The Flemish Supercomputer Centre (VSC) has selected the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Free University of Brussels) to host and manage the next Flemish Tier-1 supercomputer. It will be housed in a Nexus-built data center at the Green Energy Park in Zellik, a town in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium.
The announcement marks the first time the VUB will host and manage the Flemish Tier-1 supercomputer, succeeding the 3.3 petaflops Hortense, which is currently housed at Ghent University. A Tier-1 supercomputer is defined as a single, larger system that serves all of Flanders, as opposed to a Tier-2 supercomputer - a smaller system hosted by individual universities.
“Supercomputers are of strategic importance for Flanders,” said Jo Brouns, Flemish minister for science policy and innovation. “They enable our researchers, governments, and industries to tackle the major challenges of tomorrow. Complex and time-intensive calculations, such as climate simulations and AI model training, will be performed more efficiently.”
No information about the compute power of the new supercomputer has been disclosed. However, VUB said the system will rely on “free air cooling” for the majority of the year, with “active cooling” only being required during warmer periods. The university added that solar panels will also be used to help offset the system’s energy costs.
