Open Dialogue on Pre-Commercial Procurement of Innovative High-Performance Computing Solutions for the Human Brain Project

The Human Brain Project (HBP):
The HBP is a large-scale, European-led scientific collaborative project, which aims to gather all existing knowledge about the human brain, build multi-scale models of the brain that integrate this knowledge and use these models to simulate the brain on supercomputers. The resulting “virtual brain” offers the prospect of a fundamentally new and improved understanding of the human brain, opening the way for better treatments for brain diseases and for novel, brain-like computing technologies.

The HBP High-Performance Computing (HPC) Platform:
The HBP’s HPC Platform Subproject, led by Forschungszentrum Jülich, will create the necessary exascale supercomputing and data management infrastructure, comprising both hardware and software. The resulting Platform will be made available to the HBP and other scientists from around the world.

Pre-Commercial Procurement for the HPC Platform?
As part of the HBP’s initial phase, the HPC Platform Subproject is considering undertaking a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) procedure, to address specific HPC requirements related to brain simulation, such as support for interactive supercomputing and large memory capacity. PCP aims to foster innovation for economic growth, to ensure sustainable high quality public services in Europe.

Open Dialogue with potential PCP suppliers:
Before launching a possible PCP process, the HBP wishes to have an open dialogue with potential suppliers. This should cover:

• The technical challenges related to interactive supercomputing for brain simulations.
• The practical implementation of a PCP process in the context of HPC.

Open Dialogue event:
In order to initiate this exchange, all interested suppliers are invited to participate in an Open Dialogue event, covering both technical and procedural aspects.
Where: Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
When: Wednesday, 18th December 2013 (10h30 to 16h00 CET)
The workshop will be conducted in English. Interpretation facilities will not be provided.

How do I register?
Companies interested in attending the event should send an email to hbp-pcp-dialogue@fzjuelich.de before 10 December 2013.

What should I put in the registration e-mail?
For each person from your company who wishes to participate, please indicate their:

• First name and family name
• Job title or function
• e-mail address
• Telephone numbers: office and mobile
• Full business address
• Any dietary or other special requirements

What will happen then?
Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Further details, including the agenda and information on the venue and event logistics, will be sent to all registered attendees at the end of November. Space will be limited, so register early!

About the PCP process:
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH will be guided by the recommendations set out in the “COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION” on the PCP topic, issued in December 2007, including those regarding the location of R&D and operational activities related to the PCP. For more information, please refer to the European Commission’s Pre-commercial procurement brochure, which can be downloaded from this web address:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/pcp/

About this invitation:
This invitation is issued to initiate a dialogue with potential suppliers and does not signify the beginning of a formal PCP procedure or constitute a commitment by the HBP to conduct such a procedure at a later stage. If a formal PCP process is initiated, participation in the Open Dialogue event will not be a precondition for bidding.

About the Human Brain Project:
The HBP is one of two large-scale European research projects supported by the European Commission through its new Future & Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship Initiative. The projected budget for the HBP is EUR 1.1 billion, with an expected total duration of 10 years. The initial phase of the project runs from 1 October 2013 until 31 March 2016 and receives funding from the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) under Grant Agreement No. 604102.

The HBP is a partnership of 80 leading research universities and institutes, mostly in Europe, but also in the Americas and Asia. It is organized into 12 operational Subprojects and is coordinated by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.
For more information on the HBP, please visit https://www.humanbrainproject.eu

For more information:
Please contact: hbp-pcp-dialogue@fz-juelich.de