The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) commissioned its € 17 million (US$ 19 million) HoreKa 2 supercomputer on September 25 at its Campus North site in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The system has more than 42,000 processor cores and 300 AI accelerators, with a planned peak performance of around 33 petaFLOPS.
According to a press release, the computer will be used for research in areas including climate science, materials development, engineering, particle physics, energy and mobility. Its AI accelerators are intended for machine learning workloads, which are increasingly used in scientific research. Researchers outside KIT can also access the system through the National High-Performance Computing Network (NHR).
Petra Olschowski, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Science, Research and the Arts, said, “KIT is one of nine nationwide centers of the National High-Performance Computing Network (NHR) and an important player in this field. With its expertise, it contributes to the digital sovereignty of Germany and Europe.”
Professor Martin Frank, member of the Board of Directors of the KIT Scientific Computing Center (SCC), said, “With the new system, we are able to double the computing power for simulations and AI applications.”
Professor Kora Kristof, Vice President Digitalization and Sustainability, KIT, said, “HoreKa 2 strengthens the digital capabilities of KIT and combines cutting-edge research with a clear focus on sustainability. It will allow us to create the conditions necessary to conduct data-intensive research and run modern AI applications in an energy-efficient and sustainable manner.”
HoreKa 2 will double the computing capacity available for simulations and AI applications. The system is intended for use beyond the scientific fields that require large-scale simulations, with its AI processors supporting applications across a range of disciplines.
The supercomputer is cooled with hot water, which allows the facility to use free cooling throughout the year. KIT’s Campus North uses electricity from renewable sources, with cogeneration and photovoltaic systems also contributing to its energy supply.