December 2020
Dear ETP4HPC Members and Partners,
We all hope that 2021 will bring an end to the sanitary crisis and our Association will be able to return to its normal operation mode, or some new form of it. We have all faced difficulties in the course of 2020 but I am glad to note that we are entering the new year with an ever increasing number of members, a strong position within EuroHPC and its RIAG and a solid Office team. There are things, lessons learnt, from this period that we may want to take with us, such as the ability to work and cooperate remotely, which seems not to have caused any major issues.
Compared to the previous year, the ETP4HPC of the end of 2020 is more diverse. Our membership base now includes industrial users and organisations dealing with AI or Quantum Computing and it is a trend we would like to maintain. The TCI Initiative (TransContinuum) has been very successful in attracting external collaborators to our effort of creating a coherent research programme for HPC and all related technologies and as a result the attractiveness and prestige of our Association has risen in all related areas. We are not any longer seen as a HPC technology think tank and our role now is that of the facilitator and instigator of all key undertakings.
As we approach the end of what may have been the toughest year in the life of our Association and in the personal lives of many our colleagues and partners, there are new opportunities and challenges on the horizon. We are analysing the benefits and obligations associated with the second phase of EuroHPC, which offers increased funding opportunities and a more prominent position in the decision making process, but which will also affect the financial condition of our Association. This topic is a priority for both the Steering Board and the Office team and we will ensure that every member receives an adequate update and is involved in arriving to a consensus on this matter.
I wish you all a safe Christmas 🎄🎁🎅 and a better New Year 🎆🎉,
Jean-Pierre Panziera
ETP4HPC Chairman
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