This year, IT4Innovations celebrates 15 years since its establishment. Over this time, the centre has built a leading national supercomputing infrastructure – from Anselm, Salomon and Barbora, through Karolina and Barbora NG, to its participation in the operation of one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputers, LUMI, and now also the Czech Republic’s first quantum computer, VLQ.
Supercomputers are often associated with sheer computing power. But behind every calculation are the scientists who use them to tackle questions ranging from medicine to astrophysics.
In a new series of interviews, we introduce the researchers who rely on IT4Innovations supercomputers in their work – and show how these machines help them push the boundaries of knowledge.
Industrial simulations – Martin Vrábel, IT4Innovations
Martin Vrábel uses supercomputers to design and optimise technical systems. They allow him to solve complex tasks in days instead of months, acting as a true “time accelerator”.
"The greatest impact of my work for society lies in optimising industrial machines and systems, or designing them digitally. Thanks to computer simulations, these models can be tested and fine-tuned using experimental data even before they are deployed in real operation."
Read his story →
Biomolecules and medicines – Andrea Nedělníková, VSB-TUO and Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute in Olomouc
Andrea Nedělníková studies the behaviour of molecules in the human body using computational chemistry. Supercomputers allow her to bridge the gap between equations and real biomolecular behaviour.
"I study biostructures and their interactions with drugs or nanomaterials. Before a new drug or material is used in medicine, its effects and potential side effects must be thoroughly examined."
Read her story →
Black holes – Debora Lančová, Institute of Physics, Silesian University in Opava
Debora Lančová models the extreme environment around black holes. Supercomputers enable her to work in a “laboratory” that could never exist on Earth.
"I study how matter behaves under conditions so extreme that we cannot recreate them on Earth. The method I use divides the space around a black hole into millions of tiny cells and calculates how everything flows between them."
Read her story →
Quantum algorithms – Ivana Miháliková, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and Slovak Academy of Sciences
Ivana Miháliková uses supercomputers as simulators, safely testing and comparing quantum algorithms before deploying them in the real quantum world.
"Because today’s quantum computers still make errors, I use supercomputers to simulate them so that we already know which approaches have real potential for practical applications."
Read her story →