Region-specific guidelines to encourage SMEs to use high performance computing
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-02-2021-0032 |
| Published date | 05 July 2021 |
| Date | 05 July 2021 |
| Pages | 513-524 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy |
| Author | Sergio Botelho Junior,Bill O’Gorman |
Region-specific guidelines to encourage
SMEs to use high performance computing
Sergio Botelho Junior and Bill O’Gorman
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to explore high performance computing (HPC) in the context of the South
East region of Ireland, which hosts a publicly available HPC infrastructure, by identifying whether
companies, especiallysmall and medium enterprises (SMEs), are using,or are prepared to use, HPC to
improve their business processes, expansion and sustainability. The result of the analysis provides
region-specific guidelines that are meant to improve the HPC landscape in the region. The lessons
learnedfrom this research may apply to other similar,and developing, European regions.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper explores the use of HPC in the contextof the South East
region of Ireland and examines whether companies, especially SMEs, are benefiting from the use of
publicly availableHPC infrastructure in the region. Thispaper also provides a set of recommendations,of
a policy nature, and required actions to increase HPC usage, based on the reality of the region.
Therefore, the first stepin the process was to understand the HPC landscape in the South East region of
Ireland. Interviews were conducted with higher education institute (HEI)staff who were knowledgeable
about the HPC infrastructure of their institutes and also about whether collaboration between the HEIs
and businesses from the same region exists. The interview findings allowed the proposal of region-
specific guidelines to improvethe HPC landscape and collaboration in the region. The guidelines were
analysed and refined in a focus group with key regional stakeholders from academia, industry and
government,who have experience and expertise in high-technologytransfer processes happening in the
region.
Findings –The findings of the currentstudy strongly suggest that HPC usage by SMEs in the South East
region of Ireland is stillincipient; and that HPC knowledge is currently inadequatelytransferred from the
HEI hosting the HPC infrastructure to public and private sector organisations based in the region. The
findings also demonstratethat there are no courses or training programmes availablededicated to HPC
and that the level of collaboration between the HEI hosting the HPC infrastructure and industry in the
region is minimal as regardsHPC usage and projects. Therefore, there is a need to put specifictargeted
policies and actions, both from a regional government and HEI perspectives, in place to encourage
SMEs to optimisetheir processes by using HPC.
Originality/value –This researchis unique as it provides customised region-specificrecommendations
(RSR) and feasible actionsto encourage industry, especially SMEs, to useHPC and collaborate around
it. The literature review identified that thereis a lack of studies that can inform policymakers to include
HPC in their innovation agenda. Previous research studies specifically focussing on HPC policies are
even more scarce. Most of the existingresearch pertaining to HPC focusses on the technical aspect of
HPC; therefore, this researchand paper bring a new dimension to existing HPC research. Even though
this research was focussedon the South East of Ireland region, the modelthat generated the RSRs can
be extrapolated and appliedto other regions that need to develop their HPC landscape and the use of
HPC among SMEsin their respective regions.
Keywords Public policy, Regional development, HPC
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
High performance computing (HPC) is becoming imperative for innovation in many types of
businesses, especially those that deal with large amounts of data or need speed for their
information communication technology (ICT) applications. However, scientific literature
Sergio Botelho Junior is
based at the Centre for
Enterprise Development
and Regional Economy,
Waterford Institute of
Technology, Waterford,
Ireland. Bill O’Gorman is
based at the Centre for
Enterprise Development
and Regional Economy
(CEDRE), Waterford
Institute of Technology,
Waterford, Ireland.
Received 4 February 2021
Revised 13 April 2021
Accepted 11 May 2021
This paper forms part of a
special section “The power of
High-performance computing
infrastructure for small and
medium sized enterprises”,
guest edited by Nadja Damij,
Markus Abel, Bill O’Gorman
and Sergio Botelho Junior.
Funding: Project Title: Enabling
SMEs to gain competitive
advantage from theuse of HPC –
SME/HPC. Projectreference:
588372-EPP-1-2017-1-IE-
EPPKA2-KA. Grant Agreement:
2017-2635/001-001.
DOI 10.1108/DPRG-02-2021-0032 VOL. 24 NO. 6 2022, pp. 513-524, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jPAGE 513
To continue reading
Request your trial