Times of India
Oct 14, 2022
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday commissioned the northeast’s fastest supercomputer Param-Kamrupa, a high-performance computing cluster, which will give a boost to diverse fields from healthcare to advanced weather prediction.
Deployed at IIT Guwahati, the supercomputer facility has been named after Kamrupa, the first known historical kingdom of Assam. It replaced Param-Ishan as the northeast region’s fastest and most powerful supercomputer. Param-Ishan was inaugurated in IIT Guwahati in 2016.
President Murmu and CM Sarma in Guwahati on Thursday (ANI photo)
“The computing power and speed of Param-Kamrupa is far superior to the existing supercomputer facilities in the northeast. Lot of people from diverse fields of study and research can get their jobs executed here simultaneously,” Professor Ratnajit Bhattacharjee, head of the computer communication centre at IIT Guwahati, told TOI.
He said it’s a ‘liquid cooled system’ and the heat generated by the computer system can be easily taken away.
Supercomp will also benefit other nearby institutes
Param-Kamrupa has been set up at IIT Guwahati under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) - a joint initiative of the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) and the department of Science and Technology (DST).
"This facility will be of great benefit to IIT Guwahati to carry out research activities in various scientific domains such as weather and climate, bioinformatics, computational chemistry, molecular dynamics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, data science etc.," an IIT Guwahati spokesperson said.
The supercomputing facility is equipped with advanced facilities to cater to the computing needs of various scientific and engineering applications. Other facilities in and around Guwahati will also reap the benefits of the supercomputer as the NSM has mandated that a portion of the total compute power shall be shared with the nearby academic and research institutes. Sources in the institute said it has software for users from different domains and can be used even from outside the institute.
"Overall, this newly set up supercomputing facility promises to provide a major boost to the research and development activities in the entire region," the spokesperson added.
Along with the supercomputer facility, a high power active and passive component laboratory, Sameer, was also inaugurated by Murmu at the institute.
As an expert in high-performance computing and supercomputing technologies, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. My expertise is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of computer science, specifically in areas such as parallel computing, distributed systems, and advanced computing architectures. I've actively followed the development of supercomputers worldwide, staying updated on the latest advancements and applications.
Now, delving into the article about President Droupadi Murmu commissioning the northeast’s fastest supercomputer, Param-Kamrupa, on October 14, 2022, at IIT Guwahati, there are several key concepts to explore:
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Param-Kamrupa: This is the newly commissioned supercomputer at IIT Guwahati. It is a high-performance computing cluster, surpassing its predecessor, Param-Ishan, in both computing power and speed. It plays a vital role in advancing various scientific domains.
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Param-Ishan: Mentioned as the predecessor, Param-Ishan was inaugurated in IIT Guwahati in 2016. The fact that Param-Kamrupa replaced Param-Ishan implies advancements in technology and computational capabilities over the years.
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Liquid Cooled System: Professor Ratnajit Bhattacharjee, the head of the computer communication centre at IIT Guwahati, highlights that Param-Kamrupa is a 'liquid cooled system.' This is a cooling mechanism where liquid is used to dissipate heat generated by the computer system. It enhances efficiency and prevents overheating.
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National Supercomputing Mission (NSM): Param-Kamrupa is part of the NSM, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The mission aims to establish a supercomputing ecosystem in India and facilitate advanced research across scientific and engineering domains.
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Scientific Applications: The article mentions that Param-Kamrupa will benefit IIT Guwahati in conducting research in various scientific domains such as weather and climate, bioinformatics, computational chemistry, molecular dynamics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science. This emphasizes the versatility and capability of the supercomputer in supporting diverse research activities.
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Collaboration and Resource Sharing: The NSM mandates that a portion of the total compute power of Param-Kamrupa shall be shared with nearby academic and research institutes. This collaborative approach extends the benefits of the supercomputing facility to other institutions in and around Guwahati.
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Sameer Laboratory: Alongside Param-Kamrupa, a high-power active and passive component laboratory named Sameer was inaugurated. While the article doesn't delve into specific details, this indicates a broader development in research infrastructure at IIT Guwahati.
In summary, Param-Kamrupa's commissioning represents a significant leap in supercomputing capabilities in the northeast, with implications for diverse scientific research and regional development. The collaboration under the National Supercomputing Mission further emphasizes the importance of shared resources and collaborative research initiatives.
