Cisco and CERN Collaborate to Accelerate Innovation in Next Generation Computing

• CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, expects a significant increase in data processing rates over the next decade, produced by the experiments on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

• With the advance of digitization, many organizations will face big data challenges similar to the ones CERN is facing today.

GENEVA, Switzerland ‑ June 9, 2015 – Today, Cisco announced it is joining CERN openlab, CERN’s platform for science and industry partnerships.

As part of the CERN openlab initiative, CERN and Cisco are both assigning a team of experts with the aim to develop cutting-edge, highly secure computing infrastructure technologies, capable to deal with large and ever increasing amounts of data. Their mandate is to develop ground-breaking ideas and new approaches for next-generation computing systems. They will investigate novel concepts that build on the latest evolution of hardware, heterogeneous system designs and increasing functionality of the network interface hardware.

CERN openlab provides a framework to develop and prototype state-of-the-art technologies in CERN’s highly sophisticated research environment. It also offers an opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and work with a global talent pool, thanks to CERN’s collaboration with the world’s top universities.

CERN operates the world’s largest scientific facility where physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) research program involves collecting and analyzing data from millions of sensors. Today, these sensors can produce data at a rate of up to a petabyte (equivalent to around 20,000 Blu-ray discs) per second. Over the next decade, CERN expects these rates to grow significantly, which will require not only very large computing and storage facilities, but also novel approaches in many IT related domains.

Supporting quotes

Alberto Di Meglio, head of CERN openlab, CERN

“The success of the LHC depends critically on advances in information processing technologies and components. Advanced technologies are needed to operate scientific instruments, such as the accelerator and the detectors, safely and efficiently in an open environment. We need technologies that are at the forefront of today’s practices and in many cases several years ahead of general industry usage. Therefore, we are partnering with industry leading companies and are pleased to welcome Cisco into CERN openlab.”

Maciej Kranz, vice president, Corporate Technology Group, Cisco

“Managing and analyzing large amounts of data are challenges many organizations are facing, including CERN. As the public and private sector evolve to a digital platform, open innovation and collaboration across industry leaders, research institutes, universities and start-ups will be vital to the success of the global economy. We are excited about our involvement with CERN openlab and the endless possibilities for innovation from inventive people and technologies.”

Supporting resources:

• CERN openlab website: www.cern.ch/openlab

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