Slovakia One Step Closer to a New Supercomputer
After months of active preparation, the largest investment in high-performance computing (HPC) technology in Slovakia is entering its implementation phase. The Centre of Joint Activities of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), a public research institution, will procure and operate the PERUN supercomputer, with a total budget of 40 million euros, funded by the Slovak Recovery and Resilience Plan. The final milestone before the delivery begins is the contract's effective date, pending approval of the public procurement by the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization.
"The new Slovak supercomputer aims to rank among the top ten most energy-efficient HPC systems globally and will significantly outperform existing systems. It should put Slovakia on the HPC map of Europe," said Samuel Migaľ, Minister of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization.
The system will be located at the Slovak Academy of Sciences campus in Patrónka area of Bratislava. According to the developed architectural study, the campus aims to transform into a modern research hub. Construction and renovation work is already underway. Before installation and delivery, adequate connectivity and a foundation for the modular data center need to be built.
"Making this powerful system accessible will allow Slovak scientists to keep pace with their European peers in tackling complex problems across disciplines—from natural sciences and engineering to AI model development," emphasized Pavol Šajgalík, President of SAS.
In evaluating the bids, key criteria included not only the overall price but also the system's computing performance and energy efficiency. By combining these criteria, the Centre of Joint Activities of SAS not only secured an exceptionally powerful system at the lowest price but also ensured lower operating costs in the future. Among the five bidders—all established HPC technology providers—the winner was Eviden Slovakia, s.r.o. The computing core of the supercomputer is based on proprietary Eviden Bullsequana technology, a system designed, developed, and manufactured in Europe.
"PERUN is coming to an established HPC center with an experienced team of professionals, and we’re ready to make the system available as soon as it’s accepted. Given its
architecture, we will also target user groups working in artificial intelligence," added Nikola Kovaničová, General Director of the Centre of Joint Activities of SAS.
The commissioning of the PERUN supercomputer will significantly strengthen Slovakia’s national computing infrastructure, contributing to the goals of the European digital transformation. It will create conditions for excellent research, technological innovation, and enhanced competitiveness of the Slovak economy. Along with the Košice-based part of the PERUN cluster being procured by the Technical University of Košice, the system is set to become a strategic tool for research, innovation, and digital sovereignty in Slovakia over the coming years. It will serve the broader Slovak scientific community, public administration, and businesses.
Additional Information:
The implementation of this complex project has been underway since October 2023. The public procurement process ran from May to September 2024. The supercomputer is scheduled to launch by the end of 2025. The system includes 45 general-purpose compute nodes with AMD Turin processors and 76 accelerated compute nodes equipped with Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper "superchips."
Edited by Monika Tináková
Photo: Katarána Gáliková