Overview
In June 2025, Team CHPC proudly represented South Africa at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2025) Student Cluster Competition, held at the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) in Germany. The competition united 23 virtual and 10 in-person student teams from across the globe to design, build and optimize HPC clusters within real-world limitations.
South African Centre for High Performance Computing team wins second place in international Student Cluster Competition
As South Africa celebrates Youth Month 2025 under the theme “Skills for the changing world: Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation”, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) is proud to highlight the achievements of young South African talent on the international stage.
The South African team from the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) has won an impressive second place finish at the online component of the International Student Cluster Competition, held in Hamburg, Germany, from 10 to 12 June 2025.
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Journey to Hamburg
The adventure began at Cape Town International Airport, with a connecting flight through Frankfurt before arriving in Hamburg. From there, the team took a train to their hotel conveniently located right beside the Congress Center Hamburg, the heart of the competition.
After settling in, the team spent their first day exploring the beautiful city of Hamburg. They took in its rich history, admired the distinctive architecture, and enjoyed authentic Turkish cuisine and tea.
Preparation and Setup
On the morning of Day 2, the team took advantage of the wait before the conference hall opened to further explore Hamburg, with highlights like the Heinrich-Hertz Tower. Once inside the CCH, they began cluster setup, kicking off several demanding and focused days.
The initial phase came with its share of hurdles. The team encountered compatibility issues caused by a recent update in Rocky Linux (from version 9.5 to 9.6), which required swift adaptation and late-night troubleshooting. A few days later, Rocky Linux 10 was released, adding another layer of complexity. Long hours quickly became routine, with the team frequently working past midnight to ensure their system configurations met competition standards.
By Day 3, the focus shifted to refining cluster performance and final booth preparations. Despite fatigue, spirits remained high as they connected with international teams, exchanged insights, and pushed through technical hurdles – thanks to meticulous teamwork.
The Competition Days
The official benchmarking phase began on June 10, featuring demanding tests such as HPL, HPCG, and IO500.
On Day 5, the team faced a series of application challenges, including LLM, Seisol, Code_Saturne, and OpenMX, each testing their ability to optimize diverse workloads under strict time limits. The day’s intensity was balanced by an evening networking session hosted by NVIDIA and AWS, where participants were invited to relax and connect with industry professionals.
The final day of competition, June 12, introduced the highly anticipated “secret application.” With no prior knowledge of the workload and only four hours to complete it, the challenge demanded sharp problem-solving and exceptional coordination.
After days of relentless effort, Team CHPC’s dedication paid off – they achieved 2nd place in the Virtual Component of the competition, ranking among the top performers out of 23 global teams.
Celebrating Success
Following the competition, the team celebrated with a well-earned dinner overlooking the – enjoying local cuisine and the satisfaction of a job well done. The next day, Day 7, was dedicated to sightseeing, including a visit to one of Hamburg’s historic World War II bunkers, a scenic ferry ride, and a taste of authentic German schnitzel. Some teammates even took to cycling through the city, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere and reflecting on an unforgettable experience.
On the final day June 14, the team travelled back to Frankfurt by train, making the most of their final day in Germany with a few last sightseeing stops before their flight home to South Africa.
Reflections and Legacy
The 2025 ISC Student Cluster Competition not only tested the team’s technical expertise but also highlighted the power of perseverance, adaptability, and collaboration under pressure. Representing South Africa on the international HPC stage was both an honour and a testament to the country’s growing presence in global supercomputing.
Through challenges, late-night debugging sessions, and shared moments of discovery, Team CHPC 2025 demonstrated the spirit of innovation and teamwork that continues to drive the next generation of HPC leaders.
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