As a LuxProvide expert, Alban Rousset has debuted his High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Femto-CNRS in France. This foundational academic background laid the groundwork for these diverse roles across various fields and research institutions. Most recently, he was part of the XDEM group at the University of Luxembourg, focusing on optimizing and parallelizing Discrete Element Methods software to understand the behavior of granular media. Alban Rousset brings a wealth of experience to the table. In our conversation with him, we delved into his role and his vision for LuxProvide’s impact on shaping the Luxembourg ecosystem. 

My journey at LuxProvide 

“At LuxProvide, my journey began just over three years ago when I joined the team as the first Solution Engineer. Back then, LuxProvide was in its startup stage, and the atmosphere was charged with the excitement of building something from the ground up. My role encompassed a wide range of tasks, from identifying potential use cases for our supercomputing capabilities to exploring the full capacity of our machines. It was a period of experimentation and research, as we sought to understand not only the capabilities of our technology, but also its optimal alignment with the needs of the local ecosystem. 

As LuxProvide began to establish itself and its offerings, my role naturally shifted towards a focus on business development. I found myself delving deeper into understanding the ecosystem in which we operated, forging connections, and bridging the gap between traditional computing and supercomputing. This phase also involved a significant emphasis on training to be recognized as a gateway of HPC knowledge, driving greater adoption and innovation. 

Currently, I serve as a Scientific Advisor within the Solution and Integration team. My responsibilities encompass a range of tasks, including providing training and support to users, helping them understand the infrastructure and how to harness the power of MeluXina. Additionally, collaboration with users to design tailored-made solutions  is key to guide them through the whole process and facilitate knowledge transfer. Ultimately, our goal is to empower users to become increasingly autonomous in utilizing supercomputing, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and innovation.” 

“Simplifying complex concepts through analogies” 

“I'm passionate about simplifying complex concepts and making them accessible to all. I firmly believe that everyone can grasp scientific principles through analogies. For instance, understanding what an HPC infrastructure is, and its inherent principles might seem rough at first glance. However, if you change your view to look at it like a highway, it becomes surprisingly simple. Just like a highway facilitates multiple vehicles traveling from point A to B using parallelism, HPC operates on the same principle to handle data and computing tasks. 

One of my personal missions throughout my journey has been to make supercomputing as accessible and user-friendly as possible, akin to navigating a simple Internet page. It's a challenging task, as it requires managing and hiding complexity while making the user experience effortless. However, the level of simplification is satisfactory and LuxProvide's experts continue to achieve this purpose. 

By facilitating understanding and adoption of supercomputing into everyday applications, we're building a positive feedback loop that enriches both individuals and the broader community.” 

 Classic computing and supercomputing 

“There's a gap between traditional computing, which is ubiquitous in today's companies, and supercomputing. Many people perceive supercomputing as inaccessible, assuming it’s only reserved for highly specific and complex tasks. 

On the other hand, in everyday life, almost everyone benefits from the power of supercomputers, especially through mobile & AI applications. MeluXina's impact highlights the longstanding presence of these machines, previously limited to a niche group of experts with advanced knowledge in the field. However, software technology has evolved, democratizing these infrastructures, expanding their accessibility. Our purpose is to continue popularizing and simplifying supercomputing to make it more user friendly. Without the help of supercomputers, competing with other companies on a European or international level is virtually impossible.” 

Transform digital innovation 

“LuxProvide is one of the pillars of the Luxembourgish ecosystem for digital innovation. It’s a state-of-the-art infrastructure along with a team of experts possessing high sets of knowledge and experience.  

We embrace collaboration across various sectors, from research to private enterprise to foster companies' research efforts and competitiveness leveraging MeluXina’s computing capabilities. 

Our goal is to serve as a strategic partner for organizations and research institutions, offering support, expertise and cutting-edge infrastructure to shape the future of digital solutions and innovation. 

LuxProvide is the go-to partner for unlocking previously untapped potential within companies and further improving their competitiveness. This is especially significant in light of recent AI advancements. Whether it’s for companies or research institutes, sensitive data is paramount. It’s unthinkable to send data anywhere on the Internet or on any cloud provider. LuxProvide steps in with Private AI to meet this need and maintains data in Luxembourg. 

As a EuroHPC member, LuxProvide is a catalyst of digital projects at local but also at European level. We tend to extend our impact at an international level to develop more collaboration and have access to more technologies.”