High-Performance Computing for Industry

HLRS maintains multiple high-performance computing systems that are optimized for simulation, visualization, and artificial intelligence and data analytics, including machine learning and deep learning. To learn more about the full range of our resources, expertise, and offerings, please visit our page Solutions.

Companies both large and small use HLRS's supercomputing resources. These include globally recognized corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for whom access to HPC solutions can promote innovation and competitiveness.

Many of HLRS's industrial users are active in fields related to computational engineering. However, we are always interested in exploring fields in which simulation, artificial intelligence, and visualization can open opportunities for new kinds of products and solutions.

Past users of our systems have come from high-tech engineering sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing, as well as from architecture and the media arts, among others.

Use of HLRS's computing systems can be surprisingly affordable, particularly considering the fact that we offer companies the opportunity to gain access to large-scale, state-of-the-art computing resources on an as-needed basis. Using HLRS's systems can also dramatically accelerate industrial research and development, reducing development costs, enabling the creation of higher-quality products, and improving speed to market.

For more information about pricing please contact us at industrie(at)hlrs.de. After discussing your project with you, we can provide a cost estimate based on your needs.

As a national high-performance computing center, our emphasis is on supporting large-scale computational projects that are not practical using smaller computing systems. This does not mean, however, that all users of our supercomputer need access to the entire system. Paid access projects should not be so small that the amount of overhead to manage them exceeds the cost, but we are glad to disuss your needs and to help determine whether HLRS resources offer the best solution for addressing them.

When you sign a contract for computing time at HLRS, it will include an estimate of the the size of your project.

Access to HLRS resources for an industrial user can be granted quickly. After contacting us with a request for use of HLRS's computing resources, you will receive a contract for computing time. As soon as the contract is signed and returned to HLRS, we can create user logins and an accounting code for your project.

HLRS systems support a wide range of software for simulation, visualization, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Visit Software to find links to specific information about the application packages that HLRS makes available.

Licenses for ISV application packages

As a public institution, HLRS is unfortunately not able to maintain licenses for industrial users interested in using commercial software packages. Private sector users interested in utilizing such software need to secure access independently. Licenses can be hosted by the user, by the software vendor, or by HLRS. We recommend talking with HLRS staff about the software you require and discussing a plan for securing necessary licenses before signing a contract for computing time.

Open source software

HLRS can provide users access to and assistance in using many commonly used open source application software packages in the area of high-performance computer simulations for science and engineering. We have also developed powerful software for immersive, 3D data visualization, and support the most popular frameworks for machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Custom software

For users developing their own codes, we also offer software development tools, compilers, and libraries that make it possible to run algorithms on our systems. These include integrated development environments, MPI, communication libraries, debuggers, tools for performance analysis, compilers, numerical libraries, visualization tools, and storage formats.

As a long-time supporter of industrial research on its systems, HLRS is familiar with the needs within private industry to protect proprietary data. We have formalized this commitment by completing formal independent review and certification processes for information security.

HLRS is certified under the ISO 27001 standard, confirming that we have implemented a comprehensive information security management system (ISMS). The ISMS details technical and organizational measures HLRS has taken to identify, prevent, and respond to threats to the security of the data it stores. This includes protecting its high-performance computing systems from unauthorized access and usage. The scope of the ISMS contains the provision of computing time on HLRS’s high-performance computers as well as the supporting processes for operating the production environment. For verification, search for certificate number 44121222839 in the TüV Nord Certificate Database.

The University of Stuttgart was also registered on behalf of the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) as a participant in the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX). Governed by the ENX Association on behalf of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), TISAX prescribes a standardized set of strict requirements for the management of data centers that are intended to protect data confidentiality, data integrity, and data availability. Following registration with TISAX, HLRS's data security practices were assessed by an independent, accredited audit provider. Results are available on the ENX Portal.

For more than a decade, sustainability has been a key focus at HLRS. We have developed comprehensive environmental management and energy management plans that have been formally certified under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), the world's most demanding framework for environmental management. See Sustainability & Environment for more information.