With all the hype around Big Data these days, you could be forgiven for thinking that the era of the supercomputer is past. But some in the EU think the battle for supercomputer supremacy is on — and that Europe has to take action or be left behind. In this special report entitled, Supercomputers For All (pdf), the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE)  makes the case that supercomputing will drive a new wave of economic growth.

PACE was formed in 2010 to promote the use of supercomputing resources and services for commercial use in Europe, but “much remains to be done to bolster Europe’s position in the supercomputer league,” according to Catherine Rivière, PACE’s chair.

We tend to think of supercomputers as high-performance hardware, but the special report makes the point that what’s needed now is next-generation technology and applications — in other words, software. The report says that China and the US are leading the world in supercomputing, and that Europe can catch up if it acts now.

If you’re interested in the EU economy, in supercomputing, or both, you will find the PRACE special report an interesting read.