Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is proud to announce that Perth, Western Australia, has been selected to host the International High-Performance Computing Summer School on HPC Challenges in Computational Sciences (IHPCSS).
This is the first time the summer school will take place in the Southern Hemisphere since its inception in 2010.
The International HPC Summer School has been a cornerstone event in the global computational sciences calendar, alternating between North America, Europe and Japan over the past decade and a half. Starting in Sicily, Italy, in 2010, the school has travelled to renowned locations including South Lake Tahoe, Dublin, New York City, Budapest, Toronto, Ljubljana, Boulder, Ostrava, Athens, Atlanta, Kobe and most recently, Portugal.
On the significance of hosting this international event and developing HPC talent, Mark Stickells AM, CEO of Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, emphasised:
“The rapidly evolving landscape of computational science demands that we continuously invest in developing the next generation of HPC talent. By bringing IHPCSS to Perth, we’re providing our local researchers with world-class training opportunities right on their doorstep, and also positioning Perth as a global hub for computational excellence. It’s a testament to Perth’s growing reputation as a destination for cutting-edge scientific collaboration.”
The 2026 IHPCSS is expected to bring together around 100 of the world’s most talented graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from more than 20 nationalities across five continents. Over an intensive week of tutorials, workshops, mentoring, and networking, participants gain deep expertise in advanced HPC technologies and computational methods, guided by leading scientists from the world’s top supercomputing centres.
Since Australia first participated in IHPCSS in 2023, Pawsey has been an active contributor to this international initiative. The organisation has sent delegates, provided mentorship, and played a role in the school’s continued success. Hosting the 2026 school is a natural next step, reflecting Pawsey’s role as a strategic leader in global HPC education and Western Australia’s place in this international ecosystem.
“Each year, the International HPC Summer School brings together roughly 20 leading HPC experts and over 80 of the brightest early-career researchers from around the world,” said Ludovic Capelli, Education and Training Manager at Pawsey. “In just one week, participants dive into intense knowledge exchange, forge new connections, and spark collaborations that continue long after the school ends.”
The Perth program will feature keynote lectures, poster sessions, and hands-on training across major areas of computational science, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Beyond skills development, it will provide Australian researchers and institutions with direct access to global expertise, strengthening partnerships with leading HPC initiatives.
The summer school is delivered through a collaboration of major international HPC organisations, including the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) via the HPC SPECTRA project in Europe, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (Pawsey) in Australia, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC), the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS) in Japan, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and the University of Texas at Austin in the U.S., along with other organisations from South Africa (NICIS CHPC and NITheCS) and the U.K. (EPCC). (source: ss25.ihpcss.org)
Applications for the IHPCSS will open in early 2026, with further details on the program, dates, and eligibility to be announced soon.
For more information about the International HPC Summer School series, visit ihpcss.github.io.
Become a Pawsey Friend, stay tuned to Pawsey’s website and social media channels for updates as Perth prepares to welcome the global HPC community in 2026.
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About Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre: The Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre accelerates scientific discoveries, fostering innovation in Australia’s research landscape. Named after Australian scientist Dr Joseph Pawsey, a pioneering figure in radio astronomy, the Centre embodies his legacy by propelling over 4,000 researchers towards unparalleled achievements. Spanning domains like radio astronomy, energy, resources, engineering, bioinformatics, and health sciences, we’re a catalyst for innovation. Operating as an unincorporated joint venture between CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency, Curtin University, Murdoch University, and The University of Western Australia, collaboration is our driving force. Pawsey is an NCRIS facility funded by the Department of Education. The Australian Government also provided a $70 million grant for the Pawsey Capital Refresh project. Additionally, support for the Centre comes through the Western Australian Government and our partner organisations.
Ludovic Capelli Education and Training Manager
Mark Stickells AM, CEO Pawsey
