In August 2023 the Italian pre-exascale HPC system LEONARDO began the regular operation of its so-called “Booster” module which draws its enormous computing power from four NVIDIA Ampere GPUs per node. Currently (TOP500 November 2024 list) it is the ninth most powerful supercomputer in the world and fourth most powerful in Europe.

Austria has its share of LEONARDO since it is a partner in the consortium that has built the machine and Austrian users are encouraged to take this opportunity to apply for compute time at LEONARDO’s GPU-accelerated “Booster” module. In terms of computational power this share is comparable to the already available GPU partition at the current VSC-5 installation.

Hereby VSC announces this Call for Proposals that could benefit from Booster’s multi-GPU nodes.

• This call is intended for medium-sized projects (from 50,000 to 100,000 GPU hours).

• The duration of the projects is 6 months or 12 months from resource allocation date.

• Since the “Booster” module comprises multi-GPU nodes your application must efficiently use at least all 4 GPUs available on the node; this includes embarrassingly parallel implementations. However, priority will be given to projects that are able to prove scalability.

• Since VSC has no direct control over time allocation, granted projects need to make sure to use all the resources that have been granted to them, otherwise they are simply lost for Austrian users.

• Unlike the usual applications for VSC projects, which are submitted in a rolling fashion, and similar to the way it is handled at EuroHPC this Call includes cut-offs:

• The next application cut-off date is 2025-06-16.

• Notification of acceptance will be sent by 2025-06-25.

• PIs of accepted projects at LEONARDO have to sign in at the UserDB of CINECA by 2025-06-27.

• The projects will start on 2025-07-01.

• The Call is open for applicants affiliated with academic and/or research institutions in Austria.

• Applicants have to download the “AURELEO application form” and fill it in.

• Applications shall be done on the VSC service website https://service.vsc.ac.at with requesting a new “funded project” with the project part “LEONARDO-B”. You’ll have to upload the filled “AURELEO application form” and the proof of funding.

• Applications on the VSC service website have to be done by the person who has the funding agreement with the recognised funding agency. It is possible to name another person to act as PI at LEONARDO to be in charge of the CINECA project account.

• Note, in order to use LEONARDO every user will have to upload a proof of identity to the UserDB of CINECA (LEONARDO’s hosting entity).

• LEONARDO’s technical specifications: https://leonardo-supercomputer.cineca.eu/hpc-system

• For any questions related to this Call, access and usage of LEONARDO, please, write to: leonardo@vsc.ac.at

• The technical review is performed by VSC staff according to LEONARDO’s guidelines.

• No additional scientific review is required if the planned computations are carried out within a project that has already been approved by a recognised funding agency, such as FWF, FFG, ÖAW, WWTF, ERC, EU, etc.

• Every AURELEO project will have one high-level support team member assigned for assistance.

• For this type of call a user can request additional assistance of specialist support.

• Technical support is done via CINECA’s help desk.