The STFC Hartree Centre in the UK is an Intel Parallel Computing Center (IPCC). In an effort to foster code modernization, this new collaboration allows Intel and STFC’s Hartree Centre to work together on designing and testing software for the world’s most advanced microprocessors, the building blocks of the supercomputers of the future.
Initial focus will be on developments that will maximize energy efficiency in supercomputing power, and also on real UK industry requirements, starting with the optimization of weather prediction software for future generations of the UK Met Office’s supercomputers.
Intel has signalled a huge vote of confidence in UK research expertise by choosing the Hartree centre as its newest Intel Parallel Computing Centre,” said David Willetts, the UK Minister for Universities and Science. “Forging these strong business and research partnerships is vital to cementing the UKs future as a global leader in this field and our role in developing the supercomputers of the future.”
The Intel PCC at the Hartree Centre, which sits within the Sci-Tech Daresbury science and innovation campus, will also develop, test and optimise a next generation of software, the performance of which will be dramatically improved when operating on Intel’s advanced microprocessor technologies. This processor technology is significant to the development of an exascale supercomputer that may exist within the next five years. Both are already part of the Tianhe-2 supercomputer in China, the most powerful supercomputer in the world today.
The Hartree Centre is thrilled to join the Intel PCC program, through which we’ll be able to push all existing boundaries in hardware and software” said Cliff Brereton, Director of STFC’s Hartree Centre. “This agreement will bring software solutions in areas of utmost importance to our economy and society, from weather prediction, to industrial applications and materials science. STFC and Intel share common goals that are to drive innovation for the next generation of supercomputer, to make HPC more accessible to industry, whilst training for our budding scientists and engineers of the future who will apply these new technologies to challenges of economic and societal importance.”
