Joint PRACE IAC and EuroHPC INFRAG Workshop on Support for Industrial Users

In the meeting, Claus-Axel Müller (Chair of the EuroHPC INFRAG) highlighted the very positive focus of EuroHPC in terms of support for industry. This was followed by Gunnar Bøe (EuroHPC INFRAG) who gave a presentation on the forthcoming call, a Network of HPC Competence Centres for SMEs, describing how individual member states would be funded to support SMEs. Next, Tomi Ilijas (PRACE IAC), led a discussion regarding technology transfer from academia to the market place. In order to promote HPC adoption, it was a common view that HPC centres need to help industry users take the first step. These early adopters would then graduate as customers of a new generation of start-up companies who will provide commercial HPC services. The final topic of the meeting compared and contrasted academic and industry cultures, helping attendees explore the differences between the user requirements of academia and industry.

In summary, Lee Margetts (Chair of the PRACE IAC) commented that we should not be thinking about industry in terms of the austere concepts of economic growth or return on investment. The motivation for industry engagement is more human, intrinsically linked to the needs of the individual and the society we live in. HPC will only benefit society if new scientific discoveries lead to sustainable products and services that both improve quality of life and respect the environment. In partnership, the PRACE and EuroHPC mission should be a simple one, to make life better for the European citizen. The key to success? A carefully orchestrated relationship between science and industry.