The Ministry of Science and Technology organized a meeting on Monday to announce this development. The ministry highlighted China’s leading position in the global supercomputing industry, attributing it to dedicated efforts that have provided valuable support for scientific and technological innovation, societal advancement, and the digital economy over the years.
The statement emphasized the growing demand for computing power due to the rise of big data, artificial intelligence, and the latest generation of information technology. To meet this demand, the creation of a supercomputing network has become necessary. The ultimate goal of this network is to establish a more cohesive national computing system by integrating local computing centers, as stated in the ministry’s announcement.
The primary objective of deploying the supercomputing network is to tackle key challenges, including the uneven distribution of computing capacity, the absence of standardized computing ports, and the lack of incentives for utilizing and advancing domestically developed application software.
By establishing this supercomputing Internet, China anticipates significant advancements in scientific and engineering breakthroughs, economic growth, and an improved quality of life for its citizens. It will play a vital role in supporting the Digital China strategy, which seeks to leverage digital and electronic technologies, solutions, and services to propel the nation’s economy and enhance its global competitiveness.
Li Guojie, a respected computer scientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, acknowledged that China’s industrial applications of supercomputing are currently behind some other countries. However, he expressed the belief that the construction of an integrated and efficient supercomputing network will help overcome these deficiencies and make supercomputers more accessible to the general public.
Qian Depei, the chair of the expert committee overseeing the supercomputing network, stated that China’s demand for computing power is continuously growing to drive its economic expansion, underscoring the exceptional importance of this reform.
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive regular information and insights.
The newly integrated supercomputing Internet will facilitate improved communication between service providers and users. Furthermore, the implementation of a market-based operational and service mechanism will lower the barriers to entry for utilizing supercomputers and propel China’s computing technology to unprecedented levels, according to Qian.
Sun Ninghui, an esteemed computer scientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, highlighted the pivotal role of supercomputers as essential digital infrastructure capable of propelling technological revolutions. Thus, Sun emphasized the importance for China to minimize the cost of accessing computing power and lower the barriers to programming on these machines.