The Barcelona Supercomputing Center is set to spearhead a significant initiative aimed at transforming Europe’s positioning in the field of high-performance computing with the launch of the DARE (Digital Autonomy with RISC-V Europe) project. Announced last Friday, following discussions between Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, and Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, this project is backed by an initial investment of €240 million.
DARE has been characterised as a large-scale strategic initiative with the potential for groundbreaking impact on the scale of historical developments such as CERN, Galileo, or Airbus. As outlined by a statement from the Government of the Generalitat, this ambitious project will foster the development of a robust hardware and software ecosystem centred around RISC-V architecture, which is acknowledged for not requiring licensing fees due to its open-source nature.
The funding for the DARE project is a collaborative effort, with approximately half of the total investment coming from the European Commission through EuroHPC JU (European Joint Undertaking for High-Performance Computing), which contributes €120 million. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities is set to supplement this with €34.4 million, while the remaining funding will be sourced from contributions by 45 European partners involved in the initiative.
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), noted for housing the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, will lead this comprehensive effort over the next three years. Their longstanding commitment to advancing RISC-V chips includes a decade of development and prior coordination of the European Processor Initiative (EPI) project. BSC's director, Mateo Valero, highlighted the significance of DARE, noting that it “will develop the hardware and software ecosystem needed to create European supercomputers like the future MareNostrum 6, autonomous cars, and an ethical European AI.”
The implications of the DARE project are substantial, potentially enhancing Europe’s technological sovereignty in a sector currently dominated by American and Asian firms. This drive for independence is underscored by the BSC’s efforts to ensure the security and autonomy of Europe’s digital infrastructures, an increasingly critical concern in today's evolving technological landscape.
Diana Morant, the Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities, articulated the strategic importance of the initiative, stating: “The DARE project will position Spain on the European map for the development of chips, a key strategic sector to address complex issues in areas such as health, climate change, and energy.”
As the DARE project unfolds, it is anticipated to play a vital role in bolstering European capabilities in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and address various societal challenges, reaffirming the continent's commitment to fostering a self-reliant digital ecosystem.
Source: Noah Wire Services