Empowering Discovery: KAUST's New Shaheen XC40 Ranks Seventh in World's Top Ten Supercomputers

Empowering Discovery: KAUST's New Shaheen XC40 Ranks Seventh in World's Top Ten Supercomputers

THUWAL, Saudi Arabia, July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

    Shaheen XC40
[http://discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/85/taking-computing-to-the-next-level ], King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology's (KAUST's) new Cray system, is the seventh
fastest supercomputer in the world according to the TOP500 [http://www.top500.org ] list
announced today at the International Supercomputing Conference
[http://www.isc-hpc.com/home.html ] in Frankfurt, Germany.

    To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

    http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7572551-kaust-shaheen-XC40-supercomputer

    "Shaheen XC40 reaffirms KAUST's commitment to enabling our researchers and partners
with high performance computing resources," said KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau. "It
will further enhance our education and research endeavors and support our vision to be a
destination for talent and have global impact in science and technology."

    Shaheen XC40's predecessor, a Blue Gene/P system called Shaheen, is an IBM system in
use since KAUST opened in 2009. The first Shaheen was used in a wide range of fields
ranging from global climate modeling to the investigation of plasmoids caused by solar
wind to petroleum reservoir modeling and bioinformatics of salt and drought-tolerant
plants.

    Supercomputing for national collaboration and impact 

    A number of Saudi institutions use KAUST's Shaheen and are expected to continue to
accelerate their research on the upgraded Shaheen XC40. Organizations such as King Fahd
University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, and
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) already utilize KAUST's
supercomputing capabilities to develop their work and examine new fields of research,
further contributing to economic diversification for Saudi Arabia.

    The nation's petrochemical industry also continues to be a major user of high
performance computing (HPC)  in the region, with companies like Saudi Aramco and Saudi
Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) using KAUST's supercomputing resources to enhance
their business in oil and gas, and in chemistry and chemical catalysis research.

    "Shaheen XC40 will contribute to the enhancement of Saudi Arabia's major industries
and facilitate the nation's transition towards a knowledge-based economy," said KAUST Vice
President for Research Jean M. Frechet. "The impact of investments like Shaheen and
Shaheen XC40 reaches far beyond HPC and into all areas of science. KAUST offers its
facilities and outstanding scientific expertise to help strengthen Saudi Arabia's position
as a fast-rising hub for research and innovation."  

    About KAUST 

    King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international,
graduate-level research university located on the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
KAUST is dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research,
education and innovation. http://www.kaust.edu.sa

         (Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150713/235479 )

    Photo:
    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150713/235479

    Video:
    http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7572551-kaust-shaheen-XC40-supercomputer

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150713/235479
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Video:http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7572551-kaust-shaheen-XC40-supercomputer
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

CONTACT: KAUST MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle D'Antoni, +966 12 808 3178, michelle.dantoni@kaust.edu.sa