Ranked 7 in China, Chongqing Strives to be a National Hub Node for Integrated Computing

Chongqing- Chongqing is accelerating the construction of a national hub node for an integrated computing power network, with the planned computing power exceeding 1200 petaflops, according to the Chongqing Big Data Application and Development Administration in April. 

Advanced computing is included in the digital industry focus in the planning layout. And Chongqing has moved toward the strategy of channeling more computing resources from the eastern areas to the less developed western regions. 

Digital transformation

Digital industrialization and industrial digitalization are essential features and directions of future industrial development. And big data industry is a fundamental part of the digitalization process. 

This year, the Chengdu-Chongqing region started the construction of a national hub node for an integrated computing power network. 

The national strategy stresses the energy advantages of both regions to develop high-density, energy-efficient, and low-carbon data center clusters. 

This calls for the quality data supply and expanding arithmetic power growth space to realize the coordination and sustainability of large-scale arithmetic power deployment and resources such as land, energy, water, and electricity. 

Ranking seventh in digital transformation capacity in the country, Chongqing has a support capacity of 90,000 racks and 450,000 servers until now. (iChongqing/ Chen Zhan)

Ranking seventh in digital transformation capacity in the country, Chongqing has a supporting capacity of 90,000 racks and 450,000 servers until now, with an average annual growth rate of 45%. 

"We are connecting the underlying data of multiple departments, building integrated platforms, and creating clusters integrating residence, industries, travel, amusement, and shopping, to provide convenience for residents and improve urban management efficiency," said an official in charge.

Major projects 

Chongqing endeavors to map out the major projects on computing power centers and the advanced data center of the Western (Chongqing) Science City is one example under construction. 

With a total investment of no less than 2 billion yuan, the project will build and install 144 ultra-high-density liquid-cooled racks and 208 air-cooled racks.

Once completed, it will confer 9,720 general computing nodes and 1,800 intelligent computing nodes, containing 723,000 domestic high-performance X86 processor cores and 1,760 domestic high-performance computing acceleration cards. 

Western (Chongqing) Science City. (iChongqing file photo)

Besides, Chongqing has actively introduced more than 20 upstream and downstream enterprises. As firms have clustered together in Chongqing, it has become a more powerful computing network region in the country. 

For example, the tech firm Minivision has officially landed its west headquarters in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, which will primarily help construct an "urban brain" in such areas.

Furthermore, the administration is working with prestigious universities and leading enterprises to establish the Chongqing advanced computing research institute. 

Technological innovation, talent training, and industrial applications will be carried out there, with a computing power network ecosystem on the way.