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Installed at LNCC, the Santos Dumont supercomputer occupies 89th position in the global ranking, is the most efficient in Latin America and performs an incredible 20 quadrillion operations per second!
Does Brazil have one of the most powerful and efficient supercomputers in the world? Santos Dumont, installed at the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) in Rio de Janeiro, reached 89th place in the Top500 global ranking, consolidating its position as the most powerful supercomputer in Latin America for academic research. Want to know how it got there? Let's explore!
What is the Santos Dumont supercomputer?
A supercomputer is not just a larger computer, but a machine capable of performing gigantic calculations at impressive speeds. To give you an idea, while your home computer has a few processing cores, the Santos Dumont operates with an impressive 68.064 cores, delivering a capacity of 20 quadrillion operations per second! It is essential for research that demands very high performance, such as climate simulations and genetic analyses.
Among the 500 most powerful computers on the planet, Santos Dumont shines with its efficiency. Furthermore, it occupies the 39th position in the Green500 ranking, which evaluates the energy efficiency of machines, standing out as the most sustainable in Latin America.
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The impact of Santos Dumont on research in Brazil
From agribusiness to healthcare, Santos Dumont plays a crucial role in advancing Brazilian science. Projects that require extensive calculations, such as drug simulations and genomic analyses, can now be carried out in record time, accelerating the development of innovative solutions.
Imagine a team of scientists trying to decipher the structure of a protein to combat a disease. Previously, this analysis could take months. With Santos Dumont, the work is completed in days, significantly increasing productivity and results.
The upgrade with the BullSequana XH3000 architecture
With investments of US$ 19,4 million, the result of a partnership with Petrobras, Santos Dumont received new equipment based on technology Eviden's BullSequana XH3000. This upgrade has quadrupled its capacity, making it even more robust to handle complex demands.
Collaboration with strategic companies and institutions strengthens Santos Dumont’s role as a leading player in the global technology scene. This synergy is essential to keep Brazil at the forefront of innovation.
Sustainability and energy efficiency of supercomputers
It’s not enough to be powerful; Santos Dumont is also efficient. It was designed to consume less energy, a difference that has placed it among the 40 most sustainable in the world.
In addition to reducing energy consumption, the supercomputer is about to receive a new cooling system that will reduce water usage, contributing to more sustainable practices.
A step into the future: the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA)
Santos Dumont is a key player in the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan, which seeks to transform Brazil into a hub of technological innovation. This plan aims not only at advancing AI, but also at directly benefiting the economy and society.
With the support of PBIA, the country is paving the way to becoming a global benchmark. This means more jobs, more innovation and more positive impact on people's lives.
Santos Dumont is more than a supercomputer, it is a symbol of how Brazil can lead in science and technology. With its impact on research, energy efficiency and role in the future of artificial intelligence, it inspires us to dream bigger.
This is Rio de Janeiro, which is a source of pride for Brazil, always at the forefront of science and technology. Congratulations to our Rio de Janeiro, the oxygen of knowledge.