Forschungszentrum Jülich is getting another supercomputer.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Forschungszentrum Jülich will be the location of the first European supercomputer that can perform more than a trillion arithmetic operations per second – that is a one followed by 18 zeros. The research center announced that the computing power would exceed five million modern notebooks or PCs. Cost of the so-called exascale computer “Jupiter” from IBM: half a billion euros.
“This is a major investment in Germany’s research infrastructure, with which we want to expand our technological sovereignty,” said Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger. At the same time, the FDP politician announced that two more exascale supercomputers are to be launched in Munich and Stuttgart in the next few years.
“Jupiter will raise the scientific computing infrastructure in NRW, Germany and Europe to a new level,” said Wolfgang Marquardt, head of Forschungszentrum Jülich. “With the possible integration of quantum technologies, the exascale computer is also building a bridge to the great future technology of quantum computing,” said NRW Science Minister Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen (independent).
Jupiter – the name stands for “Joint Undertaking Pioneer for Innovative and Transformative Exascale Research” – should generally enable the intensive use of artificial intelligence and the analysis of large amounts of data. It should help to clarify scientific questions about climate change and sustainable energy production or the management of pandemics. But he could also advance brain research, traffic control or the development of evacuation scenarios for major events.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
Of the total costs, 250 million euros will come from the European supercomputing initiative EuroHPC JU, and another 250 million will be shared equally by the Federal Ministry of Research and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“Jupiter” will be installed in a purpose-built building on the campus of Forschungszentrum Jülich from 2023. The operator will be the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC), whose supercomputers “Juwels” and “Jureca” are currently among the most powerful supercomputers in the world.
Supercomputer needs 15 megawatts of energy
The new supercomputer is intended to make the leap into the exascale class for the first time in Europe. The supercomputer will have more computing power than five million modern notebooks or PCs. Like the current Jülich supercomputer “Juwels”, “Jupiter” will be based on a dynamic, modular supercomputer architecture that Forschungszentrum Jülich has developed together with European and international partners in the European DEEP research projects.
In a modular supercomputer, different computing modules are coupled to one another. According to the research center Jülich, this makes it possible to distribute program parts of complex simulations to several modules, so that the different hardware properties can be used optimally. Due to the modular design, the system is also well prepared to integrate future technologies such as quantum computer modules or neuromorphic modules that simulate the functioning of the brain.
A major challenge is the energy requirement for the exascale computing power: The expected average power is up to 15 megawatts. “Jupiter” is designed as a “green” computer that is to be operated with green electricity.
Hot water cooling should help “Jupiter” achieve the highest efficiency values. At the same time, the cooling technology opens up the possibility of using the waste heat intelligently: Like the predecessor system Juwels, “Jupiter” is to be connected to the new low-temperature network on the campus of the Forschungszentrum Jülich.
More: Germany has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to innovations – and in digitization