A new pan-African forum is launching today, focusing on emerging topics in computing, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and quantum computing.
The primary goal of the HPC AI Forum is to bring together researchers, HPC centers, academic institutions, and technology leaders from across Africa to promote research and innovation in these scientific fields. Supported by the data and AI technology company Flapmax, the forum aims to encourage open collaboration on these subjects throughout the region.
According to a statement from Flapmax, the forum will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and community development, addressing the unique challenges faced by HPC centers operating in resource-limited environments.
The forum will concentrate on several key themes, including sustainability through energy-efficient computing, the ethical and fair use of AI, innovations in AI and quantum computing, hybrid cloud solutions, as well as skill development and community building.
Dave Ojika, the CEO of Flapmax, emphasized that as AI and HPC technologies continue to evolve rapidly, it is crucial for institutions in emerging regions to have access to the latest tools and innovations. He noted that the HPC AI Forum is a significant step towards ensuring that research centers in Africa and other developing regions can effectively engage with and benefit from global advancements.
Additionally, participants in the forum will enjoy various perks, including satellite-based internet hardware, Intel AI PCs equipped with advanced neural processing units, access to AMD HPC infrastructure with 1TB of memory for demanding computational research, and potential integration with Microsoft Azure.