JUSTUS 3: Funding Approval
Ulm University is set to welcome an advanced high-performance computer, JUSTUS 3, with the help of a generous funding of 2.1 million euros from the German Research Foundation (DFG). This Major Research Instrument Proposal, approved by the university, has cleared the path for the establishment of JUSTUS 3, with a total funding amount of 4.2 million euros. The DFG's contribution of half the funding, alongside counter-financing from the state and investment contributions from the universities of Ulm and Stuttgart, underscores the collaborative effort to advance research capabilities in the region beyond 2025.
Designed to support over 100 research projects from state universities and universities of applied sciences, JUSTUS 3 will primarily focus on innovative fields such as battery research and quantum sciences. With a total record of supporting more than 1300 scientific publications, the supercomputer is ready to surpass its predecessor in both computing power and energy efficiency.
Acknowledging the significance of this development, Minister of Science Petra Olschowski (Green Party) said “Baden-Württemberg is an European leader in supercomputing. The Ulm University makes a significant contribution to high-performance computing in theoretical chemistry, quantum physics and solid-state physics in particular. The new high-performance computer JUSTUS 3 will take supercomputing to the next level, and not only at Ulm University. In the future fields of quantum technology and battery research, the computing capacity will be available to all state universities - thereby strengthening our QuantumBW innovation campus and Baden-Württemberg as a research location."
Professor Joachim Ankerhold, Vice President for Research at Ulm University, who is responsible for the application, emphasizes the incorporation of the latest technology trends in high-performance computing within JUSTUS 3: "The new high-performance computer will also be more sustainable to operate" with features such as hot water cooling and the utilization of waste heat for building heating.
Jürgen Salk, who heads the Scientific Software & Computer Services department at Ulm University, underscores the collaborative effort involving over 40 scientific working groups from seven state universities in shaping the funding application.
The technical specifications of JUSTUS 3 will be finalized through an EU-wide tender process, ensuring customization to user requirements and future needs, including AI-supported methods.