Accelerating Europe’s Digital Transformation: The Role of EuroHPC JU

Accelerating Innovation in High-Performance Computing: A Closer Look at EuroHPC JU

High-performance computing (HPC) stands as the cornerstone of Europe’s digital transformation, fueling innovation, scientific breakthroughs, and industrial competitiveness. By harnessing the power of supercomputers and computer clusters, HPC is instrumental in solving complex computational challenges across various sectors such as research, science, design, simulation, and business intelligence.

Driving the evolution of Europe’s HPC landscape is the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) – a collaborative effort between the EU, European countries, and private partners aimed at establishing a world-class supercomputing ecosystem in Europe. Launched in 2018, EuroHPC JU is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for European citizens, advancing scientific knowledge, boosting industrial competitiveness, and ensuring Europe’s technological independence.

The Innovation Platform engaged in a conversation with Anders Jensen, the Executive Director of EuroHPC JU, to delve deeper into the current priorities of EuroHPC JU and the significant milestones achieved since its inception.

Europe’s HPC Landscape: A Bright Future Ahead

Europe’s HPC capabilities have experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years. From being a marginal player in the global HPC arena a decade ago, Europe has now emerged as a frontrunner. European supercomputers consistently rank among the top ten most powerful systems worldwide, a feat that was once unimaginable.

In a groundbreaking development, Europe welcomed its first exascale supercomputer, JUPITER, in September, marking a significant milestone in the region’s HPC journey. The momentum continues with the deployment of a second exascale system, Alice Recoque, in France, along with new mid-range supercomputers set to go online in Greece, Sweden, Hungary, and Ireland.

Furthermore, EuroHPC JU is spearheading the deployment of 19 AI Factories to provide European SMEs and startups with access to state-of-the-art AI infrastructure. Notably, Europe is pioneering the integration of quantum computing technologies with supercomputers, paving the way for hybrid systems that hold immense potential for unlocking new possibilities.

All these advancements have been made possible through effective collaboration and the pooling of resources between EuroHPC JU and national entities, underscoring the collective commitment to driving innovation in supercomputing across Europe.

In summary, Europe’s HPC future shines brightly as it continues to expand its compute infrastructure and services across the continent.

Addressing Barriers in the HPC Sector

The HPC sector in Europe faces two primary challenges: fragmentation and accessibility. Historically, European countries operated at varying levels of HPC expertise, leading to fragmentation that hindered effective competition on the global stage.

Through initiatives like the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, Europe is fostering a cohesive HPC ecosystem by establishing a network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and National Competency Centers (NCCs) to consolidate expertise and resources, promoting consistent skills development and fostering cross-border collaboration.

While HPC holds immense potential for innovation across diverse sectors, accessing this resource has been limited to those with specialized expertise and substantial funding. EuroHPC JU is actively reaching out to non-traditional users through Competency Centers and CoEs, offering support and guidance on leveraging HPC for their specific needs. Initiatives like FF+ are facilitating SMEs’ access to HPC and AI resources, enabling them to harness the power of supercomputing for their business growth.

Streamlining access to HPC resources is paramount, and EuroHPC JU is set to launch its Federation platform, providing a unified gateway to European HPC, AI, and quantum computing resources. Additionally, consolidated training and support services through platforms like the HPC in Europe Portal aim to simplify the process for users seeking guidance and assistance.

By combining infrastructure investment with proactive outreach, training, and enhanced access, EuroHPC JU is transforming HPC from an exclusive resource into a practical tool for driving innovation across Europe.

Decoding EuroHPC JU and Its Objectives

Established in 2018, the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking serves as a legal and funding entity that pools resources from the EU and participating countries to position Europe as a global leader in supercomputing. Beyond building cutting-edge machines, EuroHPC JU aims to cultivate a sovereign ecosystem that bolsters Europe’s digital autonomy.

Noteworthy achievements include the procurement of 11 supercomputers distributed across Europe, providing free access to scientists, public sector users, and industry through EuroHPC Access Calls. This access supports a wide array of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance.

EuroHPC JU is also at the forefront of deploying a European Quantum Computing infrastructure that integrates diverse quantum technologies with supercomputers. The initiative aims to offer a variety of quantum computing platforms and hybrid architectures, positioning Europe as a leader in this emerging field.

Additionally, EuroHPC JU oversees the implementation of AI factories and funds research projects to develop a comprehensive European supercomputing supply chain, fostering expertise in processors, software, applications, and HPC technologies.

Driving Europe’s HPC Offering: EuroHPC JU’s Role

EuroHPC JU plays a pivotal role in accelerating Europe’s HPC capabilities across multiple fronts, from enhancing access and technology development to promoting sustainability and skills development.

By providing free access to leading-edge HPC, AI, and quantum computing systems, EuroHPC JU is democratizing the use of high-performance computing across Europe. The initiative has supported over 2,300 projects, allocating significant computing hours to research endeavors spanning diverse fields.

Central to EuroHPC JU’s mission is strengthening Europe’s technological independence. Through grants to research projects, EuroHPC JU is fostering the development of Europe’s supercomputing technologies, such as the European Processor Initiative and the DARE project, aimed at advancing AI workloads. Initiatives like Net4EXA focus on next-generation interconnect technologies critical for HPC and AI systems.

Moreover, EuroHPC JU is investing in skills development through programs like EUMaster4HPC, nurturing the next generation of HPC professionals through a blend of academic excellence and practical experience. Sustainability is another key focus, with EuroHPC JU integrating environmental considerations into every aspect of its operations, from energy-efficient data center design to optimized software and user practices.

Key Achievements of EuroHPC JU in the Past Year

The past year has been marked by significant milestones for the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, with a primary focus on expanding Europe’s AI infrastructure through the AI Factories initiative.

Following the selection of several countries to host AI Factories, EuroHPC JU has created a network of cutting-edge hubs across Europe, democratizing access to AI-optimized supercomputing for startups, SMEs, and researchers. In parallel, strides have been made in quantum computing, with the inauguration of the first two quantum computers in Europe, paving the way for quantum-powered research and innovation.

Furthermore, EuroHPC JU has secured the future connectivity of its infrastructure through a partnership with GÉANT, ensuring ultra-high bandwidth interconnect services for the entire supercomputing ecosystem.

These achievements, coupled with ongoing efforts to deploy new supercomputers, allocate access time to researchers, and drive research and innovation projects, underscore EuroHPC JU’s commitment to maintaining Europe’s technological sovereignty and scientific excellence.

This article will also be featured in the upcoming 24th edition of our quarterly publication.