In the context of the INVEST European University Alliance, a delegation from the University of Thessaly (UTH) recently visited the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) for a series of strategic meetings aimed at advancing key digital infrastructures of the alliance.
The visit centered on defining the functional specifications of the upcoming Centre of Excellence web infrastructure, which will serve as a flagship digital hub for research, innovation, and academic collaboration across the INVEST alliance. Members from both institutions worked closely to align the vision, priorities, and user needs for this important platform, ensuring it supports cross-border academic cooperation and excellence.
A highlight of the visit was the guided tour of the ROMEO Regional Computing Centre, one of the most advanced high-performance computing (HPC) facilities in France. Hosted by URCA and supported by the Conseil Régional since 2002, the ROMEO Centre provides powerful computing resources, secure data storage, specialized software, and scientific expertise in disciplines such as applied mathematics, physics, biophysics, and chemistry. The ROMEO supercomputer, ranked 151st globally in the TOP500 and 5th in the Green500 at launch, offers 254.9 TFlops of computational power while maintaining remarkable energy efficiency.
The visit concluded with a discussion on launching a potential “Quantum Horizons School”, a seasonal initiative (e.g., summer or winter school) focused on Quantum Computing Emulation and Applied HPC, aiming to bring together students and researchers from across the alliance to explore this emerging field using real-world infrastructure and simulated environments.
This visit marks a significant step forward in the digital and research collaboration between UTH and URCA and exemplifies the strength of the INVEST alliance in connecting regional expertise to shape Europe’s academic future.
