This is the biggest supercomputer in the country, worth more than 17 million euro. It will be accessible to Slovenian and European researchers as well as the private sector.

The computer was turned on by Prime Minister Janez Janša, who symbolically pressed a red button. He pointed out the following: “Vega will enable scientists to invent new materials and components, it will help them model global phenomena, and develop new medicines and medical therapies in the fight against cancer or other persistent diseases. Furthermore, Vega will provide support to companies, especially those developing the most advanced products in the pharmaceutical, automotive or energy sectors. With this and similar steps, the European Union is resolutely following a path towards strategic autonomy.”

Currently the most powerful supercomputer in Slovenia has been set up as part of the national project to upgrade research infrastructure (HPC RIVR) and EuroHPC, a public-private partnership for European high-performance computing. It is located at the Institute of Information Science (IZUM) in Maribor.

According to Aleš Bošnjak, director of the IZUM, it is one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe and indeed the world. “Our supercomputing power is just behind that of the UK and before Russia’s,” pointed out Zoran Ren, University of Maribor Vice Rector for Science and Research.

Besides Vega in Slovenia, EuroHPC supercomputers are being built in Bulgaria, Italy, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Finland.