Brazil’s LNCC Supercomputer Upgrade: 17 Petaflops Boost in AI Research Capacity
Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) has upgraded its Santos Dumont supercomputer. This upgrade increases its capacity significantly, thanks to a partnership with Petrobras and hardware supplied by Eviden, a unit of Atos.
The contract, worth $19.4 million, was announced in April 2024. The upgrade adds 17 petaflops of computing power, raising the total to about 20 petaflops. The supercomputer originally launched in 2015 with 1.1 petaflops and received an expansion in 2019 that added 1.85 petaflops, using the Sequana X1000 architecture.
This update is part of Brazil’s Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA), a $4 billion initiative from 2024 to 2028 aimed at advancing AI technology in the country. The enhanced supercomputer will be the fastest in Latin America for scientific research and will re-enter the Top500 list of the fastest supercomputers globally.
What role do partnerships with companies like Petrobras and Eviden play in advancing Brazil’s scientific computing capabilities?
Interview with Dr. Ana Souza, Computational Scientist at Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC)
News Directory 3: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Souza. Can you explain the significance of the recent upgrade to the Santos Dumont supercomputer?
Dr. Ana Souza: Thank you for having me. The upgrade to the Santos Dumont supercomputer is a significant milestone for Brazil’s scientific community. With the addition of 17 petaflops of power, we are not only boosting its total computing capacity to approximately 20 petaflops but also reinforcing our commitment to advanced research and technology development. This leap places us as a leader in scientific computing in Latin America.
ND3: The partnership with Petrobras and Eviden seems vital to this upgrade. Can you elaborate on how this collaboration came about?
Dr. Souza: Absolutely. Our collaboration with Petrobras and Eviden was born out of a shared vision of enhancing Brazil’s technological landscape. Petrobras recognized the need for increased computational power to support their research and development efforts. Eviden provided the necessary hardware support. It’s a synergistic partnership that allows us to tackle complex challenges in areas like energy, climate modeling, and artificial intelligence.
ND3: Speaking of AI, how does this upgrade fit into Brazil’s Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA)?
Dr. Souza: The Santos Dumont upgrade is a cornerstone of the PBIA, which is a $4 billion initiative aimed at propelling AI research and development in Brazil from 2024 to 2028. By integrating top-tier computational capabilities, we can accelerate AI innovation, particularly in fields that require significant computational resources. This positions Brazil as a competitive player in the global AI arena.
ND3: What does this mean for Brazil in terms of scientific research and international standings?
Dr. Souza: The enhanced capabilities of the Santos Dumont supercomputer will lead to remarkable advancements in scientific research, allowing us to produce cutting-edge results. Moreover, by re-entering the Top500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers, Brazil will gain international recognition, attracting researchers and partnerships that will further innovation in various disciplines.
ND3: We understand that Petrobras has also initiated projects to develop their supercomputing infrastructure. Could you share your thoughts on that?
Dr. Souza: Yes, Petrobras is taking significant steps by investing $89 million in new Lenovo supercomputers, which indicates a strong commitment to integrating advanced computing within their operations. Their first AI supercomputer, Tatu, with its substantial GPU configuration, will enable them to harness AI for data-intensive tasks, modeling, and simulations critical to their business. This is a fantastic development not just for Petrobras, but for the broader Brazilian tech ecosystem.
ND3: Looking ahead, what excites you the most about these advancements?
Dr. Souza: I am particularly excited about the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration that arises from enhanced computing capabilities. The ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data will empower researchers across various fields—from climate science to bioinformatics—to tackle pressing global challenges. We stand at the brink of a new era of innovation, and it’s inspiring to see Brazil leading the charge.
ND3: Thank you, Dr. Souza, for your insights and the exciting updates regarding Brazil’s advancements in supercomputing and AI.
Dr. Souza: Thank you! It’s a pleasure to share these developments with you.
In September 2024, Petrobras planned to invest $89 million in five new Lenovo supercomputers. These will be located at the company’s development and innovation center in Cenpes, Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, Petrobras has launched its first AI supercomputer named Tatu. This machine features 224 Nvidia GPUs with 80GB of memory, organized across 11 racks in a space measuring 7.4 meters.