The Human Brain Project (HBP) scientists use High Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities to conduct collaborative research mainly in simulation and big data analytics. For this they need the support of giant computing power because the human brain is so complex that a normal computer is not enough to simulate even a fraction of it.
HPC is essential for the Human Brain Project for producing multi-scale and high-resolution simulation and modelling of the brain. Among other examples, we can name brain molecular simulations, cellular simulations (for example of the hippocampus), simulations of cortical columns and simulations operating at system level.
The enormous computing power needed to store big amounts of data and to run the simulations requires the largest available supercomputers in Europe. These computers are located in the five Tier-0 supercomputer centres , (all members of HBP): GCS (Germany), BSC (Spain), CEA (France), CINECA (Italy) and CSCS (Switzerland).
HPC is key to conduct collaborative research in the Human Brain Project. Researchers perform complex data analytics that have become even more complex with the application of deep learning techniques. They need the largest memory capacities, massive data storage and fast data access in the Petabytes range and not only in their own computers but to exchange data on a European scale. Consequently, HBP researchers throughout Europe have increased their demand of use of the five European supercomputers, which limits the availability of use for each of the supercomputers. To overcome this limitation, HBP is developing an infrastructure with cloud-based tools that will interconnect the five supercomputers and provide access to their enormous data storage and simulation power to all users of the infrastructure, no matter their location.