Under the auspices of the President of the Council of Ministers Najib Mikati, the Ministry of Telecommunications, in collaboration with the High-Performance Computing for Lebanon (HPC4L) steering committee, hosted an exclusive launch event of the cutting edge HPC4L facility. Attended by a distinguished audience, the event marked a significant milestone in Lebanon's scientific research and technological advancement. Kicking off the event, Jessy Tannous, the event moderator, extended a warm welcome to the esteemed guests. The program commenced with an enlightening video introduction showcasing different phases of the project since its inception and highlighting the important role of OGERO. By providing a state-of-the-art data center and the necessary high speed international internet connection to Geneva, OGERO has emerged as the backbone and enabler of this initiative, as stated by OGERO Chairman Imad Kreidieh. Head of IT at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Enrica Porcari shed light on CERN's collaboration with Lebanon as well as their hardware donation to HPC4L, highlighting their commitment to supporting innovative initiatives. Subsequently, Patricia McBride, CMS spokesperson, shared valuable insights about the training of Lebanese experts by CMS (the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at CERN), sharing their expertise, and further strengthening the collaboration between CERN/CMS and Lebanon. Martin Gastal, representing CERN, expressed gratitude towards the generous donors and all stakeholders who played a pivotal role in the success of the HPC4L project in spite of the difficulties that the project faced, its success was the fruit of resilience and hard work furnished by all parties concerned. Dr. Zaher Dawy, American University of Beirut (AUB) provost representing the HPC4L steering committee leadership, delivered an impactful speech emphasizing the significance of this national achievement in scientific research and technological advancement; emphasizing the importance of this public private partnership. Dr. Haitham Zaraket, scientific director of HPC4L and faculty member at the Lebanese University, provided a comprehensive overview of HPC4L's capabilities and highlighted its unparalleled power compared to other supercomputers in Lebanon. The event also featured addresses by Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Marion Weichelt, reiterating Switzerland's commitment to research and the advancement of science and education; Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm, who extended thanks to everyone who helped make the project what it is today; and a keynote speech by President of the Council of Ministers Najib Mikati. Mikati saluted the remarkable efforts by all entities who have made this possible, promising them the government's full support. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of HPC4L and its immense computational capacity, enabling students and researchers to achieve groundbreaking results in a fraction of the time previously required. The event fostered networking opportunities and facilitated knowledge sharing among the scientific community in Lebanon, further cementing the country's position as a hub for cutting-edge research. HPC4L's launch event served as a testament to Lebanon's commitment to scientific progress and technological innovation. As HPC4L continues to empower researchers and elevate the scientific landscape, it paves the way for a future defined by unparalleled advancements in various fields of study. Established in 2018, HPC4L is a consortium of public and private institutions in Lebanon for the purpose of advancing computation research in Lebanon based on the generous HPC donation by CERN/CMS. The public partners are the Ministry of Telecommunications in Lebanon, OGERO, CNRS, and the Lebanese University. The private partners are AUB, LAU, USJ, USEK, and BAU.
Source: National News Agency - Lebanon