Stories

Our stories, highlighting the value of HPC infrastructure and expertise in Belgium. If you want to share your story here, contact us!

A Central Witness of the Development of Belgian HPC: Roberto Lazzaroni Bids Farewell

Pr. Lazzaroni

After more than three decades of high-level scientific engagement, Professor Roberto Lazzaroni is preparing to retire from his position at the University of Mons. A trained chemist, a researcher passionate about molecular modelling, and a key player in the interuniversity dynamics that led to the creation of the CÉCI, he has contributed to shaping the landscape of high-performance computing in Belgium.

User Story Taming the Wind: Reducing Wake Uncertainty between Offshore Wind Farms with Supercomputing

Offshore Wind farm
Offshore wind energy is key to a sustainable future, but as turbines grow in number and size, so do the challenges of managing their wake effects. At the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI), Wim Munters and his VKI Team Wind are tackling one of the hidden challenges of wind energy: how wakes from one wind farm can impact the performance of another—even many kilometers away. Using supercomputing, they are modeling these complex atmospheric interactions at scale. Learn how supercomputing is accelerating research, boosting efficiency, and helping Europe meet its offshore wind ambitions in this user story.

Exclusive Interview – Philippe Geuzaine & Ingrid Lepot (Cenaero)

ITW Cenaero

Left to right: Ingrid Lepot, Head of R&T (Research & Technology) and Philippe Geuzaine, Director of Cenaero.

To mark the opening of the 2025 Paris Air Show, EuroCC Belgium had the pleasure of speaking with Philippe Geuzaine and Ingrid Lepot from Cenaero, a key player in aeronautics and space design, and the coordinating entity behind EuroCC Belgium's activities.

Interview with Anthony Bievelez (Skywin Cluster)

EuroCC Belgium meets Skywin
In this interview, Anthony Bievelez from Skywin highlights the strategic importance of HPC for innovation and competitiveness in the Walloon aerospace sector. HPC enables advanced simulations, optimizes R&D workflows, and accelerates the development of new materials and technologies. Through initiatives like WINGS and collaborations with Cenaero, companies leverage HPC to address challenges in aerodynamics, manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. However, barriers such as data security and regulatory constraints still hinder broader adoption. Better awareness and simplified access to local HPC resources could boost uptake across the industry.

Pushing the Limits of Two-Phase Injectors with HPC

The two-phase injector

In the world of advanced cooling and heat transfer systems, two-phase injectors are gaining traction for their ability to efficiently mix vapor and liquid to enhance pressure recovery and energy efficiency. These systems, crucial in aerospace and industrial applications, depict the direct contact between a high-speed vapor jet and a subcooled liquid to induce condensation and improve performance.

Revolutionizing Great Barrier Reef Simulations with GPU Computing on LUMI

Coral_Reef_ Wiki_by Toby Hudson
The Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder teeming with biodiversity, faces unprecedented challenges. Innovative solutions are crucial for its preservation. Researchers at UCLouvain have harnessed the power of GPU computing on the LUMI supercomputer to transform ocean modelling and conservation strategies. Prof. Emmanuel Hanert: “For the Great Barrier Reef, we use SLIM to simulate ocean currents and study reef connectivity —the exchange of living material between reefs. By modelling larval transport, we can determine how reefs are interconnected—identifying which reefs provide larvae to others. This insight is vital for conservation efforts, allowing us to prioritise protecting reefs essential for the resilience and regeneration of the entire ecosystem.”

User story: How the Innoptus Solar Team Harnesses Supercomputing to Become World Champions

Solar Team World Champions Sasol Challenge 2024
Meet the Innoptus Solar Team, a group of twenty engineering students from KU Leuven in Belgium. They are a shining example of what passion, collaboration, and innovation can achieve. For the past twenty years, they have participated in the prestigious World Solar Challenge, a challenging 3,021-kilometer race across the Australian outback. In September, they will once again compete for the world title in Australia with a newly designed car. In our latest user story, discover how the Innoptus Solar Team utilizes supercomputing to develop the best aerodynamic concept for their car.

Inside SP-Wind: Prof. Johan Meyers on Pioneering code for Wind Simulation

Wind Turbines
Turbulent flows are notoriously challenging in terms of modelling. Turbulence doesn't readily lend itself to simple, straightforward models. While the Navier-Stokes equations comprehensively describe the underlying physics, they come with a significant computational cost. In fact, attempting to simulate the full Navier-Stokes equations with all the complex physical details is (nearly) impossible. However, by introducing certain simplifications (Large Eddy simulations), we can leverage the power of supercomputing to create reasonably accurate models of turbulent flows.

Revolutionizing Neuroimaging Education with Supercomputing and Neurodesk

Picture Pim Pullens Ghent University with neuroimaging software
In this user story prof. Pim Pullens of Ghent University explains how supercomputing infrastructure and other tools are being used to teach students how to analyse imaging data. Prof. Pullens: “As said, my students have no experience working with a supercomputer. However, thanks to using the VSC infrastructure, Open OnDemand and Neurodesk, I can get them to analyse their data within an hour, which shows how user-friendly and efficient this set-up is.”