The RNCA - National Network for Advanced Computing - is managed by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (FCT), with the aim of making advanced computing services available to the research, technology and innovation communities. It was created by the digital competences initiative Portugal INCoDe.2030It was created by the digital competencies initiative, through the resolution of the Council of Ministers 26/2018. It was integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Interest (RNIE) in April 2019 through Order No. 4157/2019 of the Office of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.

In accordance with internal regulations, the RNCA is organised as follows, after the formal appointment of the respective bodies:

Where,

  • "The Coordination Council is the maximum management body of the RNCA and is composed of one representative of each Operational Centre and of each Competence Centre.
  • "RNCA Manager" is responsible for the conduct of RNCA activities being accountable to the Coordination Council.
  • "The Access Committee is in charge of implementing the access to RNCA resources. It appreciates and prioritizes proposals for use by user communities, through an access policy.
  • "External Advisory Committee", which supports the FCT and RNCA bodies, advising them where necessary, on the strategic direction of the RNCA.
  • "RNCA Users' Forum", which is the body for knowledge sharing and advice from the wider RNCA user community.

Main axes of action of the RNCA

Infrastructure

The OCs provide the user community with advanced computing services as well as the respective technical support services, with a set of minimum requirements that must be met, namely in terms of technical capacity.

The CCs guarantee the user community, in a proximity logic, functions
to support the effective and efficient application of advanced computing resources, namely technical support services, information visualisation, training, advice and support to programme development.

  • Connectivity between centres

Centres connected through a dedicated high-performance network provided by the FCT-FCCN and integrated into the Science, Technology and Society Network (RCTS) - which guarantees the interconnection and Internet access of up to 100 Gbps for the teaching and research community

Infostructure

  • Management and financing

Implementation of public policies to bridge the gap between existing infrastructures that are complex and expensive to use and people, in order to promote access to high-value services and software.

To promote the adoption of standards and best practices to create interoperability and cooperation between entities

As tools to support Advanced Computing

Follow-up and implementation of the National Strategy for Advanced Computing

People

The RNCA aims to be a reference in Education and Training of People in fundamental and applied Advanced Computing Knowledge Areas.

  • Support teams

Dedicated Advanced Computing Services operators in COs and CCs with strong advanced computing skills

Promotion of events related to Advanced Computing