Supercomputing Infrastructure: An Engine for Research and Innovation
Submitted by Compute/Calcul Canada 2010–07–09 11:35:20 EDT
Theme(s): Building Digital Skills, Digital Infrastructure, Innovation Using Digital Technologies
Executive Summary
Will we get the care we need in old age? Will we have clean energy and safe water? Will we be able to predict and halt the spread of pandemics? Will we be able to create more reliable economic forecasts? Will our businesses have a digital advantage in the global marketplace?
The answers to these questions will depend upon research. In the digital world, research requires computers, and for today's and tomorrow's increasingly complex models and large datasets that means high performance computers. As the world generates ever more data and as more and more data that was generated in the past is digitized, the only way to understand and use it is with high performance computing. Amazon and Google are examples of how high performance computing is used to make information (data) accessible and usable and saleable.
High Performance Computing (HPC) or Supercomputing is critical digital infrastructure for productivity, innovation and research and for building and sustaining a digital economy, indeed, a digital society. In the 21st century, countries that want to compete will have to compute. The HPC network and the highly qualified personnel who support it are an integral part and essential component of Canada's solid foundation of scientific and technological achievements. Compute Canada and its seven university–based regional consortia have been responsible for the development, management, and sharing of these national resources. Throughout this submission, the terms high performance computing and supercomputing are used interchangeably.
The themes addressed in this submission relate to digital infrastructure, innovation using digital technologies and building digital skills. The questions posed are relevant to the sustainability of Canada's supercomputing infrastructure, the research it supports, and the contribution the researchers using it make to innovation and productivity.
In his message to the 2010 High Performance Computing Symposium, Minister Clement noted the digital economy strategy consultation process and asked "Specifically, how could Canada use supercomputing to cost–effectively boost productivity and the research and development efforts of Canadian firms?"
The answer to this question is:
- Ensure sustained and state–of–the–art supercomputing infrastructure in order that Canadian researchers remain globally competitive and the private sector investment in R&D at Canada's academic institutions results in world–class innovation and competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Encourage the development of the supercomputing (HPC) professionals — Highly Qualified Personnel — within academia that are required by the private sector to ensure innovation and productivity improvements.
- Continue to support academic research utilizing supercomputing and recognize its contribution to economic prosperity and the health and well–being of Canadians.
- Position Canadian researchers in both academia and in the private sector at the forefront of technological change in supercomputing.
- Encourage academic–private sector research partnerships for using HPC for research and for HPC research.
- Establish core funding for supercomputing infrastructure to ensure that Canada becomes a leader in this field and that we are able to attract and retain top talent capable of effectively utilizing this resource.
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Guylaine Verner
Industry Canada | Industrie Canada
300 Slater Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0C8 | 300, rue Slater, Ottawa ON K1A 0C8
Guylaine.Verner@ic.gc.ca
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