Created in 2019, the National Advanced Computing Network has promoted the use of national advanced computing resources for scientific and innovation projects. Learn all about this structure, managed by the FCCN Unit.
What do an atmospheric modeling study of the Serra do Perdigão and the structural analysis of two-dimensional polymers have in common? Both research projects drew on the resources of the National Advanced Computing Network (RNCA)—a structure managed by the FCCN Unit that aims to promote the use of supercomputing solutions in Portugal.
To this end, this national structure contacts directly with the various communities linked to investigation and innovation, adding infrastructures, human resources and partnerships in the area of advanced computing. The network consists of a set of operational centers and competence centers, integrating four supercomputers spread across the country (which you can learn more about in more detail) here).
These resources also promote national digital skills in advanced computing and ensure coordination with international organizations in this field. In an interview, the Area Director of the FCCN Unit, João Pagaime, emphasizes the importance of access to these types of resources: "Supercomputing tools are essential to support scientific production internationally."
In the future, he adds, "a significant increase in the need for advanced computing is expected," particularly for processing large volumes of data, and it is expected that "the industrial sector will increasingly seek out these resources." "It is crucial to develop these resources, removing barriers to the country's economic development," he concludes.
10 Centers, One Goal ⇓
The National Advanced Computing Network has four operational centers and six competence and visualization centers (which you may know here). In order to promote the use of advanced computing technologies, the RNCA creates and promotes several national and international competitions to allocate hours of use for existing resources.
Examples include the competition created in partnership with Google (focused on the areas of natural language processing and ethics in Artificial Intelligence) or the Advanced Computing Projects Competition, which, during 2020 and 2021, awarded more than 71 million CPU core hours to research and innovation projects.
Most of the projects that used RNCA resources, within the scope of the Advanced Computing Projects Competition, in 2021, fall into the areas of Physics and Mathematics (36%), Chemistry and Materials (33%) and Technology and Engineering (32%). Also noteworthy are Life Sciences (21%), Natural Sciences (12%), as well as Humanities and Social Sciences (2%).
In the evaluation of the first edition of the Advanced Computing Projects Competition, in 2020, several users highlighted the importance of this initiative and structure.
There are more than 30 scientific publications and 60 Master's or Doctoral theses associated with projects approved within the scope of these competitions. ⇓
“Thank you for this initiative, it is a great support for fundamental science”
“The resources made available by the CPCA project provided significant acceleration in the collection and processing of results, which would not have been possible in more localized systems.”
“The competition was easy to understand and compile and I was completely satisfied with the management.”
"This first computing resources competition was very useful for developing a substantial portion of a project now funded by the FCT. At a time when acquiring equipment is not easy, having access to this type of infrastructure is essential. The experience was so positive that I applied for the second edition."
Visit the website https://rnca.fccn.pt/!
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