The advanced computing headlines this week were all about quality over quantity. The U.S. Department of Energy got the ball rolling on Monday by announcing it is seeking proposals for a successor to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Frontier supercomputer. Also on Monday, UC San Diego launched its new School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences. On Wednesday NAG’s parent company n2 Group made the news with its acquisition of fintech specialist STAC. PsiQuantum grabbed national headlines on Thursday with its ambitious plans to build the first US-based utility-scale quantum computer in Chicago. On Friday, the UK government announced a £100 million investment in new quantum technology hubs to enhance healthcare, security, and infrastructure.

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DOE Seeks Proposals for Discovery, Successor to ORNL’s Frontier Supercomputer

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., July 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Energy released a request for proposals to advance its leadership in high-performance computing, inviting vendors to submit their plans for a successor to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s exascale supercomputer, Frontier.

The future system, to be called Discovery, will be designed to offer new computational capabilities over Frontier, currently the fastest supercomputer in the world at 1.206 exaflops on the High-Performance Linpack, or HPL, benchmark. The target for Discovery’s delivery to the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, or OLCF, is 2027 or early 2028.

“Discovery will enable the scientific community to model real-world situations at new levels of detail. It will help us study challenging problems we can’t easily explore with experiment, observation or theory alone,” said Georgia Tourassi, ORNL associate laboratory director of co mputing and computational sciences.

Read more here.

DARPA Launches Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to Validate Industrial Quantum Computing

BALLSTON, Va., July 22, 2024 — DARPA has launched the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) to evaluate the industrial potential of quantum computing. Collaborating with the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the State of Illinois, QBI aims to benchmark quantum applications and validate hardware advancements.

The initiative builds on DARPA’s previous programs, Quantum Benchmarking and Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC), to determine if industrially useful quantum computers can be developed faster than current predictions.

Read the full announcement here and special coverage here.

UC San Diego Launches New School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences

SAN DIEGO, July 22, 2024 — The University of California Board of Regents has approved the creation of the new School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS) at UC San Diego.

This new school will unite faculty across various disciplines to advance research and education in artificial intelligence, computing, and data science. SCIDS will prepare the next generation of skilled workers and foster collaborations to address societal challenges through data science. The San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Halicioğlu Data Science Institute will provide foundational resources for SCIDS.

Read the full announcement here.

Nscale Acquires Kontena to Enhance HPC and AI Infrastructure Capabilities

LONDON, July 22, 2024 — Nscale this week announced the acquisition of Kontena, a leader in high-density modular data centers. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in Nscale’s mission to provide the infrastructure backbone to the growing generative AI market through cost-effective, high-performance solutions that unlock AI’s full potential.

“Joining forces with Nscale provides us with an incredible opportunity to accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge Generative AI Data Centre solutions,” said Jef Laurijssen, CEO of Kontena. “Our combined expertise will enable us to deliver unparalleled value to our customers in the AI and HPC markets.”

Read the full release here.

Altair Partners with University of Nottingham on Digital Twin Solutions for Aerospace

TROY, Mich., July 23, 2024 — Altair has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Nottingham for a digital twin project within the aerospace sector.

“Altair is committed to boosting innovation with a focus on next-generation sustainability in all sectors. This is why we partner with some of the most advanced universities and research centers in the world, like the University of Nottingham,” said Dr. Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defense, Altair. “Through our leading technology and expertise, our ultimate aim is to develop groundbreaking new solutions that open new possibilities and advance sustainability in aerospace, transportation, and beyond.”

Read more here.

Classiq Launches Qmod, Enabling Efficient Quantum Algorithm Development for All

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 23, 2024 — Classiq this week announced the general availability of Qmod (Quantum Modeling Language), the first high-level language (HLL) for quantum coding. Following successful pilot projects with enterprise partners, Qmod is now accessible worldwide.

“To deliver a business or scientific value, quantum computing must be useful and accessible to scientists and engineers seeking to use quantum computing to solve real-world problems, which today it is not,” said Heather West, PhD, Research Manager, Quantum Computing at IDC. “Today, programming a quantum computer happens at the hardware level, making the technology only accessible to quantum physicists and other quantum specialists. As we begin to talk about quantum utility and near-term applications, abstraction-level application programming will become a necessity for wide-spread quantum adoption and usage.”

Read the entire announcement here.

Alces Flight and WHPC’s ‘Move the Needle’ Project Reveals EDIA Insights at Six-Month Mark

BICESTER, England, July 23, 2024 — Launched in December 2023, Move the Needle set out to track the EDIA goals of a dedicated group of individuals over twelve months. Halfway through, positive progress and unexpected benefits have already emerged.

The initiative has expanded beyond the core concept of the Accountability Team (or A-Team) to include insights from community experts actively advancing EDIA. Presentations at public sessions have garnered contributions from a diverse range of students and technical professionals. These opportunities have enriched the project with broader perspectives, and gratitude is extended to the community for their readiness to assist with these aims.

Read the announcement here.

HLRS Advanced Simulations Aid Development of Quieter and Safer Helicopters

STUTTGART, Germany, July 23, 2024 — HLRS advanced simulations are driving significant advancements in helicopter safety, efficiency, and noise reduction.

Led by Prof. Manuel Keßler at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aerodynamics and Gas Dynamics, the team utilizes supercomputers to model complex aerodynamics, collaborating closely with Airbus Helicopters on the innovative RACER prototype. As HLRS transitions to its next-generation Hunter supercomputer, the team is poised to further accelerate research and improve aviation safety.

Read more here.

JEDEC Unveils Plans for DDR5 MRDIMM and LPDDR6 CAMM Standards to Propel HPC and AI

ARLINGTON, Va., July. 23, 2024 — JEDEC Solid State Technology Association has announced upcoming standards for advanced memory modules designed to power the next generation of high-performance computing and AI applications.

JEDEC revealed key details about its upcoming standards for DDR5 Multiplexed Rank Dual Inline Memory Modules (MRDIMM) and a next-generation Compression-Attached Memory Module (CAMM) for LPDDR6. The new MRDIMM and CAMM for LPDDR6 are set to revolutionize the industry with unparalleled bandwidth and memory capacity.

Read the announcement here.

Qrypt Awarded SBIR Phase 1 Contract by AFWERX for the Quantum Hardening of Mattermost Secure Chat

NEW YORK, July 23, 2024 — Qrypt this week announced it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase 1 focused on quantum hardening of Mattermost secure chat to address ChatOps data privacy and encryption, a mission imperative for the Department of the Air Force.

“Commercial messaging and file transfer applications are essential modern communication tools,” said Qrypt CTO Denis Mandich. “They are equally prevalent in classified environments, but military cybersecurity requirements are much greater and the stakes higher. Integrating Qrypt solutions vastly improves security and eliminates any single point of compromise on the network. We look forward to supporting the warfighter and are honored to be awarded.”

Read more here.

Quantinuum and Singapore’s Leading Research Institutions Collaborate on Quantum Computing Innovations

SINGAPORE, July 23, 2024 — Singapore’s National Quantum Office, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, National University of Singapore, National Supercomputing Centre and Quantinuum signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week, enabling access to Quantinuum’s advanced quantum computer, and to explore and collaborate on quantum computing use cases, focusing on computational biology.

“Establishing an R&D hub in Singapore enhances our dedication to fostering a vibrant quantum ecosystem, driving scientific excellence, and nurturing top quantum talent,” said Quantinuum CEO Raj Hazra. “Together, we aim to make significant strides in quantum technologies, supporting Singapore’s ambition to lead in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.”

Read the full release here.

Quantum Transistors Secures €17.5M from EIC to Scale Quantum Computing R&D

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 24, 2024 — Quantum Transistors, a pioneer in advanced quantum processor development, has been awarded up to €17.5 million by the European Innovation Council (EIC). Quantum Transistors received an initial grant from the EIC Accelerator of €2.5 million combined with a future equity investment of €15 million through the EIC Fund.

This investment, the largest in the latest EIC accelerator funding round, underscores Quantum Transistor’s commitment to making quantum computing scalable and accessible. Out of 969 companies that submitted full proposals, Quantum Transistors stood out among 68 others selected for funding. The company will use the investment to scale-up its R&D and expand its growing team.

Read more here.

ORNL’s UrbanPop Project Utilizes Synthetic Populations to Study Neighborhood Mobility

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., July 24, 2024 — Joe Tuccillo, a human geography research scientist, leads the UrbanPop project that uses census data to create synthetic populations. Using a Python software suite called Likeness on ORNL’s high-performance computers, Tuccillo’s team generates a population with individual ‘agents’ designed to represent people that interact with other agents, facilities and services in a simulated neighborhood.

“We hope to make our Likeness software publicly available this year for others in the research community to create synthetic populations for their own tasks,” Tuccillo said. Likeness can be applied to models in a variety of research areas, including human mobility modeling, access to vaccines for low socioeconomic individuals during a pandemic or school bus route equity in a county.”

Read more about ORNL’s UrbanPop project here.

NAG’s n2 Group Completes Acquisition of Fintech Specialist STAC

OXFORD, England, July 24, 2024 — n2 Group, the parent company of NAG, has completed the acquisition of STAC, a financial technology performance specialist. STAC joins NAG and VSNi in the growing community of n2 Group companies dedicated to advancing computation through collective innovation, technical excellence and long-term strategic growth.

n2 Group invests selectively in advanced and scientific computing companies with deep operational impact in a variety of sectors, providing operational support and central services to support innovation and strategic advancement of the group businesses.

Read more here.

University of Innsbruck Advances Hybrid Quantum Solutions for HPC Clusters

INNSBRUCK, Austria, July 24, 2024 — The University of Innsbruck has announced a new advancement in hybrid quantum solutions for HPC clusters. Researchers successfully integrated a quantum computer with the university’s HPC infrastructure, opening new possibilities for solving complex scientific and industrial challenges.

This milestone, achieved within the FFG-funded HPQC project, involves collaboration with AQT and partners like Math.Tec GmbH and the Technical University of Vienna. The project aims to explore hybrid solutions combining classical and quantum computing, advancing both research and educational applications in quantum technologies.

“The successful integration of a quantum computer into a high-performance computing environment marks a significant milestone for Austrian and European research and technology development,” said Henrietta Egerth, Managing Director of the FFG. “This opens up completely new possibilities for mastering complex scientific and industrial challenges and shaping the future of computing.”

Read the full announcement here.

Micron Unveils 9550 NVMe SSD Delivering Industry-Leading Performance for Data Centers

BOISE, Idaho, July 24, 2024 — Micron this week announced the availability of the Micron 9550 NVMe SSD. The Micron 9550 SSD showcases Micron’s deep expertise and innovation by integrating its own controller, NAND, DRAM and firmware into one world-class product. This integrated solution enables class-leading performance, power efficiency and security features for data center operators.

The Micron 9550 SSD delivers best-in-class performance with 14.0 GB/s sequential reads and 10.0 GB/s sequential writes to provide up to 67% better performance over similar competitive SSDs and enables industry-leading performance for demanding workloads such as AI. In addition, its random reads of 3,300 KIOPS are up to 35% better and random writes of 400 KIOPS are up to 33% better than competitive offerings.

Read more here.

Lambda Introduces Self-Serve Multi-Node GPU Clusters with NVIDIA H100 GPUs

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 25, 2024 — Lambda has unveiled Lambda 1-Click Clusters, providing AI engineers and researchers short-term access to multi-node GPU clusters in the cloud for large-scale AI model training. The launch marks the first time such access to NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs on 2 to 64 nodes has been made available on demand and through a self-serve cloud service without requiring expensive long-term contracts.

“Lambda has solved a complex compute challenge only a few very large companies have: partitioning a large, high-performant AI deployment to make smaller GPU clusters. Making this available on demand, through a self-serve model with no humans in the loop – all packaged with our trademark ease of use – adds to why we’re so thrilled about this launch,” said Lambda’s Robert Brooks. “Our 1-Click Clusters are a big step toward a world where GPUs’ availability, long-term contracts and high costs don’t stand in between AI teams and the ability to turn their ideas into breakthroughs.”

Read the full article here.

PNNL Scientists Tap Nation’s Fastest Computers to Explore Critical Science Questions

RICHLAND, Wash., July 25, 2024 — Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have been awarded more than 3 million node hours on the nation’s most powerful computers to explore questions around pathogens, climate and energy-efficient microelectronics.

Access to the nation’s supercomputers, granted to Margaret Cheung, Daniel Mejia Rodriguez and Po-Lun Ma, is a coveted prize among scientists. The node hours represent an investment of several million dollars in computing time awarded to PNNL scientists to explore important science questions.

The awards are among 44 projects awarded through DOE’s 2024-2025 ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge from DOE’s Advanced Scientific Computing Research program. The program grants computational time at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center.

Read more here.

PsiQuantum to Build 1st US-Based Utility-Scale Quantum Computer in Chicago

CHICAGO, July 25, 2024 — PsiQuantum this week announced a far-reaching partnership with the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago to build the first US-based utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer at the former US Steel South Works property in the City of Chicago.

Under this agreement PsiQuantum will anchor the newly established Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) which will catalyze the state’s highly developed quantum ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the University of Chicago, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, Argonne and Fermi national labs and DARPA, the US Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Project Agency and others.

Read the full announcement here.

NSF Awards $5.3M Supplement to SDSC to Increase Expanse’s AI Capabilities

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2024 — The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $5.3 million supplement to the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego to expand the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of Expanse, SDSC’s flagship supercomputer.

The award was made as part of the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot program, which aims to connect U.S. researchers and educators to computational, data, and training resources needed to advance AI research and research that employs AI.

Read more here.

SK hynix Board Approves Yongin Semiconductor Cluster Investment Plan

SEOUL, July 26, 2024 — SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has decided to invest about 9.4 trillion won (~US$6.79 billion) in building the first fab and business facilities of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster after the board resolution on the 26th.

SK hynix plans to start construction of the 1st fab to be built in the Yongin cluster in March next year and complete it in May 2027, and have received an investment approval from the board of directors prior to it. The company will make every effort to build the fab to lay the foundation for the company’s future growth and respond to the rapidly increasing demand for AI memory semiconductors.

Read more here.

UK Government Invests £100M in Quantum Tech Hubs to Transform Healthcare, Security, and Infrastructure

LONDON, July 26, 2024 — The UK government has announced a £100 million investment in five new quantum technology research hubs aimed at advancing healthcare, security, and infrastructure. These hubs, led by top universities, will focus on developing cutting-edge technologies such as quantum-enhanced medical diagnostics, resilient navigation systems, and secure communication networks. The initiative is expected to drive economic growth, improve public safety, and enhance the capabilities of the NHS, positioning the UK as a leader in quantum technology innovation.

“These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions,” commented Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle. “They will not only transform sectors like healthcare and security, but also create a culture of accelerated innovation that helps to grow our economy.”

Read the full announcement here.