16 | ETP4HPC | ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Strengthening HPC in Europe:
EuroCC, CASTIEL and FF4 The first three EuroHPC-funded projects – EuroCC, CASTIEL
and FF4EuroHPC – started in
September 2020, with one common target: strengthening HPC and
Bastian Koller
its ecosystem in Europe. We
interviewed two representatives of the projects, Dr. Bastian
Koller from High-Performance
Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS)
(coordinator of the three activities) and Dr. Guy Lonsdale from scapos (coordinating the Open Calls and part of the coordination team of FF4EuroHPC) to learn about the progress so far.
Question @Bastian Koller:
Answer BK:
CASTIEL and EuroCC are two new pro-
The establishment of the EuroHPC Joint
jects that aim to build a framework for
Undertaking and thus the implementa-
the European HPC landscape. What will
tion of a common European strategy for
this framework look like and what is its
High-Performance Computing was the
purpose?
first crucial step for Europe. However, looking at the maturity level of the de-
Answer BK:
ployment of HPC and related technolo-
We’re in the process of establishing,
gies (HPDA and AI) by stakeholders from
within EuroCC, national competence cen-
academia, industry and public adminis-
tres for high performance computing, or
tration, there is quite a difference when
NCCs for HPC in short, one in each of the
comparing the individual nations. What
33 participating countries. The long-term
we generally need to do for a continu-
goal is to have these centres as the sin-
ous progress is, on the one hand, help
gle point of access in each country to the
to highlight existing skills and excellence
national and European HPC ecosystem.
in HPC applications and technologies, on
The NCCs will act as orientation points
the other hand, develop new competen-
for providers, users and scientists in the
cies and deepening of local knowledge
vast field of HPC, HPDA and AI. They will
and expertise. Thus, the next step – and
collect knowledge, resources and infor-
this is our current focus – is mapping
mation about HPC in their country while
each nation’s competences within each
being connected to each other, thus en-
NCC, as well as networking and fostering
suring a strong European network (sup-
the exchange of knowledge and capabil-
ported by the CASTIEL Coordination and
ities within the network of NCCs. In this
Support Action).
way, we will be able to achieve an understanding of differences and common
Question @Bastian Koller:
ground, which helps us to close existing
How will you achieve the goal to
gaps and finally to bring HPC forward in
strengthen European High-Performance
Europe. To facilitate this, we started by
Computing
establishing cross-NCC working groups
centres?
with
these
competence
focused on the identification and mapping of competences and comparing and aligning training efforts as well as interactions with industry.
