The mission of the Computing Research Institute (CRI) is to facilitate multidisciplinary research in high-performance computing (HPC) at Purdue. As of January 2007, CRI has joined the Cyber Center, representing the Center's high-end computing branch.

Building the Third Pillar of Science:
HPC at Purdue has two complementary roles. Advanced science and engineering is based, to a growing degree, on the "third pillar of science". That is, computational simulation complements research and development that is driven by theoretical studies and real experiments. Through computer simulation, theories can be explored and experiments can be conducted that were unthinkable just a few years ago. HPC research develops the technology that realizes such simulations - climate change predictions, molecular simulations for drug design, exploration of new theories of physics particles in search of the building blocks of matter, to name just a few. Multidisciplinary projects are essential for keeping Purdue at these forefronts. New models of science applications and new algorithms for their computer-based exploration need to be developed. Advanced computer languages, compilers, and operating systems are needed to implement and support these simulations. New computer architectures must be found to respond to the insatiable demand for ever higher compute power. Complementing these research goals, computer facilities must be made accessible, capable of executing the simulations effectively. To acquire and maintain such facilities, CRI works closely with ITaP's Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC).

Pushing the Forefront of Information Technology:
HPC also represents the forefront of information technology in general. HPC drives this ubiquitous technology, which permeates almost every part of our lives, today. An example of that forefront position is the recent development of multicore processors, which some consider "one of the biggest disruptions information technology has seen." Multicore processors are the computer industry's response to the fact that the clock speed (the computer's MHz rate) has reached upper limits. In the future, computer programs will get faster not because the clock speed increases further, but because multiple processors execute the programs in parallel. Such parallel processing has been at the core of HPC for over two decades and is now rapidly becoming mainstream information technology.

How CRI will Help:
CRI will help facilitate HPC research in several ways. HPC community activities will help exchange information about needs and opportunities for multidisciplinary projects among Purdue researchers. CRI will also monitor funding opportunities in HPC and help facilitate proposal activities. Furthermore, CRI will actively promote the projects of Purdue's HPC community in research organizations, funding agencies, and industry.