for future European low-power microprocessors for extreme-scale computing, big data, and emerging applications with a specific focus on exascale
HPC and automotive computing for
autonomous driving. Taking a co-de-sign approach, EPI will design and develop the first European HPC systems
on a chip and accelerators. Both elements will be implemented and validated in a prototype system that will
become the basis for a full exascale
supercomputer based on European
technology.
Develop exascale software and applications. Exascale software and applications and their integration in
extreme-scale prototypes will help
ensure EU leadership in the application of HPC for scientific, industrial,
and societal challenges. These activities will support development, optimization (including re-design), and
scaling-up of HPC application codes
toward exascale computing, as in HPC
Centres of Excellenceh (CoEs). CoEs
are also inherently committed to co-designing activities to ensure future
HPC architectures are well suited for
applications and their users, providing them with a high-performance,
scalable application base.
Widen use of HPC and address the
HPC-related skills gap. Widening the
use of HPC and addressing the HPC-
related skills gap will increase knowl-
edge and human capital and boost
HPC capabilities, including through
creation of national HPC Competence
Centresi and their networking and
coordination across the EU. These
competence centers can gather the
necessary resources and expertise to
provide a single local entry point for
customized HPC services, ranging
from, for example, highly specialized
scientific and technical HPC users to
h https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/
news/eu-funded-hpc-research-projects-and-
centres-excellence-nutshell
i A national HPC Competence Centre is a legal
entity established in a participating state that
is a member state associated with the national
supercomputing center of that member state,
providing users from industry, including
SMEs, academia, and public administrations,
with access on demand to supercomputers
and to the latest HPC technologies, tools,
applications, and services, and offering ex-
pertise, skills, training, networking, and out-
reach.
SMEs with little or no experience in
this domain.
EuroHPC JU in the Next EU
Budgetary Period, 2021–2027
This is only the beginning, since in
the EU’s next Multiannual Financial
Framework, covering the period 2021
to 2027, the aim is to continue sup-
porting the EuroHPC JU via two differ-
ent programs recently proposed by the
European Commission—Horizon Eu-
ropej and Digital Europe.k
Horizon Europe is the EU’s next
Framework Program for Research
and Innovation, the continuation of
Horizon 2020,l supporting the HPC
research and innovation agenda and
addressing exascale and post-exascale
technologies.
The European Commission is also
proposing to support the EuroHPC JU
via the Digital Europe program with an
additional € 2. 7 billion. This will cover
acquisition of exascale supercomputers (at least one with European technology in 2022/2023) and post-exascale
systems (around 2027), including integration and deployment of the first
hybrid HPC/quantum infrastructure
in Europe; and actions to develop advanced HPC skills and further facilitate
access to industry, academia, and public administrations to the HPC ecosystem, and more. The program will also
exploit the synergies between HPC and
other digital priorities, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digitizing public-sector services, and digital
skills.
Conclusion
The EuroHPC JU is an ambitious ini-
tiative that will enable European coun-
tries to coordinate with the European
Union their supercomputing strate-
gies and investments. We thus need
to reduce the fragmentation of HPC
investments across Europe and align
strategies and investments that are key
for European innovation and competi-
tiveness. We need to secure access to
j https://ec.europa.eu/info/designing-next-
research-and-innovation-framework-pro-
gramme/what-shapes-next-framework-pro-
gramme_en
k http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-
4043_en.htm
l https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/
horizon2020/en/
world-class data and supercomputing
facilities across Europe, ensuring de-
velopment in Europe of an integrated
exascale supercomputing capability
accessible throughout Europe and cov-
ering the whole value chain, from tech-
nology components to systems and
machines to applications and skills.
This will avoid long-term negative ef-
fects on Europe’s data sovereignty and
scientific and industrial leadership
and on Europe’s place in the digital
economy at large.
Today, the EU has put HPC very
high in the political agenda, and we
are confident this will remain the case
for a long time. We are witnessing an
exceptional surge of positive dynam-
ics contributing to the success of the
EuroHPC JU, including wide political
support at both the national and EU
levels, very strong support from pub-
lic and private stakeholders, and the
convergence of HPC with other critical
disciplines for the data economy (such
as big data and artificial intelligence).
This is a unique opportunity for Eu-
rope to reap the benefits of mastering
these converging technologies for our
future. Only by joining forces can we
mobilize substantial European and na-
tional efforts, both public and private,
to place Europe in a leading position in
the global digital economy.
Disclaimer. The views expressed in
this article are the sole responsibility
of the author and in no way represent
the view of the European Commission
and its services.
Thomas Skordas is Director of Digital Excellence and
Science Infrastructure, DG Communications Networks,
Content and Technology, European Commission, Brussels,
Belgium.
Copyright held by author/owner.