Representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) carried out, this Thursday (16), a technical visit to the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS), a unit of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) in Macaíba/RN. The meeting was part of the official agenda of the commission that evaluates the candidacy of Rio Grande do Norte to host the supercomputer foreseen in the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan (PBIA).
The proposal submitted by the State Government to the MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) foresees the installation of the infrastructure in the Augusto Severo Science and Technology Park (PAX), adjacent to the IIN-ELS. This strategic proximity has the potential to consolidate an innovation ecosystem focused on the development of data processing technologies and AI solutions applied to health, neuroengineering, and rehabilitation of people with disabilities, pillars of ISD's work.
During the inspection, the delegation got a close look at the laboratories, clinical facilities, and main research lines of the Postgraduate Program in Neuroengineering. “The supercomputer can help us analyze complex data, which demands a gigantic capacity for information processing,” highlighted Edgard Morya, manager of IIN-ELS, emphasizing the qualitative leap that the equipment would bring to national science.
The administrative director of ISD, Jovan Gadioli, reinforced the Institute's role as a Federal Social Organization and its direct articulation with strategic areas of the Federal Government, including the Ministries of Education, Sports, Health, and Defense. Representatives from PAX were also present during the visit and highlighted the partnership between the Park and ISD.
Perspectives and next steps
Accompanied by technicians from the Government of Rio Grande do Norte, representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) assessed the infrastructure, connectivity, and logistics conditions of the PAX (Science and Technology Park). According to Guilherme de Paula, general coordinator of Digital Technologies at MCTI, the impression was positive: “We were very pleased with this inspection here at the Science and Technology Park and we are certain that this was the first step of many that will be taken in a very fruitful relationship with the Government of Rio Grande do Norte,” he assessed.
The candidacy of Rio Grande do Norte to host the supercomputer has the support of several educational, research, and economic development institutions, including ISD, UFRN, UERN, IFRN, and Fiern. The Federal Government's final decision on the location should be announced soon, after the completion of technical visits to the candidate cities. The intention is for the supercomputer to be installed sometime in 2026.
What is an AI supercomputer?
An AI supercomputer is an extremely high-performance computing system specifically designed to train, tune, and run complex artificial intelligence models. Unlike traditional supercomputers, they combine thousands of interconnected CPUs and GPUs (graphics processing units) to process massive volumes of data rapidly.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization of the Federal Executive Branch, supervised by the Ministry of Education, with the intervention of the Ministry of Sport. It encompasses the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Education and Research in Health, both located in Macaíba. The ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research, and outreach activities, as well as contributing to a more just and humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
