Shanghai Jiao Tong Wins ASC25 Supercomputer Challenge, Peking U Takes Silver

The finals of the ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge (ASC25) recently concluded at Qinghai University in Xining, China, marking a significant milestone in the global supercomputing community. Over 300 university teams from across the world initially registered for the competition, but only 25 finalists advanced to the final round. This event, held at the highest geographical altitude in the history of ASC competitions, featured intense and rigorous challenges that required exceptional skill and innovation from the participants. During the five-day competition, the 25 teams were tasked with designing and deploying small-scale supercomputing clusters, adhering to a strict 4,000-watt power consumption limit. The challenges included running and optimizing internationally recognized benchmarks like HPL and HPCG, as well as applying performance optimization strategies to advanced scientific and engineering applications. These applications ranged from accelerating AlphaFold3 inference and detecting RNA 5-methylcytosine modification sites to optimizing DeepSeek inference and simulating cosmic neutrino detection. Each team also had to present their work in English to a panel of more than ten internationally acclaimed experts in high-performance computing (HPC) and scientific applications. The competition highlighted the exceptional capabilities of the participants, with the team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University clinching the overall championship. They excelled in multiple tasks, notably in AlphaFold3 inference optimization, DeepSeek inference, and cosmic neutrino detection simulation. Their success demonstrated a profound understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), HPC systems, and interdisciplinary scientific applications, along with superior optimization skills. Peking University's team secured the silver prize, showcasing outstanding results in RNA 5-methylcytosine modification site detection and DeepSeek optimization. One of the most critical tasks in the competition was the e Prize Challenge, which focused on AlphaFold3 inference optimization. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University team tackled this challenge by implementing a series of system-level and algorithmic optimizations. These included framework migration, refining matrix algorithms, task decomposition, parallel computing strategies, and communication acceleration. Their efforts led to efficient multi-node inference of AlphaFold3 on a general-purpose CPU-based cluster, earning them the prestigious e Prize. Another noteworthy aspect of the finals was the Group Competition, where the 25 finalist teams were randomly divided into five groups to collaborate on the numerical simulation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau climate. A group comprising students from Sun Yat-sen University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Fuzhou University, and National Taiwan University stood out with their exceptional coordination and inter-institutional collaboration. Their joint efforts resulted in the highest score in this challenge, garnering them the Group Competition Award. Other notable achievements include the Application Innovation Awards, given to teams from Zhejiang University, Fuzhou University, and Qilu University of Technology for their innovative problem-solving in specific competition tasks. These awards highlight the diversity and depth of talent among the participants and underscore the competition's emphasis on fostering creativity and ingenuity. Industry insiders and academic leaders alike have praised the ASC25 for its ability to connect students, mentors, and industry professionals from around the globe. Jack Dongarra, Chair of the ASC Advisory Committee and a Turing Award recipient, emphasized that the ASC is more than just a competition; it is a platform for igniting new possibilities through the convergence of knowledge, creativity, and cutting-edge technologies. He added that the participants' enthusiasm for emerging technologies, their courage to tackle complex challenges, and their spirit of cross-border collaboration are essential drivers of innovation and personal growth. President Shi Yuanchun of Qinghai University highlighted the university's commitment to advancing computational science and technology. By hosting the ASC25 finals, Qinghai University demonstrated its vibrant, rigorous, and forward-thinking approach to education and research. Shi Yuanchun expressed the university's intention to continue collaborating with global partners to address major scientific challenges and drive innovation in supercomputing technologies, particularly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The ASC Student Supercomputer Challenge, launched in 2012, has grown to become the largest university-level supercomputing competition globally. It attracts tens of thousands of students from six continents and is supported by experts and institutions from Asia, Europe, and America. The competition's goal is to elevate the application and research and development (R&D) capabilities in supercomputing, harness its technological potential, and foster innovation across various fields. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Peking University's triumphs in the ASC25 reflect the growing expertise of Chinese universities in HPC and AI. The competition not only tested the technical prowess of the participants but also their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. The ASC25 provided a unique opportunity for students to engage with real-world scientific and engineering problems, preparing them for future careers in technology and research. As the field of supercomputing continues to evolve, events like ASC25 play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers. The ASC25 finals at Qinghai University set a new standard for student supercomputing competitions, emphasizing the importance of power efficiency, application performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. With such a strong foundation and continued support from global partners, ASC is poised to remain a leading platform for supercomputing education and innovation. For more information on the ASC and its impactful endeavors.