The demand for computing capacity among Dutch researchers is growing faster than the available supply in the country. This is evident from the report Computational Needs for Accelerated Scientific Discovery. NWO and SURF have mapped out the computing needs of researchers across all scientific disciplines. Investments are necessary to remain at the forefront in the field of science.
With the rapid digitization of science, the upcoming replacement of the national supercomputer Snellius, investments in European supercomputers, and the rapid rise of AI, a logical moment has arisen to reconsider the national strategy for digital infrastructure. It is therefore important to know where the needs of Dutch scientists lie. In the summer of 2024, NWO and SURF distributed a questionnaire, which was completed by 43 researchers from 21 organizations. In addition, principal investigators of research groups that heavily use current computing facilities were interviewed. All scientific domains were well represented in this study.
Concerns About Capacity
Many researchers are concerned about whether there will be enough computing and data capacity available for their research in the future. This concern spans all scientific domains, as evidenced by the report. They foresee that this need will only grow in the future. Some researchers are worried about whether there will be sufficient structural funding for computing facilities. They also expressed a need for more support.
These concerns align with the current situation, as the report shows. The Netherlands lags behind in Europe in terms of available computing capacity for publicly funded scientific research. Various European countries are currently investing in their digital infrastructure, which risks widening the gap. The available capacity of Snellius is less than that of other supercomputers, but replacement is not scheduled until 2027.
Growing Needs Across All Domains
Researchers say that advanced computing and data facilities are essential for top research. The need is growing across all scientific domains. Previously, it was mainly the beta disciplines that used supercomputers. Now, other domains are increasingly using large-scale data storage or processing complex data, for example, for economic models or analysis of historical documents. The rapid growth of AI is an additional driver of demand, causing the need for computing and data capacity to increase even faster in the near future.
The greater reliance on computing and data capacity for research and the increasing demand mean that investments are needed to maintain the global top position of Dutch scientific research. Given the efforts of other countries, strengthening the national digital infrastructure is essential, according to the reports conclusion.
NWO Invests in Scientific Infrastructure
This report is part of NWO’s policy on scientific infrastructure. Together with its partners, NWO is working on broad accessibility, renewal, and continuity of scientific infrastructure. This includes highly specialized equipment, such as large telescopes or high-field magnets, as well as virtual facilities such as data and sample collections or biobanks, as well as scientific computer networks and supercomputers. Such facilities are essential for breakthroughs in all scientific fields.
Thanks to its independent position and overview of the science system, NWO can take the lead in developing a joint long-term strategy for scientific infrastructure. NWO also plays a coordinating and important (co-)financing role in the implementation of this strategy. The goal is a balanced and future-proof ecosystem of high-quality scientific infrastructure for all scientific domains.