The Transcontinuum Initiative
To pursue and extend the collaborative work around HPC in the Digital Continuum discussed in our previous SRAs, ETP4HPC coordinated the TransContinuum Initiative (TCI). TCI is a horizontal collaboration between 8 European associations and projects involved in IT technology, application and services provisioning for the Digital Continuum:
ETP4HPC
the European Technology Platform for High-Performance Computing
The TransContinuum is the unison of related digital technologies which offers solutions for the operation of complex data workflow systems. In this continuum, HPC plays a central role as the engine propelling AI, Big Data, IoT, Cybersecurity, and Mathematical components to work together.
The goal of TCI was to develop a vision of the characteristics of the infrastructure required for the convergence of data and compute capabilities in many leading edge industrial and scientific use scenarios. A paradigm change was needed: there was a need to design systems encompassing millions of compute devices distributed over scientific instruments, IoT, supercomputers and Cloud systems through LAN, WLAN and 5G networks.
The ambition of TCI was also to become a meeting place of experts representing various disciplines in both science and industry – an asset that Europe can apply in the resolution of its other challenges such as healthcare, climate change or smart cities.
The TransContinuum Initiative focused on collaboration towards five objectives:
_1
Elaborate joint recommendations for R&D to be carried out in EU- or JU-funded work programmes addressing challenges in the digital continuum.
_2
Engage with EU Research & Innovation funding entities to promote our recommendations.
_3
Generate and foster an interdisciplinary network of experts in science and industry.
_4
Contribute to Strategic Research (and Innovation) Agendas or any other road mapping documents issued by participating partners, specifically on interdisciplinary technical aspects, with a view to extend the concept of co-design to cover the entire continuum.
_5
Contribute to the 5 Horizon Europe missions (adaptation to climate change including societal transformation, cancer, healthy oceans, seas coastal and inland waters, climate-neutral and smart cities, soil health and food).
One of the first pragmatic actions will be to design the contribution of the Digital Twin enabler to the Horizon Europe missions.
TCI Vision
To materialise our commitment to this initiative, we have co-authored a TCI Vision document with the 7 other organisations involved in the initiative. It outlines a vision for a horizontal collaboration between European associations and projects involved in IT technology, application and services provisioning for the Digital Continuum.
The TCI consortium’s first joint Press Release on 11 December, 2020, is available in pdf file by clicking the opposite image.
TCI Use cases
Use cases in which HPC and other technologies converge in order to fulfil specific user needs are one of the vehicles that were used by the TCI partners to identify the areas where research needs to be done.
Among the use cases the initiative looked at are Extremes Predictions and Digital Twins, which demonstrate how the technologies of the Digital Continuum work together to deliver complex workflows.
The TransContinuum Initiative now moves on to the Computing Continuum Initiative which will continue to exploit the outcomes of the TCI, and continue to drive alignment between the various actors of the Digital Continuum. The CCI will focus on research, technology development, and strategic partnerships between these communities. The CCI is co-ordinated by HiPEAC.
Real-Time
Digital twins
Extremes prediction
Use Case
STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY AGENDA FOR DESTINE
ETP4HPC IN DestinE
ETP4HPC IS EXTREMELY PROUD TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE AMBITIOUS DestinE PROGRAMME THAT WILL PUSH THE LIMITS OF COMPUTING AND CLIMATE SCIENCES.
ETP4HPC, known for its expertise in producing Strategic Research Agendas and coordinating the TransContinuum Initiative, collaborates with ECMWF for the Strategic Technology Agenda (STA) of DestinE. The project, codenamed DE_380, runs from September 2022 to April 2024, with ETP4HPC leading a consortium of TCI partners:
AIOTI
Alliance for IoT and
Edge Computing Innovation IVZW
BDVA
Big Data Value
Association
ECSO
European Cyber Security
Organisation
EU-MATHS-IN
European Service Network of Mathematics for Industry and Innovation
HiPEAC
(represented
by Ghent University)
High Performance Embedded Architecture and Compilation Association
6G - AI
6G Smart Networks and Services Industry
Leveraging each partner’s expertise that covers the full breadth of ECMWF’s needs and expectations, the project aims to understand technical challenges and produce white papers with strategic recommendations for DestinE, applying a proven methodology used for use case analyses deployed in the TCI.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ECMWF?
DestinE
Destination Earth (DestinE), is an initiative of the European Commission to create digital twins of our planet so as to better predict the effects and build resilience to climate change. DestinE will develop a highly accurate digital model of the Earth to monitor and predict the interaction between natural phenomena and human activities. The initial focus will be on the effects of climate change and extreme weather events, their socio-economic impact and possible adaptation and mitigation strategies. Through the unprecedented observation and simulation capabilities of DestinE, empowered by Europe’s HPC systems and AI capacity, we will be better prepared to respond to major natural disasters, adapt to climate change and predict the socioeconomic impact. By consolidating access to valuable sources of data across Europe, DestinE represents also a key component of the European strategy for data.
DestinE will be developed gradually through the following milestones:
By 2024
Development of the core service platform, the data lake and the first two digital twins on extreme natural events and climate change adaptation.
By 2027
Further enhancement of the DestinE system and integration of additional digital twins and related services.
By 2030
A ‘full’ digital replica of the Earth.
The EC has entrusted three organisations with the implementation of the first phase of DestinE:
