According to experts, China intends to construct a supercomputing Internet network by the conclusion of 2025, connecting high-performance computers across the country to utilize their collective processing capacity for advancing innovation and socioeconomic development.
This announcement was made during a meeting organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday. As per the ministry’s statement, China’s supercomputing industry has been among the world’s leaders, providing effective support for scientific and technological innovation, societal development, and the digital economy after years of dedicated efforts.
The statement further mentioned that the increased need for computing power, owing to the emergence of big data, artificial intelligence, and a new generation of information technology, necessitated the creation of the supercomputing network. The aim of this network is to establish a more unified national computing system by integrating local computing centers, as stated in the ministry’s announcement.
The implementation of the supercomputing network aims to address significant issues such as an imbalanced distribution of computing capacity, lack of standardization in computing ports, and insufficient incentives for the adoption and development of domestically created application software.
This supercomputing internet is expected to enhance China’s ability to achieve breakthroughs in science and engineering, promote economic growth, and enhance the quality of life of its citizens. It is set to become a crucial component of the Digital China strategy, which aims to leverage digital and electronic technologies, solutions, and services to drive the country’s economy and enhance its global competitiveness.
Li Guojie, an esteemed computer scientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that China’s industrial supercomputing applications lag behind some other countries. However, he believes that building an integrated and efficient supercomputing network will aid in addressing these shortcomings and making supercomputers more accessible to the general public.
According to Qian Depei, the head of the expert committee established for the supercomputing network, China’s requirement for computing power is constantly increasing to propel its economic growth, which makes this reform exceptionally important.
The new integrated supercomputing internet will enable better communication between service providers and users. Additionally, a market-based operation and service mechanism will reduce the barriers to entry for supercomputer utilization and elevate China’s computing technology to new heights, Qian added.
Sun Ninghui, another respected computer scientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized that supercomputers are fundamental digital infrastructure that can drive technological revolutions. Therefore, it is crucial for China to minimize the cost of accessing computing power and reduce the barriers to programming on these machines, Sun stated.
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