How International Collaboration is Accelerating Discovery
In an increasingly interconnected world, scientific breakthroughs no longer recognize national boundaries. At the forefront of this international research revolution stands RIKEN, Japan's premier research institution, which has been pioneering groundbreaking global collaborations that are accelerating the pace of discovery across multiple disciplines.
From climate science to biomedical research, RIKEN's partnerships with institutions worldwide are creating a new paradigm for how science is conducted.
This approach leverages diverse expertise, shares unprecedented computational resources, and addresses challenges that no single nation can solve alone.
RIKEN has embarked on an ambitious strategy to establish transformative partnerships with research institutions across the globe. This international approach represents a significant shift from traditionally insular research models to one that embraces open collaboration as essential for tackling humanity's most pressing challenges.
"We stand at a crossroads where cutting-edge technologies have the potential to both trigger the downfall of our society or to bring about a paradigm shift toward more positive growth."
The institution's collaborative framework now encompasses partnerships with leading organizations worldwide, including a recent memorandum of understanding with the University of Tokyo and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research to establish scientific research infrastructure contributing to "the maintenance of global commons" 5 .
At the center of RIKEN's international collaborations lies Fugaku, one of the world's most powerful exascale supercomputers. Developed jointly by RIKEN and Fujitsu, this computational behemoth represents the culmination of years of advancement in supercomputing technology.
Fugaku's brilliance lies in its innovative ARM-based processor design and unprecedented scalability. The system achieved the top position in multiple supercomputing performance benchmarks simultaneously.
Fugaku excels in computational speed, big data processing, and artificial intelligence workloads—a testament to its remarkable versatility across different scientific domains 1 .
| Parameter | Specification | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Cores | 7,630,848 cores | Enables simulation of incredibly complex phenomena |
| Peak Performance | 537 petaflops (theoretical) | Capable of performing 537 quadrillion calculations per second |
| Architecture | ARM-based A64FX processor | Innovative design offering exceptional energy efficiency |
| Memory Capacity | 4.85 petabytes | Can process massive datasets without external storage |
| Ranking | Former #1 in TOP500 (now #2) | Among the world's most powerful supercomputers |
The HANAMI project (Hpc AlliaNce for Applications and supercoMputing Innovation) represents a landmark achievement in international computational science. Funded by the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), this ambitious initiative brings together researchers from Europe and Japan to tackle pressing global challenges through shared computational resources 1 .
European research teams submit detailed proposals outlining their scientific objectives, computational requirements, and expected outcomes.
Approved research teams receive specialized training in Fugaku's architecture and programming models through virtual workshops.
Researchers establish secure data transfer protocols between their home institutions and RIKEN's facility in Kobe, Japan.
European researchers remotely submit and monitor their computational jobs on Fugaku, leveraging its massive parallel processing capabilities.
The research teams analyze their results in collaboration with Japanese counterparts, facilitating cross-pollination of ideas.
One particularly compelling application of the HANAMI collaboration has been in high-resolution climate modeling. European climate scientists from the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC) partnered with RIKEN researchers to run simulations on Fugaku that achieved unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution in modeling atmospheric phenomena 8 .
| Research Metric | Pre-HANAMI Capability | With Fugaku Access | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spatial Resolution | 10-50 kilometers | 1 kilometer | Enables direct simulation of atmospheric convection |
| Temporal Scope | 100-200 simulated years | 500+ simulated years | Provides better statistical significance for climate trends |
| Parameterization Complexity | Simplified physical processes | Comprehensive physics inclusion | Reduces model uncertainty and improves accuracy |
| Energy Efficiency | High carbon footprint | Optimized for ARM efficiency | More environmentally sustainable computational science |
Modern computational science relies on a sophisticated ecosystem of software tools, frameworks, and libraries that enable researchers to effectively leverage supercomputing resources like Fugaku. The HANAMI project has accelerated development and refinement of several key computational reagents that are essential for cutting-edge research 8 .
| Tool Name | Type | Function | Application in HANAMI |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAPTOR | Performance analysis framework | Identifies computational bottlenecks in parallel code | Optimizing climate model performance on Fugaku's architecture |
| TADASHI | Programming model | Simplifies development for heterogeneous computing systems | Enabling European researchers to efficiently target Fugaku's ARM processors |
| Hatchling! | Multimodal Communication Protocol (MCP) | Enables AI agents to interact with complex scientific software | Unifying Boolean network modeling and agent-based modeling for biological simulations |
| SCALE | Climate modeling framework | Provides advanced numerical methods for atmospheric simulation | Incorporating Japanese modeling expertise into European research workflows |
| MABoSS | Boolean network simulator | Models biological signaling pathways and cellular decision processes | Understanding complex biological systems through parallel computation |
"This workshop has been the perfect occasion to share challenges and ideas and create stronger bonds between Japanese and European researchers. New collaborations and new tools will stem from this event."
Beyond the technical achievements, the HANAMI project represents a groundbreaking democratization of computational resources. By providing European researchers with access to Fugaku—a resource that would otherwise be inaccessible due to both geographical and financial constraints—RIKEN is helping to level the playing field in computational science 1 .
This access model is particularly valuable for early-career researchers who might not otherwise have opportunities to work with world-class computational infrastructure.
Through programs like RIKEN's Early Career Leaders (ECL) Program, the institution is investing in both current scientific progress and future research leadership 2 .
By combining resource access with talent development, RIKEN is helping to create a more inclusive and collaborative international research community. The program actively encourages applications from female researchers through the Sechi Kato Program, which provides additional research funding of up to 10 million yen per fiscal year 2 .
RIKEN's leadership in international scientific collaboration extends beyond the HANAMI project and Fugaku supercomputer. The institution has embarked on a comprehensive strategy to deepen its global engagement through multiple channels 5 .
RIKEN leadership held significant meetings with technology pioneers including NVIDIA and AMD to discuss potential collaborations 5 .
RIKEN has implemented a new organizational structure based on research domains to better facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration 5 .
RIKEN is working on development of the next-generation computing platform Fugaku NEXT and fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8-II 5 .
The TRIP initiative (Transformative Research Innovation Platform of RIKEN platforms) encourages collaboration across domains by bolstering data-driven approaches. The concept of TRIP has already permeated throughout RIKEN, as the accomplishments of data analysis and computational science utilizing AI and quantum computers are put to use in myriad research domains 5 .
RIKEN's innovative approach to international collaboration—exemplified by the HANAMI project and its sharing of the Fugaku supercomputer—represents a transformative shift in how scientific research is conducted. By opening access to world-class computational resources and actively fostering partnerships across disciplines and borders, RIKEN is helping to create a new paradigm for scientific progress that is more open, collaborative, and effective at addressing complex global challenges.
"It is crystal clear that the 2030s, which will begin during this Mid- to Long-Term Plan period, will be an extremely critical era for all of humanity. We must assess what preparations need to be made now to get our society on track for healthy growth in this new decade."
Through initiatives like HANAMI, RIKEN is not only advancing specific scientific domains but also helping to build the international collaborative frameworks that will be essential for addressing future challenges.
By combining world-class infrastructure with open access policies, talent development programs, and strategic partnerships across sectors, RIKEN is creating a blueprint for how research institutions can maximize their impact.