Q and A on the HPC Wales project - Part II
Here are some Q&As on the HPC Wales high performance computer project (see earlier posts on this blog for more information) -
Can’t industry access existing HPC facilities in Wales?
Some of the business in Wales will have their own in house HPC facilities, but may want to use HPC Wales for further staff training and skill development or for specific research projects using academic expertise. They are almost the easy targets for HPC Wales
A great many more need help in understanding what HPC could do for them in terms of efficient product development and innovation.
Access for business to the main UK HPC facilities such as HECToR or the Met Office is available but many would not know how to access the processes and applications and in reality these major UK facilities mainly cater for Academic researchers.
HPC Wales will be unique in helping to open up HPC facilities to a wide range of business who would not be able to access from their current knowledge and experience base. The target will be economic development rather than pure research.
What do they do at the moment? How do they manage?
They can book and buy time from existing suppliers which is not satisfactory when dealing with deadlines and it is also expensive. They can get additional power by linking several computers together but again this does have limits and doesn’t provide the speed or capacity of HPC.
Will industry have to pay to access HPC Wales?
HPC Wales has to develop a sustainability model to ensure we can move into Phase 2 of HPC Wales, to further invest and reinvest as the technology and processes develop. That Sustainability model will encompass all users.
What is the timetable, when will it be up and running?
Year 1 of the project will be putting in the physical infrastructure, recruiting staff and beginning the training and out-reach activities. Year 2 will begin to tackle the projects and companies already identified and coming forward and Year 3 will be moving towards the fully open and distributed model for all potential users.
How long has this been planned?
The Welsh Assembly Government has worked across departments and with the key stakeholders in the Universities to develop the proposal over the last 15 months. It was one of four projects selected by Ministers in July 2009 to go forward from Wales to apply for the New Industries New Jobs UK Strategic Investment Fund.
The UK Treasury, BIS and WAG announced the award on the 9th December 2009 and BIS reviewed this project in the recent emergency budget. UK BIS funding is fully confirmed and as a result HPC Wales will leverage an additional £10m of UK funding into Wales.
This has been described as a unique project, why?
Business and industry will have open access to HPC; support will be available through the Institute to help companies use HPC to further their projects; the network is distributed throughout Wales; training and skills form an integral part of HPC Wales. In comparison to other UK and Global investments in high performance computing, HPC Wales recognises the need for a corresponding investment in upskilling, training and education of the user community especially within industry and commerce.
Will HPC Wales be purely for Welsh companies?
No, HPC Wales will work with the National HPC facilities such as Daresbury and HECToR and has already had initial conversations with the Research Councils, USA National Science Foundation and PRACE in Europe. Interest is being shown in HPC Wales as it is trying to open up and make HPC easily accessible to all potential users and will be developing markets in the private sector and for future users in the research community of the large National facilities. The increased capacity and capability will also be attractive for companies looking to expand or locate in Wales.
Given the current economic climate and funding issues for HE, isn’t this a bad time to launch this?
Not at all, HPC Wales has the potential to attract a considerable amount of research income to HE, boost the economy, drive up skills, help take products and processes to market earlier, stimulate innovation, attract investment and talent to Wales while retaining postgraduates in Wales.
It is in line with the Economic Renewable Programme (ERP) with the emphasis on providing the vital infrastructure for economic growth and moving away from the grant culture.
One key objective of ERP is to adjust our £240m economic development budget so that it's focused more on developing the right skills for our workforce and to encourage world-class research and development.
The project is leveraging UK money into Wales as well as EU Funding through the ERDF and ESF Frameworks for ITC Research and R&D. The Universities are also contributing to the project. In terms of WAG funding leverage this project is leveraging £7 for every £1 of WAG funding.
Who will manage and run HPC Wales?
A special purpose vehicle, a charitable organisation, has been established specifically for this venture and to manage the project over the next 10 years. Members are Universities of Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, Aberystwyth, Glamorgan, and University of Wales on behalf of the Alliance.
The Welsh Assembly Government will be invited to attend as observer, and has facilitated the development of the project to date
An Independent Chair is to be appointed and there are places for up to 2 industrial business representatives. An Advisory and User Groups will also be established.
Can’t industry access existing HPC facilities in Wales?
Some of the business in Wales will have their own in house HPC facilities, but may want to use HPC Wales for further staff training and skill development or for specific research projects using academic expertise. They are almost the easy targets for HPC Wales
A great many more need help in understanding what HPC could do for them in terms of efficient product development and innovation.
Access for business to the main UK HPC facilities such as HECToR or the Met Office is available but many would not know how to access the processes and applications and in reality these major UK facilities mainly cater for Academic researchers.
HPC Wales will be unique in helping to open up HPC facilities to a wide range of business who would not be able to access from their current knowledge and experience base. The target will be economic development rather than pure research.
What do they do at the moment? How do they manage?
They can book and buy time from existing suppliers which is not satisfactory when dealing with deadlines and it is also expensive. They can get additional power by linking several computers together but again this does have limits and doesn’t provide the speed or capacity of HPC.
Will industry have to pay to access HPC Wales?
HPC Wales has to develop a sustainability model to ensure we can move into Phase 2 of HPC Wales, to further invest and reinvest as the technology and processes develop. That Sustainability model will encompass all users.
What is the timetable, when will it be up and running?
Year 1 of the project will be putting in the physical infrastructure, recruiting staff and beginning the training and out-reach activities. Year 2 will begin to tackle the projects and companies already identified and coming forward and Year 3 will be moving towards the fully open and distributed model for all potential users.
How long has this been planned?
The Welsh Assembly Government has worked across departments and with the key stakeholders in the Universities to develop the proposal over the last 15 months. It was one of four projects selected by Ministers in July 2009 to go forward from Wales to apply for the New Industries New Jobs UK Strategic Investment Fund.
The UK Treasury, BIS and WAG announced the award on the 9th December 2009 and BIS reviewed this project in the recent emergency budget. UK BIS funding is fully confirmed and as a result HPC Wales will leverage an additional £10m of UK funding into Wales.
This has been described as a unique project, why?
Business and industry will have open access to HPC; support will be available through the Institute to help companies use HPC to further their projects; the network is distributed throughout Wales; training and skills form an integral part of HPC Wales. In comparison to other UK and Global investments in high performance computing, HPC Wales recognises the need for a corresponding investment in upskilling, training and education of the user community especially within industry and commerce.
Will HPC Wales be purely for Welsh companies?
No, HPC Wales will work with the National HPC facilities such as Daresbury and HECToR and has already had initial conversations with the Research Councils, USA National Science Foundation and PRACE in Europe. Interest is being shown in HPC Wales as it is trying to open up and make HPC easily accessible to all potential users and will be developing markets in the private sector and for future users in the research community of the large National facilities. The increased capacity and capability will also be attractive for companies looking to expand or locate in Wales.
Given the current economic climate and funding issues for HE, isn’t this a bad time to launch this?
Not at all, HPC Wales has the potential to attract a considerable amount of research income to HE, boost the economy, drive up skills, help take products and processes to market earlier, stimulate innovation, attract investment and talent to Wales while retaining postgraduates in Wales.
It is in line with the Economic Renewable Programme (ERP) with the emphasis on providing the vital infrastructure for economic growth and moving away from the grant culture.
One key objective of ERP is to adjust our £240m economic development budget so that it's focused more on developing the right skills for our workforce and to encourage world-class research and development.
The project is leveraging UK money into Wales as well as EU Funding through the ERDF and ESF Frameworks for ITC Research and R&D. The Universities are also contributing to the project. In terms of WAG funding leverage this project is leveraging £7 for every £1 of WAG funding.
Who will manage and run HPC Wales?
A special purpose vehicle, a charitable organisation, has been established specifically for this venture and to manage the project over the next 10 years. Members are Universities of Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, Aberystwyth, Glamorgan, and University of Wales on behalf of the Alliance.
The Welsh Assembly Government will be invited to attend as observer, and has facilitated the development of the project to date
An Independent Chair is to be appointed and there are places for up to 2 industrial business representatives. An Advisory and User Groups will also be established.
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