Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has been commissioned by the Leibniz Supercomputing Center (LRZ) in Germany to develop “Blue Lion,” a high-performance supercomputer set to revolutionize scientific research. Scheduled for deployment in early 2027, Blue Lion will deliver 30 times the computing power of its predecessor, SuperMUC-NG. With funding of €250 million (~$270 million USD), split between Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, the system will support disciplines ranging from astrophysics to life sciences.
The system’s innovative architecture will integrate traditional simulations with AI-driven workflows, powered by next-generation HPE Cray technology and NVIDIA accelerators. Blue Lion will employ 100% direct liquid cooling using 40°C warm water, reducing energy consumption and enabling waste heat reuse. LRZ aims to offer workshops on optimizing applications for the system starting in 2025, alongside a 50% expansion of its support team.
• Performance: Blue Lion will provide 30 times the computational power of SuperMUC-NG.
• Technology: Powered by HPE Cray technology and NVIDIA’s latest accelerators and processors, with HPE Slingshot interconnects transferring data at 400 Gbps.
• Sustainability: 100% direct liquid cooling with warm water reduces carbon emissions and operating costs while enabling heat reuse.
• Support: Workshops and European collaboration will prepare researchers to optimize applications for the system.
• Funding: €250 million (~$270 million USD) funded by Germany’s federal and Bavarian ministries.
“Procuring a new supercomputer takes work, but it’s incredibly exciting. This increases the anticipation and even more the excitement of how the scientific community will use this system to make even better progress into new realms of knowledge.” – Prof. Dieter Kranzlmüller, Head of the Leibniz Supercomputing Center
