HPC Gateway: Accelerating AI Innovation Through Collaborative Computing

The Helmholtz Association has launched the HPC Gateway initiative, backed by an 18 million euros investment, to provide businesses with access to its high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. HPC Gateway aims to foster collaboration between research and industry, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and HPC-driven innovations. By facilitating cooperation with entrepreneurial partners, Helmholtz seeks to build a dynamic AI innovation ecosystem that extends beyond computing power.

During a one-year pilot phase in 2025, nine Helmholtz Centers will open their HPC infrastructures to businesses at eight locations. The participating Centers will not only provide computing capacity but also offer guidance on research applications, data preparation, and access to extensive datasets. In addition, a training program is planned to support both academia and industry in the effective use of HPC and AI methods.

The Helmholtz Association is investing a total of 18 million euros in HPC Gateway, supporting the following Helmholtz Centers: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Helmholtz Munich, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, and Max Delbrück Center (MDC).

For more details on this initiative, refer to the official Helmholtz press release.

How Helmholtz Imaging Supports the HPC Gateway

The Helmholtz Imaging Engineering and Support Units at DESY and MDC are actively contributing to the HPC Gateway Initiative. As one of the eight regional hubs supported by the initiative, DESY will offer HPC capacity and AI expertise to external corporate partners within a regional AI innovation ecosystem. The HI Support Unit at DESY is shaping a strategy to enhance collaboration and drive innovation. Among its plans is a commitment to fostering partnerships with small and medium-sized enterprises, exploring projects that involve large language models and other pioneering AI applications. At MDC, the HI Support Unit has successfully secured participation in the HPC Gateway initiative through a series of innovative projects:

• Multi-modal Information Retrieval for Enhanced MRI Diagnostics: In collaboration with RadioEye, this project aims to develop a vision-language-based image retrieval system to assist radiologists in diagnostic processes.
• Open Source Spatial Biology for Biomarkers: Partnering with OpenUC2, this initiative leverages AI and spatial biology techniques to advance tissue biomarker profiling.
• Multi-Modal Grass Biomass Modeling: Working with ruumi, this project integrates diverse data sources to build an AI model capable of accurately predicting grassland biomass.

Helmholtz Imaging experts refine their methodologies through industry-driven challenges, while corporate partners gain access to state-of-the-art AI research and HPC infrastructure. By working together, both sides develop practical, scalable solutions that push the boundaries of AI applications in imaging and beyond.

“Our industry partners depend on user-friendly and cost-efficient solutions. We look forward to refining our best practices for diverse image data processing workflows that leverage HPC resources for applied downstream tasks.”

Deborah Schmidt, Head of Engineering and Support Unit at MDC

HPC Gateway strengthens collaboration between research and industry, and ensures that companies can harness the power of high-performance computing and AI expertise. This initiative supports AI-driven innovation and enhances Germany’s digital transformation.