| PRESS RELEASES |
November 1, 2001
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New high performance computing facility positions Ontario as an international leader in computing research Four
Eastern Ontario universities collaborate with corporate allies and
provincial government to open most advanced high performance
computing lab in Canada (Kingston, Ont.) -- One of North America's
premiere facilities for computational research was unveiled today at
a ceremony at Queen's University. The
new High Performance Computing
Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL) is unprecedented in Canada
for its secure, virtual computing capability and the level of
computing support it offers to pioneering researchers addressing
some of the most ambitious and challenging research problems.
The HPCVL is a showcase
of leading-edge high performance computing technology. “This project will connect Canadian
researchers and provide them with state-of-the-art tools that will
enable them to build the products and services they need to better
compete in the new information economy,” said the Honourable Peter
Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. After
the ceremony, a research symposium highlighted some of the work
being undertaken thought this initiative. The versatility of the
HPCVL facility was evident as five scientists reported on research
activities in a wide range of fields from economic policy to the
human mind. HPCVL
is a consortium of four partner universities involving Queen's
University, the Royal Military College of Canada, the University of
Ottawa and Carleton University.
HPCVL's leading private sector supporter
Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc. has played a vital role in this
project (other private sector supporters
include IBM and Entrust Technologies). In addition, The federal and
Ontario provincial governments have underwritten HPCVL with $17.5
million in grants. “HPCVL
provides researchers with an enormously powerful and secure virtual
research environment," says Dr. Ken Edgecombe, Executive
Director, HPCVL. “HPCVL enables geographically dispersed
researchers in fields as diverse as engineering, medicine, science,
and the arts to tackle large and complex problems they could not
before." "This is truly a good news story about the public and private sectors
coming together to raise awareness of the importance of high
performance virtual computing." says Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur,
Carleton University's Vice-President (Research). "This
strategic partnership will enable us to explore new frontiers in a
broad spectrum of research areas and it will help all of us to
recruit and retain top faculty who are excited about what can be
achieved in one of the fastest growing areas in information
technology." “HPCVL
is a wonderful initiative which will provide researchers at 4
universities in Eastern Ontario with world-class facilities,” says
Dr. Howard Alper, Vice Rector (Research) at the University of
Ottawa. “In this
way, researchers will accelerate progress in their research and
enhance their global competitiveness.” “Access to advanced
equipment as found in the HPCVL is critical to undertake
leading-edge research,” said Dr. David Strangway, President and
CEO of the CFI. “The opening of this unique computing virtual
laboratory will give a tremendous boost to Canada’s leadership
role on the world stage.” The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian universities and research institutions. “Equipping our scientists and researchers
with much sought after
computing resources is paramount to Canada's ability to both retain
and attract top talent in today's challenging economic environment,
noted Everett Anstey, president of Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc.
"Sun Microsystems is proud of the role it and Sun(TM)
technologies are playing at HPCVL. Effective collaboration between
the public and private sectors is critical to Canada's success in
the global competitive marketplace. As
an internationally significant academic
high performance computing facility, the economic spin-offs
created by HPCVL for the Eastern Ontario region will be significant.
"This visionary initiative will greatly stimulate our
knowledge-based economy by attracting personnel to new jobs in key
sectors such as health, telecommunications, economic analysis,
energy and aerospace," says Dr. Kerry Rowe, Queen's Vice
Principal (Research).
For
further detailed information visit the HPCVL website - www.hpcvl.org For
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