Goal is to democratize access to high-performance technologies
Intel announced the installation of an Innovation Center in Rio de Janeiro focused on the development of innovative solutions using HPC, Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the areas of oil and gas research and cities smart. The Center is the result of a partnership between Intel and the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro and the State Government and a consequence of the cooperation agreement with the Federal Government announced in 2013.
The Innovation Center's main objective will be to provide access to High Performance Computing (HPC) technologies for companies of all sizes. In addition, it will promote state-of-the-art qualifications in HPC, essential for the exploration of the pre-salt layer, and solutions that add intelligence in the cloud to public and private services. Activities also include working with startups and direct interaction with other research centers, private companies and universities for proof of concept, incubation of new applications and development support.
The initiative is also the result of an agreement signed in February 2013 between Intel and the Federal Government, with the aim of encouraging the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) that help insert Brazil into global chains related to areas of national interest, such as energy and transport. This agreement totals an investment of R$ 300 million by the company in Brazil in research and development and innovation (RD&I), over a period of five years, and is aligned with the Strategic Program for Software and Information Technology Services (TI Maior), of the Government Federal, which aims to increase ICT activities in the country.
“The idea is to democratize the access of Brazilian companies to high-performance computing. We believe that this can be a fundamental factor for the development of the country's economy”, highlights Fernando Martins, executive director of Strategy and Innovation at Intel Brazil.
The choice of Rio de Janeiro
The choice of Rio de Janeiro as the headquarters of the Innovation Center was influenced by the strong presence, in the state, of companies in the oil and gas segment, which make constant use of High Performance Computing technologies. “Rio de Janeiro is a natural bet for the target technologies of HPC, Big Data and Internet of Things, as it has one of the largest computing and communication infrastructures in the country, and a local ecosystem of developers”, says Max Leite , Innovation Director at Intel in Brazil “In addition, challenges such as hosting the 2016 Olympics demand new solutions to present a smart city”, he adds.
The Center, which will be installed in an area with the most advanced technological resources in Rio, will offer state-of-the-art hardware and software systems, with state-of-the-art processors and software developed by Intel Labs. The space will have three areas: one dedicated to systems for use by companies in Proofs of Concept (PoCs) and Pilot Projects; another for the development of projects at universities and research centers supported by Intel in the country; and a third to incubate startups and foster the emergence of new products or services for the Brazilian market via entrepreneurship.
The initial hosting of the Innovation Center will be in charge of the services company AMT, which houses a Data Center in the place where the Center will be installed. With more than 20 years of experience in the local market, AMT offers IT infrastructure as services, with a focus on cloud computing. The alliance with a national company will allow the transfer of technology in the establishment of a knowledge center and training of services in HPC and Big Data.
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