JENA Computing - WP2: Software

Oct 1, 2023, 12:00 AM → Dec 31, 2024, 11:59 PM Europe/Berlin

Adrien Matta (LPC Caen CNRS/IN2P3), Graeme A Stewart (CERN), Paul James Laycock (CERN)

The Joint ECFA-NuPECC-APPEC Computing Initiative had a workshop on 12-14 June 2023 in Bologna: https://agenda.infn.it/event/34738/

At the Joint ECFA-NuPECC-APPEC (JENA) Seminar in May 2022 in Madrid (https://indico.cern.ch/event/1040535/), both the plenary presentations and the closed session of funding agency representatives revealed that there is an increased need for discussions on the strategy and implementation of European federated computing at future large-scale research facilities. In particular, synergies between the three fields should be identified, as well as computing requirements in the next decade, where all three communities (particle physics, nuclear physics and astroparticle physics) as well as neighbouring research fields such as astrophysics or cosmology can benefit.

Main conclusion at the Bologna-Workshop was the creation of five working groups in order to coordinate a white paper as input fo rthe next JENA Symposium: 

1. HTC, WLCG and HPC (HPC)

2. Software and Heterogeneous Architectures (Software)

3. Federate Data Management, Virtual Research Environments and FAIR/Open Data (Data)

4. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

5. Training, Dissemination, Education (TDE)

Here registration for WP2 (you will be contacted for further actions):

Software and Heterogeneous Architectures (Software): There is a large spread of software used in ENA, from very generic to highly specific. One of the main challenges into the future is the fact that available computing will increasingly appear with heterogeneous architectures (as well as ARM, we have GPUs, perhaps FPGAs). In order to make effective use of these processors and increase the efficiency of our code by factors we will need Research Software Engineers and domain experts who optimise the current code and also who engage in exploratory software R&D activities, rethinking algorithms. There will be significant domain level differences in applications, but substantial overlap in skills and techniques. It is important to convey the message to funding agencies that it is crucial to invest in training, hiring and retaining people with this profile. This is also seen as one of the main opportunities to address sustainability.

To join this working group, please contact Adrien Matta (matta@lpccaen.in2p3.fr), Paul Laycock (paul.laycock@unige.ch) and Graeme Stewart (graeme.andrew.stewart@cern.ch). Our mailing list is jena-computing-wp2-software@cern.ch.

JENA Computing Bologna WS Summary.pdf