Supercomputers Revitalize Italian Innovation

Translated by Elena Santanelli

In a world where digitalization, scientific research and data analysis are becoming gradually important, supercomputers became the cornerstone of this reality, which is increasingly becoming more advanced. These machines, capable of performing trillions of operations per second, are strategic facilities, symbols of scientific power and true engines of innovation and development. Nowadays, High Performance Computing (HPC) is essential for the virtual simulation of complex phenomena and for research in crucial sectors, such as energy, weather, health and, in these last years, artificial intelligence.

Capabilities of Supercomputers

Scientific research and industrial innovation now demand ever-increasing computing power—something only advanced tools like supercomputers are capable of providing. These machines, thanks to their immense processing capacity, make it possible to run simulations in the field of physics for nuclear fusion research, to create highly detailed climate models that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, and to support research in areas such as biotechnology, robotics, and the design of new materials. Advanced simulations that once required years of computation on traditional computers can now be completed in a short time, thanks to systems that reach performance levels of tens—or even hundreds—of petaflops (a unit of computing speed equal to 1,000 trillion floating-point operations per second). It is therefore easy to see how this technology enables researchers and companies to shorten development cycles and test innovative solutions in sectors critical to sustainability and global competitiveness.

On the international stage, the European Union has responded to this technological race with multibillion-euro investments aimed at creating “supercomputing factories” and data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence. These initiatives, involving not only private investors but also public institutions, are designed to close the technological gap with the United States and China, where HPC infrastructure is already highly developed. The creation of shared computing networks—such as the one proposed by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU)—enables stronger collaboration between research institutions and public bodies, thus enhancing Europe’s innovation capacity, energy security, and global competitiveness.

One of the sectors where supercomputers are expected to deliver increasing benefits in the future is energy. Nuclear fusion research, for example, relies on extremely complex mathematical models that require massive computational power to simulate and predict the behavior of plasma inside experimental reactors.

Italian Situation — between Excellence and Ambition

In the global landscape of supercomputing and the race to secure the most advanced computational tools, Italy has not stood on the sidelines. In fact, the country ranks third worldwide in total computing power, with a network of 14 supercomputers developed through targeted investments and close collaboration between public institutions, universities, and private partners. This demonstrates how Italy is solidifying its position in a strategic sector vital to future economic and technological growth.

An example of the national effort to strengthen its role in this critical sector is Eni’s new HPC6 system. Developed in collaboration with U.S. tech giant HPE, this supercomputer delivers over 450 petaflops of computing power, enabling not only simulations of energy and industrial models, but also contributing to research in energy sustainability.

Another noteworthy Italian initiative is the one led by ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), which recently inaugurated the CRESCO8 supercomputer at Portici Research Center. This system, designed to support research in strategic areas such as nuclear fusion and climate change, delivers more than 9 petaflops of computing power, placing it among the world’s top 500 supercomputers. Funded by the Next Generation EU program, the system will play a crucial role in the PNRR Divertor Tokamak Test Facility Upgrade (DTT-U) project. By supporting plasma behavior simulations, it will contribute to the development of Europe’s first nuclear fusion demonstration reactor.

Mention should certainly be made of the new initiative by the Cineca consortium, which has long been committed to academic research and innovation. The consortium plans to integrate the “Leonardo” system—a supercomputer housed at the Tecnopolo in Bologna—into the new and innovative IT4LIA project. This initiative, an AI Factory co-funded by the European Commission and the Italian government, aims to offer its open ecosystem to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as startups.

The success of national investments in the field of supercomputing reflects a shared vision among institutions, businesses, and the academic world—one that will ensure Italy a leading role in innovative design and scientific research.

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