Helping Companies Use High Performance Computing to Improve U.S. Manufacturing

Manufacturers understand the potential of supercomputers to optimize the design and manufacture of their products while increasing the bottom line. But the cost to own one is prohibitive and requires a comprehensive knowledge of advanced modeling and simulation techniques.

To ease some of that burden, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing U.S. companies access to its world-class computing resources and technical expertise through an innovative program that uses high performance computing (HPC) to solve pressing manufacturing and materials development challenges.

The High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) program consists of two subprograms — one focused on manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) and the other on materials (HPC4Mtls). Companies interested in either program can apply for up to $300,000 in funding, generally twice per year. Awardees can suggest a national laboratory as a partner, or program officials may match companies with national laboratories. Awardees then enter a collaborative agreement with a national laboratory that protects the company’s rights to generated data and new intellectual property.

When Argonne is involved, company researchers partner with scientists in Argonne’s research divisions and at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), a DOE Office of Science User Facility. At ALCF, U.S. manufacturers can access computing resources that are up to 100 times more powerful than systems typically used by corporations.

Argonne has made it a priority to align its computing and computational science expertise with researchers who develop advanced technologies for U.S. manufacturers. Some of the most successful HPC4EI projects took advantage of this expertise, as well as Argonne’s capabilities in advanced modeling and data analysis, to advance their company’s manufacturing or materials goals.

The HPC4EI program is the best fit for companies with an energy-focused project in mind that could uniquely benefit from large-scale HPC resources. Projects that involve substantial energy savings for the company or the end-user, or that support the development of new clean-energy technologies, are favored.

Argonne has already worked with many companies to bring the power of HPC to industry. Argonne’s experience in developing high-fidelity complex simulations, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), and conducting deep data analysis with enhanced visualizations has contributed to the success of many HPC4EI projects.

The HPC4EI program is sponsored by the DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office.

Companies interested in working with Argonne should contact partners@​anl.​gov.

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