Ontario invests $10.9M in supercomputing network

The Ontario government is investing $10.9 million in a supercomputing network with the aim of helping researchers in the province achieve scientific breakthroughs more quickly.

"By supporting emerging technologies, the government is creating more high-value jobs and bringing new investment into the region," MPP Chris Bentley said in a statement on behalf of Premier Dalton McGuinty, who is also minister of research and innovation.

The $10.9 million will be invested in the University of Western Ontario's Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET) to support 1,200 researchers across the province.

SHARCNET isa state-of-the-art high performance computing (HPC)project that is far faster than a standard desktop computer. Using SHARCNET, a researcher can obtainresults in one day that couldtake a personal computer more than ayear to duplicate.

Led by the University of Western Ontario, the network is made up of 16 research institutions, including the universities of Guelph, McMaster, Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor, Waterloo, Brock, York, Laurentian, Trent and Lakehead, the Ontario Institute of Technology, Fanshawe College, Sheridan College, the Perimeter Institute and the Ontario College of Art & Design.

The investment is part of the $550 million Ontario Research Fund.