Transcript HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
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Introduction
HPC – Current Status
Potential Areas of HPC Application
Measures taken towards the
Implementation of HPC
• Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
• A land locked SADC country
of approx. 753,000 square
km (290,000 sq miles) land
mass
• Approximately 14 million
people
• 3 public universities, more
than 8 private universities
and numerous colleges
• More than five
organizations from the
government tasked with ICT
based activities
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• February 2011
– Participated in The SADC HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
WORKSHOP, (South Africa)
• Survey conducted by the SADC Secretariat 2011,
revealed that out of the fifteen (15) SADC Member
States, only a few countries had facilities for high
performance computing
• Zambia then had
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No HPC
Low computer literacy levels
Poor internet service
Low ICT budget
Lack of infrastructure
ZAMBIA NOW
• Growing literacy levels
– ICTs Introduced at all levels in education system
– Increased usage of ICT gadgets
• Strides in research
– Universities – Postgraduate Level (ICTs)
– Government in next year budget has almost doubled the
allocation to ICT based research Centers for procuring equipment
and further training
• High broadband connectivity covering
– Higher institutions of learning
– Research institutions
– Energy and mining industries
• Improvement in ICT training
HPC IN ZAMBIA
• Currently
– No clearly defined fields using High Performance
Computing
• Government is determined to introduce HPC
• Higher Institutions of learning collaborating on
introduction of HPC for research purposes
OPPORTUNITY
• There is need for HPC in many sectors of the
Zambian society and economy to enhance
productivity.
• Such Sectors include:
– Environmental Science (climate, agriculture etc.)
– Education
– Energy
– Mining Industry – (Major contributor to GDP)
– Medical
STRIDES
• Currently, there is funding from government
– Ground Receiving Equipment for the National Remote
Sensing Centre (NRSC)
– Conducting and promotion of scientific, technological and
industrial research in Zambia through revamping of
National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research
(NISIR).
• Fiber optic backbone throughout the Country
(Zamtel and Zesco)
• ZAMREN – Broadband Connectivity to research Inst.
• Multiple International gateways
• Increased Postgraduate programmes in ICTs
ORGANIZATIONS
• Government empowering ICT based
organisations
– Zambia Information and Communication Technology
Agency (ZICTA)
– National Science and technological Council (NSTC)
– National Institute for scientific and Industrial research
(NISIR)
– National remote Sensing center(NRSC)
Conclusion
• Efforts made towards the implementation
of HPC
• Need to coordinate with countries which
have successfully implemented HPC