Neuroscientific breakthroughs in the HBP enabled by the Fenix (super)computing and data infrastructure
The ICEI (Interactive Computing E-Infrastructure for the Human Brain Project) project has successfully established high-performance computing (HPC) and data infrastructure services to support various research communities. This project, with five leading European supercomputing centres, has brought the Fenix Infrastructure to life. The key feature of this e-infrastructure is the integration of federated data repositories and scalable supercomputing systems, alongside the introduction of interactive computing services and the availability of cloud resources, marking significant innovation. The primary beneficiary of this research infrastructure and its services was the European Human Brain Project.
Over the past five years, Fenix has provided essential computing and storage resources to empower scientific communities in developing and maintaining specialised services, such as the EBRAINS Collaboratory. These services cater primarily to the Neuroscience community while collaborating with PRACE facilitated access for other science and engineering communities. Importantly, access to the resources of the Fenix Infrastructure is granted free of charge and is subject to review based on PRACE's peer review principles, encompassing technical and scientific evaluations. The following success stories exemplify how the Fenix Infrastructure resources enabled research projects in different scientific domains.
1. LearnHPC and the use of the Fenix resources: Elevating HPC training in Europe
During an interview, Alan O’Cais discussed the essential role of Fenix Research Infrastructure in ensuring that Magic Castle acts as the cloud-based cluster technology underpinning HPC Carpentry, the new lesson program under incubation within the Carpentries. Read the article
2. State-of-the-art simulation methods against the SARS-CoV-2 virus
In this success story, Jean-Philip Piquemal and his team at the Sorbonne University in Paris explained how Fenix infrastructure facilitated the storage and further accessibility of the large simulation data to the Tinker HP program, which helps scientists create accurate simulations using a new kind of math called AMOEBA. Read the article
3. Using ICEI resources for Atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations on CoVid-19 related research
In his Fenix article, Adam Hospital shared how using molecular simulations, scientists worldwide use Fenix resources to understand better how COVID-19 works, including its effects on infectivity. Read the article
4. Unveiling how oil freezes by molecular dynamics with the support of ICEI CSCS computational resources
Anela Ivanova tells how Fenix resources enabled the research team to access critical computational assets for simulating oil freezing and phase changes, contributing to a deeper understanding of the process. Read the article
5. RUDI, an open-data project for everyone
Francois Bodin and Laurent Morin wrote about the role of Fenix resources in their research and development endeavours, which involved customising a deployment strategy that seamlessly aligns with federated data platforms across the Rennes metropolis service, security, and management needs. Their work focused on ensuring the solution's scalability, even when dealing with numerous data producers. Read the article
6. Deep (and scalable) learning for and from quantum systems
Sebastiano Pilati and the University of Camerino team explained how Fenix infrastructure facilitated quantum science research, highlighting the potential of deep neural networks in addressing quantum data challenges and advancing quantum-enhanced machine learning. Read the article
7. Planet formation with GPU computation
Ramon Brasser expounded that ICEI allocations enabled extensive parameter space exploration, enhancing our understanding of how small rocky planets form around other stars. Read the article
These success stories underscore the important role of the Fenix Infrastructure resources provided in the framework of ICEI in advancing scientific research across diverse domains, fostering innovation, and facilitating collaboration among research communities.
For more information on projects from the HBP/Neuroscience community that leveraged Fenix Infrastructure resources, see the following news article: Neuroscientific breakthroughs in the HBP enabled by the Fenix (super)computing and data infrastructure (26.09.2023)
