State concept for high-performance computing is being implemented

Science Minister Ina Brandes: "Computing power is the decisive raw material in the digital age. In addition to our outstanding supercomputer in Jülich, we are continuing to drive forward the supply of computing capacity to our universities. This will enable research and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia to carry out more computer-aided simulations and evaluate huge amounts of data in less time. This makes science more precise and the transfer of knowledge into application faster. The broad access to high-performance computers gives the science location a real competitive advantage."

Basic service and specialist clusters

The HPC state concept for NRW envisages four locations for high-performance computing (HPC clusters) at level 3 (tier 3: specialist clusters). The basic service for HPC services is provided in Cologne. There is a specialist cluster for physics and chemistry in Paderborn. The cluster at RWTH Aachen University focuses primarily on the engineering sciences. The University of Duisburg-Essen will offer scientific high-performance computing, particularly in the fields of biology, biochemistry and applied mathematics. Machine learning will also be supported as a basic technology at the three specialist cluster locations. All universities in NRW can secure computing time on a pro rata basis via a distribution system. The new operating site will be located in the future Technology Quarter Wedau in the current Data Center of the Center for Information and Media Services at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

More efficient together

Prof. Dr. Barbara Albert, spokesperson of the University Alliance Ruhr, Rector of the University of Duisburg-Essen and member of the extended board of the Digital University NRW (DH.NRW) welcomes the Ministry's decision: "With the state concept for scientific high-performance computing, the Ministry of Culture and Science is pursuing a clever strategy with DH.NRW to bundle and strengthen HPC resources and have them operated by the universities. Together, we are more powerful, more efficient and more sustainable."

Innovative sustainability concept

The new HPC location Duisburg-Essen of the University Alliance Ruhr also impresses with its innovative sustainability concept: "As the use of computer-aided methods has become indispensable in all areas of science, the central and sustainable provision of computing resources is becoming increasingly important. The possibility of using the waste heat from the high-performance computers for the local and district heating supply of the region makes a decisive contribution to this," says Prof. Dr. Pedro Marron, Vice-President for Transfer, Innovation and Digitalization at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Commissioning expected in early 2028

Operating an efficient HPC ecosystem requires a broad-based operating and support staff. To this end, 19 employees from the central IT operators ZIM, IT.Services and ITMC from the three universities in Duisburg-Essen, Bochum and Dortmund are already working closely together. In future, they will jointly implement the processes surrounding the hpcFachCluster.nrw in the University Alliance Ruhr. Commissioning is planned for the beginning of 2028.

Further information on high-performance computing at universities in NRW