The Future of Innovation Powered by Big Compute

Joris Poort, CEO of Rescale, addressed the Big Compute 20 conference, emphasizing the potential of big compute to drive significant advances in applied sciences, such as supersonic jets, personalized medicine, and sustainable energy solutions. He highlighted the disparity between rapid digital innovation and slower progress in physical innovation, attributing this to challenges such as regulation, monetization cycles, and the necessity for specialized hardware. Poort stressed that while human intellect and data are abundant, the real bottleneck lies in computational capabilities, especially for complex, interconnected tasks central to applied sciences. He recounted his experience with the 787 Dreamliner project, illustrating how overcoming computational barriers can lead to substantial innovations. Poort called for a restructuring of the technology stack to better support engineers and scientists, advocating for a software-defined approach to computation that democratizes access and aligns infrastructure with specific scientific and engineering needs. He concluded by urging a collective effort and courage to rethink and develop this ecosystem, enabling breakthroughs in critical areas like aerospace, energy, and healthcare.