Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2020)569 - Establishing the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2020)569 - Establishing the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2020)569  |
| date | 18-09-2020 |
1. CONTEXTOFTHE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
High Performance Computing (HPC), which refers to computing systems (“supercomputers”) with extremely high computational power that are able to solve hugely complex and demanding problems, is a critical capability for the digital transformation of our society. It is the “engine” that powers the data economy, with the potential to enable key technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and cybersecurity to exploit the enormous potential of big data.
HPC is enabling many industrial sectors to innovate and to move up into higher value products and services, paving the way for the development of novel industrial applications in combination with other advanced digital technologies. HPC applications and infrastructures are essential in nearly every field of research, from fundamental physics to biomedicine, in order to achieve deeper scientific understanding and breakthroughs. HPC is also an essential tool for researchers and policy-makers to address major societal challenges, from climate change, smart and green development, and sustainable agriculture to personalised medicine and crisis management. A highly pertinent example is the COVID-19 pandemic, where HPC is being used, often in combination with AI, to accelerate the discovery of new drugs, predict the virus’ spread, plan and distribute scarce medical resources, and anticipate the effectiveness of containment measures and post-epidemic scenarios.
In the next few years, Europe’s leading role in the data economy, its scientific excellence, and its industrial competitiveness will increasingly depend on its capability to develop key HPC technologies, provide access to world-class supercomputing and data infrastructures, and maintain its present excellence in HPC applications. To make this happen, a pan-European strategic approach is essential.
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking was established1 in October 2018 as a legal and financial framework, pooling resources from the EU, 32 countries, and two Private Members: the European Technology Platform for HPC (ETP4HPC) and the Big Data Value (BDVA) Associations. So far, the Joint Undertaking has used funds from the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for its strategic investments. After 20 months of operation, it has substantially increased overall investment in HPC at European level and has started to deliver on its mission to restore Europe’s position as a leading HPC power. By the end of 2020, it will deploy a world-class supercomputing and data infrastructure accessible to public and private users all over Europe. Its investments are also supporting HPC Competence Centres throughout Europe, which ensure that HPC is widely available in the Union and provide specific services and resources for industrial innovation (including SMEs) and the development of HPC skills, and research and innovation in critical HPC hardware and software technologies and applications. This will increase the EU’s ability to produce innovative HPC technology.
The Council Regulation establishing the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking in 2018 set a target of reaching the next supercomputing frontier, exascale performance,2 i.e. computing systems
Contents
Undertaking
See preamble, section 12. ‘The Joint Undertaking should be set up and start operating at the latest by
early 2019 to reach the target of equipping the Union with a pre-exascale infrastructure by 2020, and to
develop the necessary technologies and applications for reaching exascale capabilities around 2023 to
2
capable of executing more than one trillion (1018) operations per second, by the years 2022 to 2023. This increase of computing power would also come from the deployment of quantum computers and from moving to post-exascale technologies.
The proposed Regulation is in essence a continuation of the existing initiative established under Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488, introducing modifications to adapt the Regulation to the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) Programmes, but also to reflect the priorities of the Commission, and to make it possible for the Joint Undertaking to use funding from the new MFF programmes for 2021-2027. These programmes are Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme and the Connecting Europe Facility. This funding will be essential for Europe to reach this next supercomputing frontier of exascale computing. It will allow the Union to equip itself with a world-class federated, secure and hyper-connected supercomputing and quantum computing service and data infrastructure, and to develop the necessary technologies, applications and skills for reaching exascale capabilities, which is currently foreseen around 2023-2025 and post-exascale around 2025-2027, while promoting a world-class European HPC and quantum computing innovation ecosystem.
As the main drivers and objectives of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking have remained unchanged since its establishment, the Impact Assessment published in January 2018,3 remains valid. In addition, the Impact Assessment accompanying the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027 took HPC objectives into account.4
Accordingly, the Commission’s proposal for a new EuroHPC Regulation is accompanied by a Staff Working Document (SWD), which summarises the evidence collected since 2018. The SWD analyses the evolution of key socio-economic and technological drivers and of user requirements affecting the future evolution of HPC and data infrastructures, technologies and applications in the EU and worldwide, taking into account the EU’s political priorities for 2020-2025. It presents the latest HPC market figures and provides an overview of the main lessons learnt from the Joint Undertaking’s activities so far. It describes the role HPC will play in the near future for the digital transformation of Europe, and the creation of a single European data space. Finally, it provides evidence of the importance of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking’s activities, and of the impact that its continuation will have on an increasing number of critical technologies and applications in the next decade, notably for European excellence in low-power processor technologies and in AI.
How will the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking operate?
The mission of the proposed EuroHPC Joint Undertaking is an evolution of the mission of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking established in October 2018. The long-term objectives in essence are not modified, i.e. the deployment and operation of a world-class High Performance Computing and data infrastructure, and the development and promotion of an excellent European HPC ecosystem. The emphasis is on reaching the exascale era and broadening to new High Performance Computing approaches based on quantum technologies.
The activities of the proposed Joint Undertaking are grouped around five main pillars:
(a) Infrastructure: The pillar will continue focusing on the acquisition of world class
supercomputing infrastructure. However, its activities have been expanded to include not only the acquisition, deployment, and operation of a world-class supercomputing infrastructure but also that of a quantum computing infrastructure.
COM(2018) 434 final, SEC(2018) 289 final, SWD(2018) 306 final
(b) Federation of supercomputing services: This is a new pillar. It will cover activities to provide Union-wide, cloud-based access to federated, secure supercomputing, quantum computing and data resources and services throughout Europe for public and private users. The pillar will include support for the interconnection of the High Performance Computing, quantum computing and data resources. Their interconnection with the Union’s common European data spaces and federated cloud infrastructures and, the development, acquisition and operation of a platform for the seamless federation and secure, cloud-based service provisioning of a supercomputing and quantum computing service and data infrastructure.
(c) Technology: This pillar will continue supporting an ambitious research and innovation agenda for developing a world-class and innovative supercomputing ecosystem. The pillar will support hardware and software technologies, and their integration into computing systems, covering the whole scientific and industrial value chain. In addition, it will support the technologies and systems required for the interconnection and operation of classical supercomputing systems with other, often complementary computing technologies, in particular neuromorphic or quantum computing.
(d) Application: This pillar was part of the technology pillar of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking established in October 2018. However, it is now singled out to recognize its accrued importance, notably the extension to applications of industrial relevance. This pillar will support activities to achieve excellence and maintain Europe’s present leading position in key computing and data applications and codes for science, industry (including SMEs) and the public sector, including support for Centres of Excellence in HPC applications.
(e) Widening usage and skills: This pillar was previously part of the technology pillar of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking established in October 2018, mainly addressing the creation and networking of national HPC Competence Centres. However, it is now singled out to recognize its accrued importance, in particular with the participation in the Digital Skills priority of the Digital Europe Programme. This pillar will focus on activities to foster excellence in supercomputing, quantum computing, and data use and skills. It will aim to widen the scientific and industrial use of supercomputing resources and data applications, and foster industrial access and use of supercomputing and data infrastructures for innovation adapted to industrial needs; and, to provide Europe with a knowledgeable leading scientific community and a skilled workforce.
The membership of the proposed Joint Undertaking is as follow:
– public members: the Union (represented by the Commission) and the Member States
and countries associated to Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme and the Connecting Europe Facility wishing to participate (Participating States).5 Other Member States and Associated Countries remain free to join.
– private members: these remain the same to the ones of the Council Regulation (EU)
2018/1488 – the ETP4HPC and the BDVA industrial associations.
Participating States in the current setting of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
5
The governance and the allocation of the voting rights of the proposed Joint Undertaking remain identical to the ones defined in the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488.
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking will continue to implement the HPC strategic roadmap as defined by the multiannual strategic research and innovation agendas developed by the EuroHPC Research and Innovation Advisory Group6 (RIAG) and the EuroHPC Infrastructure Advisory Group7 (INFRAG), complemented by the Strategic Research Agenda of the of the EuroHPC Private Members,8 to establish the HPC ecosystem.
The Union’s financial contribution to the Joint Undertaking under the 2021-2027 MFF would be EUR [XXXX ], matched by at least an equal amount of total contribution from the Participating States and the Private Members of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. The Joint Undertaking will use these funds mainly to implement its activities under the five pillars described above.
The main expected outcomes for the proposed EuroHPC Joint Undertaking in the next decade would include:
– A federated, secure and hyper-connected European HPC and data infrastructure with
mid-range supercomputers and at least two top class exascale and two top class post-exascale systems (at least one of each category built with European technology);
– Hybrid computing infrastructures integrating advanced computing systems – notably
quantum simulators and quantum computers – in HPC infrastructures;
– A secure cloud-based HPC and data infrastructure for European private users;
– HPC-powered capacities and services based on European public data spaces for
scientists, industry and the public sector;
– Next generation technology building blocks (hardware and software) and their
integration into innovative HPC architectures for exascale and post-exascale systems;
– Centres of Excellence in HPC applications and industrialisation of HPC software,
with novel algorithms, codes and tools optimised for future generations of supercomputers;
– Large-scale industrial pilot test-beds and platforms for HPC and data applications
and services in key industrial sectors;
– National HPC Competence Centres, ensuring a wide coverage of HPC in the EU,
with specific services and resources for industrial innovation (including SMEs);
– A significant increase for Europe’s workforce in HPC skills and know-how;
– Reinforced data storage, processing capacities, and new services, in areas of public
interest across the Member States.
Consistency with existing policy provisions in
the policy area
On 19 February 2020, the Commission adopted the Communication “A European Strategy for Data”,9 outlining Europe’s strategy for policy measures and investments to support the development of the data economy over the next five years. It highlights the fact that HPC and quantum computing will be essential to ensuring the seamless provision of computing resources with different performance characteristics that will be required to maximise the
6 https://eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/documents/EuroHPC_RIAG_Strategic_Agenda_2019.pdf
7 https://eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/documents/EuroHPC_INFRAG_Multiannual_Strategic_Agenda_2019.pdf
8 www.etp4hpc.eu/pujades/files/ETP4HPC_SRA4_2020_web(1).pdf">https://www.etp4hpc.eu/pujades/files/ETP4HPC_SRA4_2020_web(1).pdf
9 COM/2020/66 final
growth and use of common European data spaces and federated, secure cloud infrastructures for public, industrial and scientific applications.
On 19 February 2020, the Commission also adopted the Communication “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future”10, which presented Europe’s digital strategy, focusing on key objectives to ensure that digital solutions help Europe to pursue its own way towards a digital transformation that benefits everyone. Among the key actions it proposes is investment in building and deploying cutting-edge joint digital capacities, including in supercomputing and quantum technologies, and to expand Europe’s supercomputing capacity to develop innovative solutions for medicine, transport and the environment.
Consistency with other Union
policies
On 10 March 2020 the Commission adopted the Communication “A New Industrial Strategy for Europe”,11 setting out an ambitious industrial strategy for Europe to lead the twin transitions towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. The Communication stresses the support, among others, to the development of key enabling technologies that are strategically important for Europe’s industrial future, including HPC and quantum technologies.
Finally, in the Communication of 27 May 2020 “Europe's Moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation”,12 HPC was identified as a strategic digital capacity that will be a priority for sources of investment in Europe’s recovery, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, InvestEU, and the Strategic Investment Facility.
2. LEGALBASIS, SUBSIDIARITYAND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The legal basis of the proposed EuroHPC Joint Undertaking initiative is Article 187 and the first paragraph of Article 188 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
The proposed Regulation covers the subsidiarity principles in the same way as the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488.
• Proportionality
The proposed Regulation complies with the principle of proportionality in the same way as the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488.
• Choice of the instrument
The creation and operation of a Joint Undertaking in which the Union participates requires a Council Regulation.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONSANDIMPACTASSESSMENTS
Stakeholder
consultations
The Commission proposal for a new Regulation of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking draws funds from the 2021-2027 MFF and is accompanied by a Staff Working Document (SWD). The main drivers and objectives of the proposed new Regulation have remained unchanged
10 See n. Error! Bookmark not defined. above.
11 See n. Error! Bookmark not defined. above.
12 COM/2020/456 final
since its establishment. Therefore, the result of the stakeholder consultations accompanying the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488 remains valid. This result has been further confirmed in the stakeholder consultation accompanying the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027.13 The following additional steps have been taken to consult stakeholders about the objectives and approach to implementing activities under the new Joint Undertaking, and to invite them to help shape it.
The 32 Participating States of the existing Joint Undertaking were consulted and invited to provide feedback on the objectives of the new Joint Undertaking, and also on administrative simplification, notably concerning the central management of financial contributions.
The Private Members of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking published a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda,14 describing the priorities for research and innovation activities in HPC, as well as infrastructure-related activities, highlighting the views of the technology supply and data analytics communities. Likewise, the Private Members were consulted regarding its future priorities and actions, and also regarding its governance, the financial contributions of the Private Members and beneficiaries of the actions implemented by the proposed Joint Undertaking, rules for participation, and simplification of administrative rules and processes.
• Collection and use of expertise
The Commission has experience in setting up and managing Joint Undertakings. In particular, it will benefit from the experience and lessons learnt from implementing the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
Impact
assessment
As the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking was established only in October 2018, the Impact Assessment published in January 2018 accompanying the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488 remains valid, as the drivers and objectives have not changed substantially.
• Regulatory fitness and simplification
This proposal for a Regulation establishing a Joint Undertaking is in line with the Commission's Better Regulation Guidelines: in particular, it proposes regulating only where necessary and in a proportionate manner. It closely follows the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking established in the Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1488 as far as possible, drawing on experience gathered in that context and taking into account the changes introduced by the funding programmes Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and the Connecting Europe Facility. It also considers where appropriate the provisions of the Single Basic Act establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe.
4. BUDGETARYIMPLICATIONS
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking would draw its funds from the budgets proposed by the Commission for High Performance Computing activities in the Regulations establishing Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and the Connecting Europe Facility. In total up to EUR [XXXX] would be available from the three programmes [as follows: up to EUR 2 400 000 000 from the Digital Europe Programme, up to EUR 200 000 000 from the Connecting Europe Facility and up to EUR XXXXX from Horizon Europe – budget to be
13 COM(2018) 434 final, SEC(2018) 289 final, SWD(2018) 306
14 www.etp4hpc.eu/sra-020">https://www.etp4hpc.eu/sra-020
determined at a later stage according to the Strategic Planning and Programming of Horizon Europe].
This is to be matched by an at least equal amount from the Participating States, as part of their national and regional High Performance Computing programmes and their structural funds. The private entities should provide an amount of at least EUR [XXXX] [contribution to be determined at a later stage when the budget of Horizon Europe will be defined according to the Strategic Planning and Programming of Horizon Europe]. Both the Participating States and the Private Members will contribute to the administrative costs of the Joint Undertaking.
5. OTHERELEMENTS
• Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
Evaluation and monitoring of the proposed Joint Undertaking’s activities are planned, in accordance with the Horizon Europe programme. This will determine the effectiveness of the Joint Undertaking as a legal and financial instrument for achieving the objectives of Europe’s High Performance Computing strategy, but also its effectiveness in contributing to the Union’s policies. In particular, it will assess the level of the Participating States’ and Private Members’ participation in, and contribution to, the actions of the Joint Undertaking.
The proposed Joint Undertaking will publish an annual activity report highlighting actions taken, corresponding expenditure, and the acquisition and operation of the High Performance Computing, quantum computing and service and data infrastructure procured and owned by the Joint Undertaking. Achievement of the general objectives will be assessed against the general key performance indicators for Joint Undertakings funded from Horizon Europe and the key performance indicators specific to the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
• Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
Article 1 establishes the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and is specifying its seat.
Article 2 provides definitions of ‘access time’, ‘acceptance test’, ‘competence centre’, ‘EuroHPC supercomputer’, exascale, ‘high-end supercomputer’, ‘mid-range supercomputer’, ‘quantum computer’, ‘quantum simulator’, hosting entity, hosting agreement, ‘hyper-connected’, ‘in-kind contribution’, ‘Participating State’, ‘Private Member’, or ‘user’.
Article 3 specifies the mission and objectives of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
Article 4 specifies the pillars of activities of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.
Article 5 specifies the Union’s financial contribution to the administrative and operational costs of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking with funding from the Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme and the Connecting Europe Facility.
Article 6 specifies what are the possible additional contributions from Union programmes other than those referred to in Article 5.
Article 7 specifies the Participating States’ and Private Members’ funding contributions to the administrative and operational costs.
Article 8 refers to the hosting entity which the Joint Undertaking is to entrust with the operation of the pre-exascale supercomputers and specifies the process whereby it is to be selected.
Article 9 sets out the contents of the hosting agreement, laying down the roles and responsibilities of the hosting entity.
Article 10 provides that the Joint Undertaking should be the owner of the high-end supercomputers it acquires until the end of their economic lifetime, when they will be transferred to the hosting entity.
Article 11 provides that the Joint Undertaking should be the owner of the quantum computers and quantum simulators it acquires until the end of their economic lifetime, when they will be transferred to the hosting entity.
Article 12 provides that the Joint Undertaking should be the co-owner of the industrial-grade supercomputers it acquires together with the Private Members or a consortium of private partners.
Article 13 provides that the Joint Undertaking should be the co-owner of the mid-range supercomputers it acquires together with the hosting entities.
Article 14 specifies the usage of the EuroHPC supercomputers and access conditions for users of the supercomputers.
Article 15 specifies how the European Commission and the EuroHPC Participating States will be compensated for their financial contribution to the acquisition of the pre-exascale supercomputers: each contributor will be allocated a share of the total access time in proportion to its financial contribution. It also specifies how the Union’s access time to the EuroHPC supercomputers will be allocated.
Article 16 specifies the conditions under which the Joint Undertaking will provide commercial services.
Article 17 specifies the financial rules of the Joint Undertaking; these are in line with the Financial Regulation.