The National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore has launched ASPIRE 2A+ supercomputer, a strategic national asset that enables the development of AI models tailored to the nation’s unique needs and values, such as homegrown national large language models (LLMs) trained with local language data.
Housed at NSCC Singapore data centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the petascale machine is touted as representing a leap in Singapore’s supercomputing power.
The ASPIRE 2A+ will also be used to accelerate breakthroughs from complex simulations to data-driven discoveries across various scientific fields such as materials science, biomedicine and healthcare among others.
“Powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, this AI supercomputer can help Singapore develop AI models, maintain data sovereignty and drive innovation in critical fields such as quantum computing, drug discovery and climate research,” said Tony Paikeday, senior director of DGX platforms at NVIDIA.
“It also fosters a thriving AI ecosystem, attracting global talent and reinforcing Singapore’s leadership in AI and high-performance computing,” said Paikeday.
The NSCC system is designed to run AI and high-performance computing applications efficiently.
Supporting Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and economic growth, the ASPIRE 2A+ will be used to accelerate breakthroughs in various fields — from complex simulations to data-driven discoveries.
“Our vision is to transform research and capabilities by equipping scientists with the NVIDIA accelerated computing technology, and equipping researchers with the skills they need to tackle global challenges and drive innovation,” said Terence Hung, chief executive at NSCC Singapore.
ASPIRE 2A+ has already taken on users from Singapore’s LLM programme and quantum engineering initiatives. It enables the training of LLMs and GPU-accelerated tensor network simulation of quantum circuits at scale.
The launch of ASPIRE 2A+ marks a new phase in the ongoing collaboration between NVIDIA and NSCC, which began in 2017 with the integration of NVIDIA DGX-1 systems into NSCC’s ASPIRE 1 supercomputer.
