UOIT researchers benefit from increased funding for supercomputers

OSHAWA, Ont. - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is now part of one of the world's most powerful research consortiums, thanks to increased funding for the Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET) from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Ontario government.

The total investment in this phase of SHARCNET is $50 million: $19.3 million from the CFI, $19.3 million in matching funds from the Ontario government and an additional $10 million from SHARCNET's institutional and private sector partners. The additional funding was confirmed last week.

SHARCNET's 11 Ontario-based partners, including UOIT, comprise more than 50 per cent of Ontario's research faculty. The additional funding will transform SHARCNET into one of the world's most powerful High Performance Computing (HPC) centres.

HPC, sometimes called supercomputing, allows scientists to employ extremely powerful computers to accelerate the pace of their research in a cost-effective virtual environment and, in many cases, to tackle complex scientific problems that could not otherwise be studied.

"This award will permit UOIT faculty to perform exciting leading-edge computational research that would not have been possible previously, in areas ranging from the design of cancer-combating drugs to predicting the effects of radiation exposure," said Dr. William Smith, Dean of Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. "The computing hardware to be located at UOIT and membership in the SHARCNET consortium will be an important underpinning for UOIT's research and planned graduate programs."

SHARCNET supports the research of some of Canada's pre-eminent academics by providing state-of-the-art HPC facilities, which are hundreds or thousands of times faster than a regular desktop computer. Put in perspective, a Canadian researcher using SHARCNET can produce results that would have normally taken a year or more on a personal computer in a single day.

It is anticipated that once fully installed, the SHARCNET systems, housed at 11 leading academic institutions, will be the most powerful in Canada and that SHARCNET will have at least one system within the top 70 in the world (according to the Top500.org supercomputers list).

"This unprecedented investment clearly illustrates the importance of SHARCNET resources and services to the provincial and national research community," said Carmen Gicante, SHARCNET Executive Director. "SHARCNET is positioned to help both the province and the country become global leaders in research and innovation."

About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused undergraduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, health sciences, social science, applied science, the pure sciences, engineering, and education. It is also developing leading-edge research and graduate programs, and is Ontario's first laptop-based university. Sharing selected services with Durham College, UOIT welcomed its first students in September 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 1.866.844.8648.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111, ext. 2513
Tania.Henvey@dc-uoit.ca