Oct. 19, 2020 Held in digital format on October 13 and 14, 2020, given the circumstances of COVID-19, Forum Teratec gathered over 1200 experts in Simulation, HPC, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. It brought together industrialists, users, suppliers and political decision-makers around the essential issue of digital. As President of Teratec Daniel Verwaerde said in his introduction: This crisis demonstrates the fundamental importance of digital, and especially HPC and HPDA in our lives and in our economy.

The Forum Teratec 2020 was up to the challenge of previous years editions, welcoming more than 1,200 participants. It brought together major European decision-makers virtually, including Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner, Florence Parly, the French Minister of the Armed Forces and many industrialists. More than sixty companies and innovative projects presented their latest results with the ability for participants to share experiences during business meetings. In addition, six thematic workshops attended by national and international experts provided an opportunity to review the latest technological advances, in the fields of digital-twin in medicine, quantum computing, satellite data and the environment, AI and scientific computing, Cloud computing and HPC or Exascale.

One strategic stake, both political and economical

In all economic fields, these technologies will be essential and companies able to master them will be the leaders of tomorrow. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market clearly stated: High-Performance Computing represents a major strategic challenge for Europe as much industrial, technological and, of course, scientific. It is also one of the pillars of our digital autonomy.

Digital autonomy for European States will require the implementation of a network of supercomputers on their territory for all users in industry, research and the public sector.

The European Commission has identified HPC as one of key pillars of the digital decade and decided to invest, together with Member States and industry, more than 8 billion in new-generation supercomputers under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.

Beyond supercomputers, European sovereignty is also conditioned by Europes ability to produce processors at best global scope, in order to reduce its dependence in this strategic area. It is also in the process of bringing together all the players involved (research organizations, small and large enterprises, public authorities) within digital ecosystems capable of mastering those technologies that will guarantee Europes competitiveness in the global economy.

Key technologies for all economic sectors

For Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces: Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, Quantum computing and, more generally, breakthrough innovations linked to data are subjects of prime importance for the Ministry of the Armed Forces. They are therefore at the heart of innovation and investment strategies, with the aim of devoting them 1 billion a year from 2022.

HPC in the COVID-19 era

During the roundtable discussion How can digital technology serve health in the age of COVID-19?, major sponsors of the Forum Teratec discussed the contribution of HPC and HPDA to the health sector, with obvious particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. They were thus able to demonstrate the value of these technologies in the management of the pandemic and in research for treatments and vaccines.

Innovation is core for the 6th Trophies for Simulation and AI 2020

The 6th Simulation and AI 2020 Trophies, organized with LUsine Digitale in partnership with Ansys, the CEA, Inria and Smart 4D, rewarded innovative projects or companies that have carried out an outstanding operation in the field of digital simulation, high-performance computing, Big Data or AI, or their application to healthcare. For each category, the winners are:

Closing the Forum Teratec, Daniel Verwaerde concluded: The Forum Teratec 2020 has shown the major importance of HPC and HPDA for the management of the health crisis and for industrial recovery. I would like to thank over than 1,200 participants who made it a remarkable success, and I look forward to seeing them again at the Forum Teratec 2021 next June, 22 and 23.

https://teratec.eu/forum

Source: Teratec

Read the original:
Forum Teratec 2020 Gathered Experts in Simulation, HPC, Big Data and AI - HPCwire