ECONOMICS

The Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET) and the High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL), two of Canada's foremost High Performance Computing (HPC) facilities, have joined forces to better serve the Ontario research community. Distinct in operation and organization, HPCVL and SHARCNET share a common mission to accelerate research results by providing state-of-the-art computational resources and services to researchers in a variety of disciplines. Today, the two organizations announced an agreement to coordinate their activities in the provision of HPC resources and services to members of both communities. The result? A more efficient and cost-effective solution that will benefit members of both organizations, the Ontario research community, and moving forward, the country as well, says Carmen Gicante, SHARCNET Executive Director. "We are moving toward the creation of a provincial HPC research culture," confirms Gicante. "Our partnership with HPCVL will strengthen this initiative and greatly enhance the opportunities for Ontario researchers, and ultimately, Canadian industries and citizens as well." Ken Edgecombe, Executive Director of HPCVL, agrees. "The coordination of resources and services by HPCVL and SHARCNET is key to maintaining a strong and innovative research base in Ontario and in Canada. Having two of the leading providers of HPC resources coordinate to leverage public and private sector funded infrastructure will accelerate the pace of Canadian research. Our clients will benefit from access to these resources to push their research forward." Both SHARCNET and HPCVL were established with considerable support from federal and provincial granting agencies, namely the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT), and the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF). The CFI is an independent corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other non-profit research organizations to carry out world-class research and technology development. The ORDCF, together with the OIT, are key research investment arms of the Ontario government and form the heart of the province's strategy to keep Ontario competitive in the knowledge based global economy. Ontario's capacity to retain highly qualified researchers and scientists depends on investment in quality research facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and technology. This partnership represents a significant step forward in the strategy to establish Canada as global leader in research and development.