NEW YORK, July 23 – IBM said Friday that it will build a supercomputer for the Korea Institute of Science Technology as part of a $27 million agreement to boost high performance computing capabilities for life and physical sciences calculations.
The computer, when fully installed in early 2003, will be one of the world’s ten largest with the ability to perform 4.24 trillion calculations per second, IBM said. The machine will include IBM’s eServer POWER4 technology, a microprocessor IBM plans to release later this year.
In addition to building the supercomputer, IBM has also agreed to cooperate with the Institute to build a national technical support center for high performance computing and life sciences. This arrangement calls for IBM to contribute technical expertise and supercomputing research support.
The company will also support joint research projects between scientists at the Institute and other international research institutions.
IBM said it will complete the first phase of the supercomputer installation by the end of this year. The supercomputing center will employ 15 IBM engineers.
IBM was selected to provide the supercomputer because of its experience in providing high-capacity systems, its support capabilities and its commitment to developing the most technologically advanced and powerful supercomputers in the world, Young-Hwa Cho, president of the Korea Institute for Science and Technology, said in a statement.