High-performance computers are a central element in ensuring that Swiss universities can compete globally. The ETH Board is responsible for the national strategy for high-performance computing and networking. The ETH Zurich is implementing the strategy at CSCS in Ticino.
The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) has been under development ever since the Federal Council and Parliament declared High-Performance Computing and Networking (HPCN) to be a national strategy in 2009. Funds from the Swiss Confederation and the ETH Domain, as well as contributions from the Canton of Ticino and the city of Lugano, will enable a new building, housing a high-performance national supercomputer, to be built in Lugano by 2014. The foundation stone was laid in October 2010.
HP2C network project
High-performance computing is a key technology for the competitiveness of Switzerland as a science location. The project HP2C (High-Performance and High-Productivity Computing), headed by Thomas Schulthess, director of CSCS and professor at the ETH Zurich, was initiated for the purpose of efficient use of the new high-performance computer as part of the national strategy: computers and modelling programs are to be coordinated with each other more effectively. Complex simulations which currently take months, e.g. involving fluid dynamics or astronomy, will require just a few hours. HP2C is a network project conducted by Swiss universities, working towards optimal usage of future computer systems, also in cooperation with hardware manufacturers.
The new CSCS is operated with maximum energy efficiency. As of 2012, the new high-performance computer will execute over a quadrillion computational operations per second, consuming 3 to 5 megawatts of electricity. Its liquid cooling system uses cold water from Lake Lugano. The AIL industrial enterprises in Lugano receive the waste heat free of charge for building heating.
