High-Performance Computing (HPC) gives us the power to understand vast amounts of data quickly, creating powerful solutions to important problems. These solutions include weather modelling, predicting the courses of hurricanes, and mapping the human brain.
HPC was once exclusively the domain of select institutions or organisations solving big problems. NSCC now aims to enable local organisations and students to innovate using HPC.
- join THE High-performance computing innovation challenge now! -
Challenge Statements
Enabling a Data-Centric Approach to Manage Our Environment
The technological advancement and greater accessibility of Internet of Things (IoT), networking and satellite technologies are creating new possibilities of gathering new and better-quality data at higher frequencies. We now have more capabilities to monitor important data on our built and natural environments, or track influential environmental factors. However, these new data opportunities can only be unlocked, if the data is efficiently integrated, processed and analysed to derive useful and actionable insights in a timely manner.
Examples of what you can explore
- How might we more efficiently process and analyse larger volumes of data when scaling IoT solutions across larger geographical areas?
- How might we integrate the data from different sources – businesses and/or sectors – in order to generate more accurate and timely insights?
Reducing Carbon Footprint
Singapore targets to achieve a 36% reduction in Emissions Intensity (EI) from 2005 levels by 2030. Our collective efforts to reduce our carbon footprint have to happen on all fronts, starting with as early as the planning and design stages of property developments. At the same time, we have to find opportunities in existing systems, buildings and infrastructure, and improve on their operations and maintenance.
Examples of what you can explore
- How might we help developers and builders optimise the design and the use of materials, in order to reduce the cooling requirements of the building?
- How might we help logistics operators optimise their fleets and routes taken, in order to minimise the distance travelled while still delivering goods in a timely manner?
Planning Our Urban Environment Better
HPC can be harnessed to improve the design and planning of our cities, and thus enhance the quality of life of local communities. Architects, urban planners and municipal service operators are supported by decision-making tools that allow them to navigate the complex needs of diverse populations. Further, these tools can help them analyse and even predict how communities behave and interact in their environments and the services in place, such as traffic management and utilities.
Examples of what you can explore
- How might we help urban planners better understand the demographic characteristics and movements of our population, in order to plan for changes to roads and public transportation routes?
- How might we help government agencies and businesses better estimate tidal patterns and their impact on coastal areas, so that they can plan and prepare mitigation and/or recovery plans?
Building Greater Resilience for Climate Change
Adverse weather events, worsened by climate change, will disrupt our everyday lives and business operations. HPC solutions can help simulate the numerous possibilities of future scenarios, so we can better anticipate, prepare for and respond to these events. Also, materials, designs and systems could be tested extensively in simulated environments, so that they can demonstrate their longevity in the difficult conditions, and potential issues are identified at the early stages.
Examples of what you can explore
- How might we help building owners analyse and understand the impact of adverse weather events on their building systems, so that they can better plan for upgrades to cater to future demands?
- How might we help corporate planners respond rapidly to events with global impacts and disruptions to the supply chain, in order to minimise the impact to the business?
Up next, Challenge Process
Who Should Join
Open cat
We welcome teams representing government agencies, local enterprises, and startups. We also welcome teams that are formed independently.
Student
We welcome student teams from universities, polytechnics, and ITEs located in Singapore.
The winning team will be offered internship opportunity at NSCC.
Team Requirements
As part of your application, you will be required to register a team with a minimum of 2 members and maximum of 5 members.
Only registered members will be eligible to receive trial accounts to access HPC resources, and to attend the mentor consultation and training sessions.
Your team may consist of members from the same entity, or across different entities. But must include at least one Singaporean, Singapore Permanent Resident, Singapore issued Work Pass, or Student Pass holder.
The majority of your team must be able to be physically present in Singapore to participate in the Solution Development Phase activities, Demo Day and post-challenge activities (July – September 2022).
Prizes & Opportunities
Up to 10 teams will be shortlisted to proceed to the solution development phase. Shortlisted teams may receive:
Prizes
1ST PRIZE
S$5,000
2ND PRIZE
S$2,500
3RD PRIZE
S$1,500
HPC Access
Access to one of the most powerful supercomputers in Southeast Asia, ASPIRE 2A and the Supercomputing Digital Sandbox environment that simplifies the development of HPC solutions.
Development
Mentorship and training by subject-matter experts.
Continued support and access to NSCC HPC resources post-challenge.
Timeline
Briefing Session
12 April
Learn everything there is to know about this challenge in person on 29 April (Fri) 3.00 – 5.00pm (GMT+8).
Participants attending the briefing session in-person will be able to tour Singapore’s very first national petascale facility, the ASPIRE 1 Supercomputer!
Application Deadline
29 April
The deadline for the submission will be on 29 Apr (Fri) 2359 SGT.
Shortlisting Announcement
Week of 19 July
The shortlisting of finalists will conclude by the week of 19 July.
10 finalists will be shortlisted to move to the next phase.
Solution Development Phase
25 July - 9 September
Finalists will be paired with mentors to get support and prepare for Demo Day.
Demo Day
16 September
Finalists to pitch their solutions in person.
FAQs
Who is eligible to participate in this challenge?
The challenge is open to government agencies, local enterprises, startups and students at Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). Please note that each team must include at least one Singaporean, Permanent Resident, Work Pass, or Student Pass holder. The majority of your team must be able to be physically present in Singapore to participate in the Solution Development Phase activities, Demo Day and post-challenge activities (July - September 2022).
Are overseas organisations eligible to participate?
Organisations abroad may participate by partnering with a Singapore-based organisation of their choosing. They may also participate by indicating their interest to set up a presence in Singapore in the next six months, and following through with it.
I do not have coding skills / experience. Can I still participate?
As this challenge deals with high-performance computing, a basic knowledge or background of coding and programming would be advantageous.
My team contains both students and working professionals. Which category should I enter?
As long as your team contains at least one working professional, your team would only be eligible to enter the Open Category.
What is expected as part of our application?
A complete application consists of the duly filled application form and a complete proposal deck. The proposal deck will consist of details about your team, your solution, and its underlying technology among other information. Please refer to the proposal template for more details. You may also include supporting documents in PDF format, if necessary.
Can my team submit more than one application?
Your team is welcome to submit more than one application. However, we strongly recommend that your team concentrate its efforts on delivering an excellent application based on your strongest idea. If your idea addresses more than one of our challenge statements, you are welcome to highlight that in your application.
Are there any data sets available for my team to work on the proposal now?
You may build your proposal(s) based on Open Source/ publicly available data, or even your own data sets gathered via surveys. Here are some sites that you can explore:
Smartnation Singapore Open Date Resources
Data gov.sg
[This site is no longer maintained and serves as a preview]
