Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center March 25, 2014

Research Computing in Massachusetts Hundreds of independent groups Diverse institutional cultures Frequent collaboration across organizations and disciplines 2 DNA samples -> Treatment Strategies (UMass, MIT, Harvard Medical) ATLAS/LHC (BU, Harvard) Medical imaging analysis (BU, Harvard, Children's Hospital) Ocean floor (UMass, WHOI, MIT) Computational Nanotechnology (Northeastern, Harvard) Bicep2 / Gravity Waves (Harvard) Understanding Evolution (UMass)

Origins of the MGHPCC Interest in institutional cooperation –Financial advantage –Opportunities that single institutions cannot address –Importance of university research to the Massachusetts economy –Meaningful impact on research competitiveness by state government Recognition that… –Computing is fundamental to the university research mission –Incremental on-campus expansion is not a viable long term approach 3

The MGHPCC Data Center and Consortium 4 A partnership between 5 universities…. The Commonwealth, and industrial sponsors

Three Works in Progress Regional HPC Data Center University/Industry/Government Research Collaboration Regional economic development 5

MGHPCC Data Center MW for compute / 15MW total 8 Acres and a 40MVA power feed for expansion Green, low cost power Communication Crossroads

Governance Structure –Non-profit service corporation owned by five universities –Owns the facility and employs facility operations staff Oversight –Research mission and direction – Research Vice Presidents –Operational direction and goals – CIOs Day to day issues and opportunities –Research – Faculty working group –Operational – Business and IT working groups 7

Operational Goals Convenient access to research computing resources –Give the appearance of being local to every campus –Efficient data sharing among geographically separate research teams Low Operating Cost –Measure, benchmark, and optimize 8

Operational Collaboration Operation and User Support Build on on existing resources –Dedicated MGHPCC Staff focuses on facility operation –User support comes from existing research computing groups Evolving Collaboration –Staying out of each others’ way –Learning from each other –Unified networking plan –Coordinated vendor dialog –Acquisition and operation of jointly owned resources –Larger scale solutions to common problems 9

Operational Collaboration Business Five institutions with multiple funding agencies Each institution composed of many smaller institutions Different approaches to cost recovery and financial incentives Astute comparative shoppers 10

Research Collaboration Seed Grant Program (for promising cross-university projects) Jointly owned computing infrastructure Multi-university research initiatives State/University/Industry research initiatives 11

Catalyst for Local Economic Development 12 Cisco Network Academy Science in the Cloud Smart Meter Project Community Meeting and Classroom space Scholarship Fund Transform 8 acres downtown “Anchor Tenant” for the Innovation District Hands-on Construction Engineering Classroom Clean Energy Innovation Workshop Education Opportunities Workshop Innovation District Task Force Educators Conference

Part of a Larger Strategy 13 MGHPCC Transform 8 acres downtown Attract positive attention to the city “Anchor Tenant” downtown Local education partnerships Community meeting space Policy and Programs Tax Incentives Recycle idle property Urban renewal plan Façade Improvement Incentives for market rate housing Renovate affordable housing Creation of an innovation district Promoting a creative economy Public Infrastructure Restore Rail Service Canal walk Library renovation Park renovations Public parking renovation Skateboard park Commercial Activity New businesses Artist Studios Night Life Holyoke Arts & Innovation District