Senator Lamar Alexander, speaking at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, on Friday announced that Oak Ridge National Laboratory will have the world’s fastest next-generation supercomputer that will provide five times the performance of the current system and support advanced scientific and materials research to improve economic and national security.
“Once again the world’s fastest computer will be in the United States, and once again it will be at Oak Ridge,” said Senator Alexander. “Supercomputing has helped Tennessee become a center for advanced manufacturing with the arrival of new companies, including several in the auto industry, creating thousands of good-paying jobs. Tennessee can continue to thrive and create many more good jobs with the use of this new supercomputer.”
Senator Alexander sad, “Supercomputing is essential to U.S. competitiveness in science and technology, and I’m proud our national lab in Tennessee is helping advance scientific research to improve America’s economic and national security.”
Supercomputing supports a wide range of scientific research and development and addresses the most challenging science problems for government, academia, and industry. This new advanced supercomputer is expected to create a better understanding of materials research, energy storage, and nuclear power.
Senator Alexander has supported efforts to strengthen the United States’ supercomputing capabilities, including cosponsoring the authorization of the first leadership class facility at Oak Ridge for high-end supercomputing. Senator Alexander is the lead sponsor of legislation that would authorize funding for these computers through 2016. Senator Alexander also visited Japan in 2004 to view their supercomputers and learn more about the technology.
At Friday’s press conference, Secretary Moniz told reporters that Alexander “has been a great champion for science…and a big part of that is support for the national labs system. And he remains a great champion and a great friend for what we are trying to accomplish.”
Friday’s announcement is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility and IBM to bring the next-generation hybrid supercomputer, which will be called Summit, to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Summit will provide five times the performance of the current system, known as Titan, which was recognized as the world’s fastest supercomputer in November 2012. Summit will be delivered in 2017.
Congressman Fleischmann released the following statement:
“Today is another great day for Oak Ridge. With Secretary Moniz’s announcement of the next generation exascale computing will be coming to East Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is once again in position to lead the world in supercomputing. High performance computing is the foundation for virtually all science and advances our business position in the world, helping create the family wage jobs we need. I will work with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to ensure this new computing system is fully supported.”