Norway's most powerful supercomputer ever, Olivia, has now arrived in Nordfjordeid.
The installation phase begins immediately, followed by a testing phase before Norwegian researchers gain access to the technological giant.
Groundbreaking technology
Olivia will significantly boost national research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. With 304 of the most advanced GPUs on the market, Olivia offers a computational capacity that is 17 times greater than the current national offering. Behind Olivia's arrival stands Hewlett-Packard Norway AS (HPE), which won the tender competition last year with a contract value of 225 million NOK. Over the past week, Olivia has traveled from HPE's factory in Chippewa Falls, USA, to Nordfjordeid in Western Norway.
State ownership
Supercomputers like Olivia can perform large and complex calculations, known as high-performance computing, significantly faster than regular computers. High-performance computing facilities are expensive and demanding to operate, hence it is appropriate for the state to own supercomputers for use by researchers from various institutions and fields. Sigma2 is responsible for procuring national supercomputers, while the services are operated in collaboration with the universities of Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, and NTNU. Part of Olivia's capacity can also be used by industry and administration.
— Olivia represents a significant boost for Norwegian research. With this technology, we can provide researchers with the tools they need to make important scientific breakthroughs in health, oceans, and climate. Olivia will also be vital for the development of artificial intelligence and the improvement of Norwegian language models, says Jenny Amundsen Ask, Service Manager for Computing Services at Sigma2 AS. Jenny Amundsen.
— We are incredibly proud to bring Olivia to Norway. HPE's collaboration with Sigma2 reflects our desire to enhance Europe's scientific research capabilities with state-of-the-art supercomputers. Olivia will accelerate research efforts in Norway and help solve global challenges, says Kristin Ottestad, Sales Director at Hewlett-Packard Norway AS. Kristin Ottestad.
Sustainable operation
The name Olivia is inspired by the mineral Olivine, which was previously extracted in the old Lefdal mine in Nordfjordeid. The mine has now been converted into a state-of-the-art data center, and the name symbolizes the transition from traditional industry to advanced technology. Lefdal Mine Data Centers is operated with sustainable energy and eco-friendly practices, crucial for energy-intensive supercomputers.
Although Olivia is a powerful supercomputer, she does not have nearly enough computing power to meet future demands. Significant investments in high-performance computing are needed in the coming years to meet the near-insatiable demand from research, administration, and industry in Norway.
Norway's most powerful supercomputer, Olivia, arrives at Lefdal Mine Data Centers in Nordfjordeid.