Supercomputing for the challenges of the future

From the space economy to the climate, from fundamental physics to smart cities, from astrophysics to the environment, from engineering to molecular sciences, from omics and in-silico medicine to quantum computing: these are the strategic sectors which the Center will serve National Research Center in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing.

Over 400 representatives of the 52 partners of the ICSC Foundation, which governs the new Centre, from the public and private sectors, gathered on 25 and 26 November at the Bologna Technopole, where the hub of the Center will be located, for the kick off meeting start of mission activities. The Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini also spoke at the event.

The two-day event marked the beginning of the Centre's scientific and technological activities, with presentations of the objectives and programs of each of the research and development units. ICSC is, in fact, organized on a structure that includes a hub with guidance tasks, an infrastructural spoke and ten thematic spokes, dedicated to scientific research and technological development in areas deemed of strategic interest for the country to face the next challenges and build a sustainable future for our society.

cloud datalake

The activities will be able to count on a supercomputing infrastructure of the cloud datalake type, thanks to which users, coming both from the world of public research and from the private entrepreneurial world, will have virtually unlimited computing resources at their disposal through an integrated system distributed throughout the national territory.

"Today begins a new adventure, which we will face with passion, dedication and team spirit", commented Antonio Zoccoli, president of the ICSC Foundation, and president of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the promoter of the project.

“The success of this enterprise will, in fact, be decisive for our country: we have the possibility of introducing a paradigm shift into our way of doing research and business and of conquering, like Italy, an international supremacy and leadership in supercomputing. From our entry into EuroHPC JU, to the newly inaugurated supercomputer, to the ICSC National Centre: we have managed to get this far thanks to the convinced and constant political and scientific commitment of everyone: national and local institutions, with the MUR and the Emilia-Romagna Region in first line, public research bodies and universities, companies and private institutes, proving that when we act in a cohesive and determined way, we know how to establish ourselves and mark the pace of innovation, in Europe and globally”.

Collaboration and Synergies

ICSC is one of the five National Centers established with the PNRR National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as part of the Education and Research Mission coordinated by the MUR Ministry of University and Research (funded by Next Generation EU funds with 319.938.979,26 euros ). 

The Cnr is among the members together with Cineca, the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change Foundation (CMCC), the Center for Research, Development and Higher Studies in Sardinia (CRS4), the National Agency for new technologies, energy and economic development (Enea), Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), Consortium GARR, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Astrophysics (Inaf), National Institute of Nuclear Physics (Infn), National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv), National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (Ogs), Polytechnic of Bari, Polytechnic of Milan, Polytechnic of Turin, International School for Advanced Studies (Sissa),

Scuola Normale Superiore, Sapienza University of Rome, University of L'Aquila, University of Bari, University of Bologna, University of Calabria, University of Catania, Federico II University of Naples, University of Studies of Ferrara, University of Florence, University of Milan Bicocca, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Padua, University of Parma, University of Pavia, University of Pisa, University of Rome Tor Vergata, University of Salento, University of Turin, University of Trento, University of Trieste, [Private companies and institutes] Enel, Engineering, Eni, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group, Fincantieri, Urban Innovation Foundation, Autostrade Group, IRCCS Humanitas Clinical Institute, IFAB, Intesa Sanpaolo, , Sogei – Società Generale d'Informatica SpA, T hales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Terna, UnipolSai Assicurazioni.

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