Owen Thomas from Red Oak Consulting says that high-performance computing (HPC) is becoming the silent force underpinning modern society. Here, he explains more
As society’s reliance on data deepens daily, the ability to process vast amounts of information quickly is crucial. However, as demand explodes, so does the requirement to manage complex data flows.
In my view, high-performance computing (HPC) is becoming the silent force underpinning modern society, more of which I will explain here.
The sheer volume of data being generated today is unprecedented. Between now and 2028, global data creation is set to explode to more than 394 zettabytes. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services rely on computational power to drive decision-making, underpin lifesaving research, optimise processes and develop new products. Without the ability to process, analyse and store this data efficiently, there is no doubt that industries could stagnate. Add AI into the mix, and you can see where all this is going.
Corporations like Meta and Microsoft are investing in AI infrastructure in response to modern data demands. Meta is seeking $35 billion in funding, and Microsoft is committing over $80 billion to data centre expansion. The global shift to AI-driven industries, autonomous systems and real-time analytics, is pushing demand for HPC to unprecedented levels.
High-performance computing applications
HPC is proving indispensable in myriad industries, from automotive to retail. Car manufacturers now rely on HPC to run complex simulations for crash testing, aerodynamics, and electric vehicle battery efficiency, reducing R&D time and cost of development. In financial services, HPC is used for algorithmic trading, fraud detection, and risk modelling, helping firms respond to market fluctuations in milliseconds.
Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical sector is harnessing HPC to fast-track drug discovery, allowing researchers to model molecular interactions at an accelerated pace, significantly reducing the time it takes to develop new treatments. In fact, no industry is far from HPC, including the logistics giants that use real-time data analytics powered by HPC to optimise supply chains and improve efficiency and response to rapidly changing consumer patterns or behaviour.
Investing heavily in HPC infrastructure
But it’s not just in the commercial sector where all this is happening. Governments and defence agencies are also investing heavily in HPC infrastructure. National security depends on rapidly analysing vast datasets for threat detection, cyber defence, and intelligence gathering.
Predictive modelling powered by HPC is being used to anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change, providing vital insights into extreme weather patterns and disaster response strategies. In public health, advanced epidemiological models rely on HPC to predict the spread of diseases and optimise healthcare responses, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, while the private sector surges ahead, many industries face a critical challenge: how to implement HPC efficiently without vast in-house expertise. Businesses that have traditionally relied on conventional IT infrastructure now find themselves needing to transition to high-performance environments yet lack the internal skillset or resources to do so effectively.
As industries and institutions continue to adapt to an increasingly data-driven, data-hungry future, those which embrace HPC will lead the way in innovation and efficiency. The ability to process and analyse vast datasets is a fundamental requirement for progress.
Businesses and governments that embrace this shift will lead the next wave of progress, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly data-centric world.
