on earlier efforts of the International Exascale Software Project (IESP), the European EXtreme Data and Computing Initiative (EXDCI), and the BDEC community, we will work on the implementation of an international, shared, high quality computing environment that focuses on co-design principles and practices. US, European and Japanese partners have already met and identified a set of areas for international coordination (among others):
- Software production and management: packaging, documentation, builds, results, catalogs, continuous integration, containerization, LLVM, parallel tools, etc.
- Software sustainability
- Future and disruptive SW&HW technologies and usages (investments and roadmaps)
- Mapping of missing capabilities (driven by both Apps and SW)
- Roadmap of near-term HW targets
- HPC/AI convergence: ML, open models and datasets for AI training,
- FAIR data stewardship
- Digital Continuum and Data management
- Benchmarks and evaluation, co-design (HW, SW, applications)
- Energy and environmental impact and sustainability
- Collaboration/Partnership factory: establish collaborations at international level
- Training
The proposed BOF will offer an overview of the different Exascale programs and initiatives from the perspective of co-design (mixing application, software-stack and hardware perspective). Then, international partners representing major computing centers from Europe, USA and Japan, will expose and discuss the common issues and questions.
BoF leaders will seek feedback from attendees on the objectives of co-design and the efficient exploitation and coordination of existing efforts in Europe, the US and Japan, dedicated to exascale. BOF participants will be invited to share their views on the above problems and issues. We will also discuss candidates for collaborative application demonstrators, of which the LHC project of CERN, IPCC climate models, and the SKA project are some representative examples. Finally, we will call for contributions from participants.
At the BoF, a panel of experts from NumPEx, ECP, Riken-CC, BSC, JSC and from selected application communities, will raise issues and solicit input in each of their respective areas. Representatives of all the involved funding agencies will be invited to participate and contribute.
The ultimate goal of this BOF is to launch a new series of workshops dedicated to international collaborations between Europe, USA and Japan on Exascale and post-Exascale computing.
NumPEx Launches into Action with an Ambitious Kick-Off Agenda in Perros-Guirrec
In a series of dynamic sessions hosted from June 26th to 28th in the charming town of Perros-Guirrec, NumPEx embarked on an intensive kick-off event, setting the stage for a transformative journey in Exascale computing. Leaders, experts, and collaborators convened to delve into an agenda rich with insights,workshops, and collaborative initiatives.
The kick-off began with a comprehensive introduction, outlining the objectives and significance of the NumPEx program, aiming to establish a common vision and foster collaboration to implement a coherent software stack and related processes by 2025, benefiting not only France but also Europe, in preparation for the Exascale machine. Key figures such as Jerome Bobin, Michel Dayde, and Jean-Yves Berthou elaborated on the program's goals and organizational structure. Board members shared their perspectives on the Exascale vision and roadmaps:
GENCI's Exascale Vision and Roadmap:
- Presentation of GENCI's role and missions, including hosting the Exascale project for EuroHPC.
- European HPC initiative partnership with EuroHPC and others, leveraging PRACE and GEANT.
- Introduction of the Jules Verne consortium, highlighting international and industrial partnerships.
- Vision of the European Exascale machine: addressing societal challenges, fostering innovation, and emphasizing HPC/IA data-centric convergence.
- Collaboration plans with NumPEx, including building a functional program, benchmark development, and product promotion.
Eviden Exascale Vision and Roadmap:
- Eviden's complex approach involving HPC, HPDA, IA, and quantum technologies with a focus on sovereign and European components.
- Involvement in the European integrated processor for Exascale machines (SiPearl) and collaborations with various technology projects.
- Collaboration with CEPP for application support and participation in technology projects related to Exascale, quantum, cloud, and more.
National and European Ecosystem:
- Introduction of EUPEX, a 4-year project with a budget similar to NumPEx, aiming to deploy a modular Exascale system using the OpenSequana architecture.
- Collaboration with NumPEx, potential for shared experiments and results, and exploration of common dissemination.
- Presentation of Data Direct Network (DDN) with a focus on AI and Lustre parallel file system, highlighting challenges and the importance of understanding NumPEx applications.
The afternoon continued with a tour of the five projects (PCs) within the NumPEx program:
- Exa-MA, which aims to design scalable algorithms and numerical methods for forthcoming exascale machines. Led by Christophe Prudhomme (Université de Strasbourg) and Helene Barucq (Inria).
- Exa-Soft, to develop a coherent, portable, efficient, and resilient software stack for exascale. Led by Raymond Namyst (Inria) and Alfredo Buttari (CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique).
- Exa-DoST, to overcome challenges relating to data, notably storage, I/O, in situ processing, and smart analytics, in exascale supercomputers. Led by Gabriel Antoniu (Inria) and Julien Bigot (CEA).
- Exa-ATOW, to deal with large-scale workflows involving exascale machines. Led by François Bodin (Université de Rennes), Mark Asch (Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV)), and Thierry Deutsch (CEA).
- Exa-DI, to ensure transverse co-design and software productivity for exascale supercomputers. Led by Jean-Pierre Vilotte (CNRS) and Valérie Brenner (CEA).
The day concluded with an emphasis on the collaborative efforts between NumPEx and other initiatives, with a focus on benchmark development, software-hardware links, and the overall goal of preparing for the challenges of the Exascale era.
The second day kicked off with an invigorating early morning jog along the seashore, setting a vibrant tone for a day filled with thematic workshops. Participants engaged in focused discussions on energy synergies, GPU integration, applications, co-design, gender/diversity/equity, software production integration, training, resilience, international collaborations, and artificial intelligence. Thematic workshops, led by domain experts, fostered collaboration within smaller groups, emphasizing the program's commitment to a transverse approach to Exascale challenges.
The final day commenced with a synthesis of workshop outcomes, highlighting the depth of discussions within each thematic area. Workshop leaders consolidated insights, offering a panoramic view of challenges and opportunities. Here is an overview of the key insights and strategic actions discussed during these workshops:
GPU Accelerators Workshop
In a dedicated workshop on GPU Accelerators, experts emphasized the pivotal role of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in achieving exascale computing. With 90-99% of large machine performance attributed to GPU acceleration, the workshop highlighted the need for applications to explore the potential of these powerful processors. Challenges discussed included new programming paradigms, code portability, data management, and the hardware landscape driven by gaming and artificial intelligence. The workshop outlined a comprehensive plan, including future workshops, analysis papers, tutorials, hackathons, and examples of successfully ported mini-apps.
Energy Workshop
The Energy Workshop focused on achieving Exascale computing within a power consumption limit of 20MW. Experts delved into environmental, scientific, technical, and societal dimensions, providing a roadmap for the HPC community. Key challenges identified included modeling system consumption, real-time measurement tools, resource prioritization based on societal impact, and the broader environmental impact of research activities. The action plan involves developing a performance and consumption model, optimization strategies, tools for users, and fostering links with external entities to incorporate energy considerations.
Gender Equity and Diversity Seminar
The action plan includes the establishment of a Code of Conduct, assessment of gender distribution, creation of a web platform for resources, education and training initiatives, awareness and outreach programs, and dedication to accessibility and recognition. NumPEx aims to create an inclusive and collaborative future, inviting all stakeholders to contribute to the initiatives.
AI Workshop
The AI Workshop explored the critical intersection of HPC and AI, addressing challenges and outlining a strategic plan for collaborative exploration. Key discussions included decision support tools for AI applications in HPC, optimizing runtimes for AI models, and converging HPC and AI usages. The action plan involves establishing an AI Working Group, conducting transversal workshops, and developing fundamental building blocks for a convergent future.
Training Strategies Workshop
The Training Strategies Workshop addressed the complexities of training in the context of the impending exascale era. Discussions included the scope and subjects of training programs, the creation of sustainable training models, and economic considerations in training initiatives. The workshop emphasized collaborative and inclusive training initiatives to prepare the scientific community for the challenges and opportunities of exascale computing.
International Collaborations Workshop
The International Collaborations Workshop focused on identifying challenges and setting objectives for enhanced collaborative frameworks on a European and global scale. Discussions covered scientific and technological challenges, the design and development of the exascale software stack, and strategic action plans. The outlined roadmap includes hosting workshops, exchanging insights and experiences, and strengthening collaborations with international entities.
National Centers Integration Workshop
The National Centers Integration Workshop aimed to align NumPEx with HPC infrastructures, emphasizing operational elements between computing centers and NumPEx 's targeted projects. Discussions covered operational assessment, cybersecurity, job profiling, and traceability. The workshop set a plan for regular video conferences, ensuring ongoing communication and collaboration.
Software Production Workshop
The Software Production Workshop focused on streamlining software development practices in the HPC domain. Challenges discussed included bridging silos, enforcing good practices, and amplifying impact. Insights and conclusions highlighted diverse development practices, sustainability models, and the deployment of continuous integration and certification. NumPEx 's commitment to advancing software production practices aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development in HPC.
Exascale Resilience Workshop
The Exascale Resilience Workshop navigated complexities associated with exascale application deployment. Discussions covered diverse approaches across NumPEx PCs, key challenges, and strategic choices. The action plan involves listing and analyzing application needs, analyzing barriers to library adoption, and scrutinizing international solutions. NumPEx aims to foster collaborative solutions for enhanced application resilience at a global scale.
Applications and Co-Design Workshop
The Applications and Co-Design Workshop promoted co-development strategies for advanced application development. Discussions included challenges in co-design, key questions for collective exploration, building connections, and initiatives for sustainability. The workshop set the stage for upcoming co-development project workshops, emphasizing collaboration and innovation.
As the leaders bid farewell to Perros-Guirrec, NumPEx looks ahead to transforming shared visions and insights into tangible actions in the realm of Exascale computing. The kick-off marked the initiation of a collaborative journey, and NumPEx is poised to lead the charge in scientific innovation.
For the latest updates and progress on the NumPEx program, stay tuned to our news section. The journey to Exascale has begun, and NumPEx is at the forefront of this pioneering expedition.
