Ultra-High-Performance Computer Performing 10^20 Operations per Second to Be Independently Developed by 2030

Published 28 May.2021 13:30(KST)

Ministry of Science and ICT to Announce Innovation Strategy on the Afternoon of the 28th

▲Next-generation Supercomputer No. 4

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government has decided to independently develop an ultra-high-performance computer capable of performing 10^18 calculations per second by 2030.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 36th Emergency Economic Central Countermeasures Headquarters meeting and announced the National Ultra-High-Performance Computing Innovation Strategy, which includes this plan.

Ultra-high-performance computers, known as "supercomputers," have become essential infrastructure due to the rapid increase in data processing driven by recent advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and autonomous driving. They are recognized as a measure of national competitiveness in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Accordingly, the government will sequentially replace and operate the current National Center No. 5 (Nurion), ranked 21st in the world, with the No. 6 (2023) and No. 7 (2028) systems, aiming for a world top 5 level as the national flagship ultra-high-performance computers. More than 10 specialized centers in fields such as meteorology and defense will be designated by 2030 to support the expansion of new infrastructure.

In particular, through strategic research and development (R&D) investment in 24 core technologies including CPUs, the government plans to raise the current technology level, which is 60-70% of the world's best, to the 80% range. Furthermore, based on this, it aims to independently build an exascale ultra-high-performance computer by 2030 and enter the finished product market.

The government will also allocate 50% of the national ultra-high-performance computing resources to 10 strategic sectors and prioritize providing 20% to companies in order to utilize the ultra-high-performance computing resources built in this way.

Minister of Science and ICT Lim Hye-sook said, "Although this is a very challenging field, if we systematically implement the innovation strategy based on our past experience of advancing as an ICT powerhouse and world-class semiconductor capabilities, we will be able to achieve results."