KAUST colleagues recently came together to celebrate the teams and individuals whose expertise, determination, and collaboration helped bring Shaheen III GPU to life, marking a major milestone for the University and its research ambitions.
Delivering one of the world’s most advanced supercomputers has required far more than technical expertise. From navigating complex regulatory requirements to developing new processes and infrastructure, the Shaheen III GPU project brought together colleagues from across KAUST, working alongside technology partners HPE and NVIDIA.
At a special recognition event, KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne AC paid tribute to the extraordinary collective effort involved in delivering the system and completing its compliance program.
He highlighted the resilience and determination of those involved, describing Shaheen III as an essential capability for advancing scientific discovery, attracting talent and supporting innovation in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Professor Pierre Magistretti, KAUST Senior Vice President for Research, echoed this appreciation, emphasizing the often unseen contributions of those who make scientific advances possible.
“Research excellence does not begin with the paper, when a paper is published, or a breakthrough is announced. It begins much earlier,” he said, recognizing the people who design, deploy, test, support, and operate the systems on which modern research depends.
The event also heard from Samer Samman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who thanked colleagues for their professionalism and commitment, and from Mohamed Abdel-Aal, Associate Vice President, Digital Innovation, and Saber Feki, Research Computing Core Lab Director, who reflected on the project’s journey and the many teams involved.
Their contributions highlighted the scale of collaboration across the Supercomputing Core Lab (KSL), Information Technology, Information Security, Legal, Procurement, Finance, HR, GBC, and other university functions, as well as the dedication required to overcome challenges along the way.
From collective achievement to scientific opportunity
With Shaheen III GPU now available to support research, attention is turning to what the KAUST research community can achieve with its capabilities.
During Saudi HPC/AI conference held at KAUST, early successful projects on Shaheen III GPU were presented including Professor Bernard Ghanem’s work using AI to accelerate materials discovery and Professor Matteo Parsani’s simulations exploring the impact of future urban air mobility on noise levels. At the recognition event, Saber Feki highlighted these two examples of research already benefiting from Shaheen III GPU.
These early examples demonstrate how advanced computing can help researchers tackle increasingly complex questions, accelerate scientific discovery, and explore possibilities that were previously beyond reach.
As Sir Edward reminded those attending, Shaheen III’s true value will ultimately be measured by the discoveries it enables, the people it empowers and the benefits it brings to society.
The recognition event celebrated the people who made Shaheen III-GPU possible. Its next chapter belongs to the researchers who will put that capability to work.
Curious how Shaheen III-GPU could support your research?
Contact the Supercomputing Core Labs team at gpuhelp@hpc.kaust.edu.sa for support, guidance, or any questions related to Shaheen III GPUs and associated computing resources.
Join the Coffee with the Supercomputing Lab, held on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Open to faculty, researchers, and students, these sessions provide an opportunity to engage with the KAUST Supercomputing Lab (KSL) and the broader Shaheen III team, including IT, Information Security, and Legal.
Bring your questions, seek support, and share feedback on proposal submissions, Shaheen III GPU access, and the use of KAUST’s supercomputing resources.
