Speaker
Description
This session introduces the HPC Ecosystems Project as a catalyst for Africa’s digital transformation, having expanded access to advanced research computing, enabling talent development, and fostering cross-border collaboration for more than ten years.
Initially launched to address disparities in scientific computing infrastructure, the project has evolved into a continent-spanning movement that empowers research across disciplines, including physics.
Over the past decade, more than 35 HPC systems have been deployed in 11 African countries, supporting research in genomics, climate science, artificial intelligence, and more.
The talk will highlight efforts to build sustainable capacity via workforce development, including virtual training initiatives that have equipped hundreds of researchers, students, and system administrators with essential skills.
Drawing from the 2024 HPC Discovery Survey, the presentation will spotlight Africa’s growing virtual community of scientific computing practice.
It will also reflect candidly on lessons learned - from hardware repurposing and decentralized training to persistent challenges around retention and infrastructure equity.
The session will explore how the project has shifted from hardware distribution toward long-term sustainability - through e-waste reform, virtual labs, and mentorship.
Finally, the session will touch on the project initiatives towards building a regional computing grid to support high energy physics research.