HPE has announced the building of a new supercomputer named “Austral” for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI data center CRIANN (Centre Régional Informatique et d’Applications Numériques de Normandie).
HPE’s supercomputer is based on HPE Cray supercomputers and the HPE Machine Learning Development Environment at the AI data center located in Normandy, France, where Austral was inaugurated.
Austral is the latest AI development that HPE is fueling for France. The system builds on other innovations that HPE has delivered, like the Jean Zay supercomputer for GENCI (Grand Équipement National de Calcul Intensif) and “Champollion,” an AI supercomputer that HPE is offering through its center of excellence in Grenoble, France, for broader use.
Austral aims to help train robust AI models and run simulations and data analysis to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation in climate modeling, biotechnology, healthcare and materials science.
This project is a part of ongoing efforts to advance France’s national AI strategy, and was co-founded by the Normandy Region, the French State and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Justin Hotard, executive vice president and general manager, HPC, AI and Labs at HPE, said: “France has demonstrated its national commitment to advancing AI, which is fundamental to propel innovation for the greater good and the overall prosperity of a nation.
“We are proud to continue partnering with France’s national and regional centers to accelerate its AI missions by building powerful solutions using our supercomputers and AI software. Through our latest collaboration with CRIANN to deliver Austral, users across public and private organizations will gain access to tools to create reliable and explainable AI models and tackle complex simulations to make scientific discoveries and advance R&D.”
Hervé Prigent, managing director at CRIANN, also commented: “CRIANN is committed to providing high-performance computing and data services to the research and education community in Normandy, as well as to the private sector.
“With Austral, we have a powerful and flexible platform that will enable us to run a wide range of applications and workflows, from simulations and modeling to AI and data analytics. We are excited to work with HPE to build Austral and enhance our HPC capabilities.”
