Cloud supercomputing on AWS for RMIT

As part of a plan to drive digital innovation in research and education at scale, RMIT University will implement a dedicated cloud supercomputing facility on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The university’s cloud supercomputing facility is designed to help more researchers and students within RMIT’s industry hubs — including Industry 4.0, advanced manufacturing, space, fintech, digital health and creative technologies — to innovate beyond the limitations of on-premises high performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and accelerate time to science.

RMIT will leverage AWS Direct Connect, which enables customers to have low-latency, secure and private connections to AWS for workloads which require higher speed or lower latency than the internet.

Workloads such as genomic sequencing, autonomous vehicle simulations and atmospheric modelling are often too large to run using traditional servers. HPC on AWS provides virtually unlimited compute capacity that meets the infrastructure requirements of almost any application, allowing researchers to process huge volumes of data to help solve some of the world’s most complex challenges in far less time.

The increased bandwidth will give researchers, students, staff and industry partners the ability to experiment and test new ideas and discoveries involving large datasets at speed, fast-tracking the time between concept and products that RMIT are ready to take to market.

RMIT will also collaborate with telecommunications provider AARNet, which will provide high-speed internet and communication services, and global technology company Intel, for its advanced technology solutions to process, optimise, store and move large, complicated datasets.

RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (STEM College) and Vice President Digital Innovation, Professor Aleksandar Subic said the facility, supported by the Victorian Government Higher Education Investment Fund, is a pioneering example of innovation in the university sector.

“Our collaboration with AWS, Intel and AARNET to establish Australia’s first cloud supercomputing facility represents a step change in how universities and industries access HPC capabilities for advanced data processing and computing,” Subic said.

“By leveraging AWS Direct Connect, RMIT is set to access tremendous HPC processing power using a unique service model that provides seamless access to all our staff, researchers and students.

“Our industry partners will also have access to the new cloud supercomputing facility through joint projects and programs.”

AWS Director and Country Leader for Worldwide Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand Iain Rouse said AWS helps researchers quickly analyse massive amounts of data and share their results with collaborators around the world.

“With access to the broadest and deepest portfolio of cloud services, RMIT can innovate beyond the limitations of on-premises computing and keep up with scientific advances worldwide,” he said.

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