Innovation, Efficiency, and a Few Thousand Steps
In our pre-ISC blog, we looked ahead with excitement at what ISC 2025 might bring. Now, with the event behind us (and our feet finally recovering), it’s time to reflect on what turned out to be a packed, insightful, and energising few days in Hamburg.
Vendor Showdown 2: The Future is Modular, Heterogeneous, and AI-Driven
The Vendor Showdown 2 session was a true highlight—think of it as the Formula 1 of HPC hardware, with each vendor racing to prove their architecture is the fastest, smartest, and greenest. Key themes included:
- Heterogeneous computing: The blending of CPUs, GPUs, and accelerators is now the norm, not the exception.
- AI integration: AI is no longer just a workload—it’s shaping system design itself.
- Cloud-native HPC: Vendors are embracing hybrid models, with orchestration tools and containerisation taking centre stage.
For a deeper dive into the technologies shaping the future, explore HPCwire’s ISC 2025 coverage.
Green500: Performance Meets Planet
The Green500 rankings were another standout moment. This year’s list showed that energy efficiency is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a competitive advantage. Some highlights:
- Liquid cooling and custom silicon are driving major gains in performance-per-watt.
- European systems made a strong showing, with several cracking the top 10.
- Software optimisation was a hot topic because even the greenest hardware needs smart scheduling to shine.
You can explore the full Green500 list here
On the Exhibition Floor: Tech, Talk, and Trainers
As part of the Red Oak team, I spent a lot of time on the exhibition floor—meeting clients, catching up with partners, and discovering new tech. A few memorable moments:
- A fascinating chat about quantum readiness with a vendor who swears it’s “closer than we think.”
- A demo of a cloud orchestration platform that might just change how we manage hybrid HPC environments.
- And yes, a lot of walking. According to one team member’s smartwatch, we averaged 18,000 steps a day. (Still fewer than SC, but who’s counting?)
The Real Takeaway: Community
More than the tech, what stood out most was the community. Whether it was a scheduled meeting or a spontaneous chat over coffee, the openness and collaboration across the HPC ecosystem were inspiring.
It’s a reminder that while the systems are complex, the mission is simple: to solve the world’s toughest problems, together.
Final Thoughts
ISC 2025 was a brilliant reminder of why we do what we do. The pace of innovation is staggering, but so is the sense of community.
Whether it’s through formal sessions or informal chats, the HPC world continues to push boundaries together.
Until Next Time
ISC 2025 was a brilliant showcase of where HPC is headed—and we’re excited to be part of that journey. If you’d like to learn more about how Red Oak Consulting can support your HPC strategy, get in touch with us.
Muneeb Khan,
Senior HPC Managed Services Specialist
Red Oak Consulting
