NSCC Singapore expands partnership with NVIDIA through new ASPIRE 2A+ AI supercomputer powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD

The National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore has officially announced the new state-of-the-art AI supercomputer called the ASPIRE 2A+.

Powered by NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD, the ASPIRE 2A+ is situated at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and offers petascale computing capabilities to meet the local demand for AI applications. It supports training large language models (LLMs) with regional language data and fosters advancements in data-intensive research fields, including biomedicine, material science, and physics simulations.

Aligned with Singapore’s own goal of local AI sovereignty for training LLMs with regional language data as well as providing enough computing resources for all scientific research, the announcement came through several years after the initial collaboration in 2017 where NSCC and Singapore both worked on the OG ASPIRE 1 supercomputer based on the DGX-1 design.

“Powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, this AI supercomputer can help Singapore develop AI models, maintain data sovereignty, and drive innovation in critical fields such as quantum computing, drug discovery, and climate research,” said Tony Paikeday, senior director of DGX platforms at NVIDIA. “It also fosters a thriving AI ecosystem, attracting global talent and reinforcing Singapore’s leadership in AI and high-performance computing.”

On the other hand, NSCC Singapore’s Chief Executive, Terence Hung, noted, “Our vision is to transform research and capabilities by equipping scientists with the NVIDIA accelerated computing technology, and equipping researchers with the skills they need to tackle global challenges and drive innovation.”