Gate2HPC
Background and Objectives
The digitalisation of product development requires an increasing use of AI and simulation methods, resulting in a growing demand for computing resources. This demand can be met through the use of High Performance Computing (HPC) technologies.
As a result, the German government has declared HPC to be a key technology. For example, 450 million euros will be invested in the expansion of the German computing infrastructure and the further development of software technologies by 2025. Similar funding initiatives are being taken internationally to further develop HPC centres.
Integrating HPC technologies into business processes is a particular challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). On-site acquisition is expensive and there is often a lack of expertise to implement and successfully deploy them. The aim of the Gate2HPC project is to address these challenges and increase the efficiency of development processes through the creation and provision of an HPC gateway.
Project Implementation
The core aspect of the project is the development of a suitable interface (gateway) to the HPC computing cluster btrzx4 at the University of Bayreuth. This gateway will facilitate the efficient execution of FE simulations as well as the creation, training and validation of AI models. To this end, JupyterLab will be integrated into the gateway as an intuitive tool to enable participants to use AI methods such as Large Language Models or explore datasets with machine learning techniques, thus simplifying complex workflows. In addition, the project will provide support materials, such as pre-built Jupyter notebooks or instructions, to further enhance usability and help users get started in specialized areas. Furthermore, it is planned to develop a cluster-capable version of the licence-free FE software Z88, which will be integrated into the gateway. To ensure interoperability of FE models from commercial FE programming systems with Z88, the project also includes a conversion option of commercial FE models to Z88.
Funding
The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) under funding area 1- "Innovation and competitiveness". Specifically, it falls under funding measure 2, which aims the "Technology transfer from universities to SMEs". The project focuses on digitalisation and will end in May 2027.
Participation Conditions
Participation in the project is free. There is no limit to the number of participants per company. Participation is still possible, feel free to contact us!
Contact
The project is carried out by the Chair of Design Engineering and CAD at the University of Bayreuth. If you are interested in joining the transfer project as an industrial partner or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!