Chinese researchers have proposed the development of a high-speed Internet network that connects supercomputers across the country to enhance research capabilities.
The Ministry of Science and Technology of China held a meeting on April 17 to discuss plans for building an Internet network dedicated to supercomputers aimed at improving the nation’s research capabilities. The meeting took place in the port city of Tianjin, gathering many experts and representatives from universities, research institutes, and companies focused on advanced computing.
National Supercomputing Center in Jiangsu Province, China. (Photo: Global Times).
Supercomputer Internet refers to a network of interconnected supercomputers, allowing users to access multiple machines through a browser-like platform. Fifteen national supercomputing centers and those at universities are expected to participate in this network. Through this, advanced computing centers across China can collaborate to tackle some of the most challenging issues in the industry.
The benefits of the network could extend across various fields, from aerospace and medicine to weather research and finance. For example, discovering new drugs requires the ability to rapidly screen thousands of viable molecules to combat a specific disease or syndrome. Through supercomputer connectivity, researchers can simulate the interactions of each potential drug more effectively and accurately. With the rapid development of data analytics and artificial intelligence, the demand for computational power is also increasing.
To build this network, scientists must overcome numerous technical challenges to connect distant computing centers, enabling them to collaborate and share resources. Additionally, they need to develop high-speed Internet and operational platforms.
China has recorded steady growth in computing power in recent years. The country accounted for 162 of the 500 fastest computer systems worldwide, according to a report published in November 2022, despite having ceased to provide performance data for its top supercomputers since June last year. Meanwhile, the United States has 126 computers on the list.
Li Guojie, a scholar at the Academy of Engineering, stated that while China’s supercomputers are among the best in the world, they still lag behind in industrial applications compared to many other countries. To address this, China needs an effective supercomputer Internet network so that researchers can easily access services. The goal of this initiative is to implement a complete system by the end of 2025.
