The Italian National Research Centre on High-Performance Computing, Big Data, and Quantum Computing (ICSC) is a cutting-edge initiative established in 2022 under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Managed by the ICSC Foundation, the Centre unites 52 partners, including public institutions, private organizations, and companies, to foster innovation in computational science and technology.
Mission and Vision
ICSC aims to develop a world-class supercomputing cloud infrastructure to store, manage, and analyze vast amounts of data, combining high-performance computing (HPC) with general-purpose cloud systems. The Centre’s mission encompasses:
Establishing centers of excellence with expert teams to develop domain-specific applications.
Strengthening links between the scientific community and industry, catering to both large corporations and SMEs.
Training young scientists and managers to become experts in HPC, big data, and quantum computing.
Implementing measures to enhance innovation and increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of new products.
Organizational Structure
ICSC operates on a “hub-and-spoke” model:
Hub: Located in Bologna and led by Cineca, the hub oversees the Centre’s operations and coordination.
Spokes: Eleven thematic areas focus on specific research and development domains:
Spoke 0: Supercomputing Cloud Infrastructure
Spoke 1: Future HPC & Big Data
Spoke 2: Fundamental Research & Space Economy
Spoke 3: Astrophysics & Cosmos Observations
Spoke 4: Earth & Climate
Spoke 5: Environment & Natural Disasters
Spoke 6: Multiscale Modelling & Engineering Applications
Spoke 7: Materials & Molecular Sciences
Spoke 8: In Silico Medicine & Omics Data
Spoke 9: Digital Society & Smart Cities
Spoke 10: Quantum Computing
Strategic Initiatives
ICSC is committed to promoting inclusivity and regional development:
Allocating 41% of its total funding to Southern Italy.
Ensuring at least 40% female participation among its personnel.
Investing over €100 million in personnel and nearly €16 million in higher education, including 200 PhD and 200 post-doctoral scholarships.
Recent Developments
ICSC has achieved significant milestones:
Selected as a National Node of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), enhancing European research collaboration.
Participated in the launch of the DARE SGA1 project, aiming to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty in HPC and AI.
Contributed to the Innovate consortium, awarded the first industry-grade supercomputer project funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
ICSC stands at the forefront of Italy’s efforts to advance computational research, foster innovation, and contribute to the global scientific community.
Source: supercomputing-icsc.it