The game-changing potential of supercomputing at Jefferson Lab

A state-of-the-art supercomputing facility in the planning stages with the federal government would be a real engine for academic and industry research if Jefferson Lab successfully attracts the facility to its campus in Newport News.

That was the assessment of Stuart Henderson, director of Jefferson Lab, who emphasized the benefits that this world-leading and unique asset would have for not just the I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion but the state as well. He talked about the High Performance Data Facility during the RVA757 Connects’ Virtual Innovation Spotlight webinar held Tuesday March 1.

The High Performance Data Facility would bring a world-leading and world-unique asset to Virginia, Henderson said. It also would bring research opportunities to Virginia's academic institutions including for environmental sciences, coastal resilience, public health, climate change, and fundamental science.

The facility’s technological advancement would plug directly into three of the four opportunity industry clusters for the I-64 Innovation Corridor – National Security/Cyber Security; IT/ Data Centers/Digital Networks; and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing/Life Sciences.

It would play a significant role in further developing the tech talent pipeline in Virginia as well as to attracting talent, he said.

The High Performance Data Facility also would provide an incredible opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship in “big data” applications in Virginia, he said.

The facility would encompass a world-leading supercomputer, data center, and suite of artificial intelligence tools for data analytics that will be networked to other federal research facilities. The focus will be on near-real-time analysis of “big data,” he said.

The federal government is considering investing $300 million to $500 million in the facility. But Henderson said an investment from the state will be key.

The General Assembly is considering putting funds in the state budget for detailed planning of the data center building, which Henderson said shows the commitment from Virginia toward making the facility a reality.

Here are specific ways RVA757 Connects can advance connections, coordination, and collaboration:

1) Reach out to elected officials and the General Assembly: Jefferson Lab is proceeding with the detailed planning and design of the building. The first step is making sure that there is $3 million in budget amendments that match in both the House and the Senate.

2) Support the Global Internet Hub growth plan developments: Combining the power of the transatlantic cables, data centers, and the High Performance Data Facility will boost the trajectory of the I-64 Innovation Corridor becoming a Global Internet Hub. Participate on the steering committee or in the research process as an interviewee.

3) Enhance academic and business partnerships: Partnerships have already been growing between universities and businesses in the megaregion. Programmatic expansions in academia (such as data sciences) will fill the need for tech talent job growth coinciding with the burgeoning Global Internet Hub opportunity. Research opportunities and new jobs would be available at Jefferson Lab’s facility after its completion.