Japan to Construct ‘Zeta-Class’ Supercomputer in 2025, Expected to Be 1,000 Times Faster
Japan is set to embark on the construction of a groundbreaking supercomputer known as the “zeta-class,” which is projected to be a thousand times faster than the most powerful supercomputers currently in operation. This innovative project will serve as the successor to Japan’s renowned Fugaku supercomputer, which is housed at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Hyogo.
The announcement of the zeta-class supercomputer comes as a significant leap forward in Japan’s pursuit of technological advancement and scientific research. With a potential cost exceeding $750 million, this state-of-the-art machine is poised to revolutionize the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) development and is slated to be fully operational by the year 2030.
Unveiling the Zeta-Class Supercomputer
The ambitious plans for the zeta-class supercomputer were unveiled by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on August 28. This cutting-edge machine is expected to achieve unprecedented speeds on a zetaFLOPS scale, a milestone that has never been reached before in the realm of computing.
Floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) serve as the benchmark for measuring the computational prowess of supercomputers, with one floating-point operation representing a single calculation. A supercomputer capable of operating at 1 zetaFLOPS would be capable of executing one sextillion calculations per second. In contrast, current leading supercomputers have only recently surpassed the exaFLOPS threshold, enabling them to perform just over one quintillion calculations per second.
The decision to develop the zeta-class supercomputer underscores Japan’s commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology. By harnessing the immense computational power of this cutting-edge machine, researchers and scientists will be empowered to tackle complex challenges and drive discoveries that were previously beyond reach.
The Road to Zeta-Class Supremacy
The zeta-class supercomputer is poised to succeed Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer, which previously held the title of the world’s fastest supercomputer until it was surpassed by the U.S.’s Frontier supercomputer in 2022. Fugaku, boasting a performance of 0.44 exaFLOPS, currently ranks as the fourth most powerful supercomputer globally.
Referred to as “Fugaku Next,” the upcoming supercomputer will be jointly developed by Japanese companies RIKEN and Fujitsu, both of which played pivotal roles in the construction of Fugaku. Drawing upon the expertise of these leading entities, Fugaku Next is expected to seamlessly integrate with its predecessor and leverage cutting-edge components designed by Fujitsu.
As Japan charts a course towards zeta-class computing, engineers and researchers face the formidable challenge of optimizing the efficiency and sustainability of this groundbreaking supercomputer. Given the monumental energy demands associated with a zeta-class machine, innovative solutions will be essential to ensure its operation remains environmentally conscious and economically viable.
The Path to Technological Triumph
Japan’s commitment to the development of the zeta-class supercomputer is underscored by a substantial financial investment from MEXT, with approximately ¥4.2 billion allocated for the initial phase of the project. Over the course of the project, funding could reach up to ¥110 billion, reaffirming Japan’s dedication to realizing the full potential of this transformative technology.
With a targeted completion date of 2030, the construction of Fugaku Next represents a monumental step forward in Japan’s technological prowess and scientific capabilities. As the global race for supercomputing supremacy intensifies, Japan’s zeta-class supercomputer stands poised to redefine the boundaries of computational power and scientific discovery.
In conclusion, the advent of Japan’s zeta-class supercomputer marks a significant milestone in the realm of high-performance computing, offering unprecedented speed and capabilities that will propel scientific research and technological innovation to new heights. As Japan embarks on this ambitious endeavor, the world eagerly anticipates the transformative impact of the zeta-class supercomputer on the future of AI development and computational science.
