Indigenous facility strengthens research in AI and manufacturing sectors
India’s capabilities in high-performance computing took a significant leap forward this Thursday with the inauguration of a cutting-edge facility at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), officially unveiled the Param Rudra Supercomputer, a powerful system designed to accelerate research across multiple scientific disciplines.
Developed under the ambitious National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), this new addition highlights India's growing self-reliance in technology. The facility operates on a 3 Peta FLOPS High-Performance Computing (HPC) system. What makes this launch particularly special is the indigenous nature of the technology. The system utilizes Rudra servers designed and developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
To ensure maximum efficiency and sustainability, the Param Rudra Supercomputer incorporates advanced Direct Contact Liquid Cooling (DCLC) technology. This aligns with global standards for energy-efficient computing infrastructure.
Boosting Research and Innovation
During the launch, Prof. Karandikar emphasized that this infrastructure is not just for the faculty and students of IIT Bombay. It will serve as a hub for researchers nationwide, significantly aiding over 1,200 students and 200 faculty members immediately. The computing power will be pivotal for complex problem-solving in sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing. Furthermore, the facility aims to support the startup ecosystem, providing the computational muscle needed for industry-driven research.
A Milestone for Digital India
Sunita Verma from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) termed the Rudra-based cluster a major milestone in the country's supercomputing journey. She stressed the need for continued investment in microprocessors and networking to push India toward exascale computing.
According to Dr. Hemant Darbari, Mission Director of NSM, the commissioning of the Param Rudra Supercomputer brings the total number of supercomputers under the mission to 38. Collectively, these systems now offer a staggering capacity of 44 Peta FLOPS. This network is set to augment research prospects for institutions across Mumbai and neighboring regions, fostering deeper scientific collaboration.
Steered jointly by DST and MeitY, the National Supercomputing Mission continues to build a robust ecosystem through infrastructure, application development, R&D, and human resource training.
