NEC Corporation has announced the receipt of an order to develop a next-generation supercomputing system intended for the National Institutes of Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) in Japan. This system, scheduled to go into operation in July 2025, will mark a significant advancement in the field of scientific research and technological development in fusion energy.
A Supercomputer Designed to Lead Fusion Science
The new system primarily consists of two advanced models from NEC’s LX series: 360 units of LX 204Bin-3, which integrate a total of 720 Intel Xeon 6900P processors, and 70 units of LX 401Bax-3GA, equipped with 280 AMD Instinct MI300A accelerators. Together, the system will achieve a theoretical performance of 40.4 petaflops, representing a 170% improvement over the current systems used by QST and NIFS.
This supercomputer will be key in international fusion projects such as ITER and JT-60SA, as well as contribute to the design of DEMO reactors. These efforts aim to advance towards carbon neutrality through large-scale computations and high-precision simulations. Additionally, it will serve academic research in areas such as fusion plasmas and high-energy density physics, fostering collaboration with universities and research institutions across Japan.
Cutting-edge Technology for Science
The system will employ hardware and software innovations to ensure optimal performance:
- Intel Xeon 6900P Processors with MRDIMM Technology: Increase bandwidthBandwidth is the maximum capacity of data transfer … and memory performance, optimizing complex calculations.
- AMD Instinct MI300A Accelerators: Integrate CPU and GPU in a single package, improving energy efficiency and processing speed.
- DDN ES400NVX2 Storage System: Offers a total capacity of 42.2 petabytes, based on the Lustre EXAScaler parallel file system.
- High-Speed InfiniBand Network with NVIDIA QM9700: Ensures fast and stable data transfers for large volumes of information.
- Altair PBS Professional Software: Optimizes task management and job scheduling, enhancing overall system productivity.
Additionally, the system will be cooled using high-efficiency liquid technology, minimizing energy consumption and maximizing sustainability.
A Boost for Fusion Research and Beyond
The supercomputer will play a fundamental role in key research for fusion energy, including reactor simulations, operational scenario creation, and studies of advanced materials. NIFS, as an inter-university institute, will also make the system available to universities and research centers, expanding opportunities for scientific collaboration.
This system will be the first in Japan to incorporate Intel Xeon 6900P processors and AMD Instinct MI300A accelerators, reinforcing NEC’s position as a leader in advanced technology. According to Jon Robottom, corporate vice president of AMD Japan, “the selection of our accelerators demonstrates AMD’s ability to provide high-performance solutions in scientific supercomputing.”
Commitment to the Future
This development underscores NEC’s commitment to research and technological advancement, not only in the field of supercomputing but also in artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The company expects this project to lay the groundwork for future collaborations and innovative outcomes in critical areas such as energy sustainability and quantum technology.
With unprecedented technological capability and a focus on scientific collaboration, this supercomputer represents a milestone for fusion science and strengthens Japan’s leadership in advanced research.