Conferences

GRID'2025: expansion of topic, the present
and future of distributed computing

The 11th International Conference "Distributed computing and grid technologies in science and education" (GRID'2025), organized by MLIT, was held at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. Almost 300 experts from different countries and scientific organizations of the world discussed in Dubna issues of the current status and areas of development of information technologies, distributed computing and grid technologies.

At the opening, the Conference participants were greeted by JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov, JINR Scientific Leader Victor Matveev, MLIT Director Sergey Shmatov and MLIT Scientific Leader Vladimir Korenkov.

Grigory Trubnikov

"I am very glad that the number of participants increases, as the interest increases in this scientific field. We see that life sciences and computer sciences are currently the most in demand from the point of view of applicants, universities and from the point of view of the needs of the economy. Our Conference this year brought together almost 300 people from around the world. I am very glad that on the first day, we traditionally have grandees of computing and information technologies in Russia, those who develop powerful computing and computer systems, algorithms and programmes for complex scientific and applied tasks," Academician Grigory Trubnikov commented on the opening of GRID'2025, emphasizing a large number of young specialists whose reports are included in the topical sections of the Conference.

"Computational sciences rightfully occupy the position of "queen of sciences". After all, not a single current research area is complete today without information technologies," JINR Scientific Leader Academician Victor Matveev emphasized.

"The GRID Conference is the only specialized platform in Russia for discussing the entire range of issues related to distributed computing and grid technologies. In 2025, our conference brought together outstanding experts from the top ten most respected IT specialists in Russia to speak at the plenary session," MLIT Scientific Leader Vladimir Korenkov said.

Victor Matveev	Vladimir Korenkov	Sergey Shmatov

"It is very important for us that the GRID Conference has once again confirmed its status as an effective platform for the development of international cooperation. Along with the representatives of JINR Member States, specialists from the states which the Joint Institute has been establishing especially intensive scientific cooperation with in recent years have come to MLIT," MLIT Director Sergey Shmatov said.

The work of the GRID'2025 Conference was opened by a report by Grigory Trubnikov with an overview of JINR activities. He introduced the participants of the event with the latest results of the Institute, its major scientific projects, research areas and basic facilities. In his speech, JINR Director highlighted the contribution of MLIT to the activities of JINR and in particular, serious efforts in training personnel and the work of MLIT employees to develop a digital environment at the Institute.

The programme was continued by the report of Director of the Ivannikov Institute for System Programming Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Harutyun Avetisyan. The report outlined the challenges facing today's society in the field of cybersecurity as a result of the widespread introduction of information technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence. The speaker presented the experience and developments of the ISP RAS and other world profile centres that can provide areas for meeting these issues, as well as the main trends in the development of IT technologies in Russia. In addition to the need to take into account social and humanitarian aspects when introducing AI, Harutyun Avetisyan highlighted the significance of the issue of data reliability, stating that even one percent of unreliable data is enough for an unsatisfactory result of AI-based systems.

High-performance computing systems with reconfigurable architecture were considered in the report of Scientific Leader of the Branch of the Southern Federal University Academician Igor Kalyaev. The basis of this approach is to provide the user with the ability to programme the supercomputer architecture for the structure of the task he addresses. As a computing device of a supercomputer, it is proposed to use not standard microprocessors, but a plurality programmable logic devices (PLDs) of a high degree of integration. During the report, Russian developments in this area were presented.

Director of the Research Computing Centre of Lomonosov Moscow State University Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Voevodin outlined supercomputer co-design as the core issue of modern supercomputer technologies and parallel computing. As the speaker emphasized, implying the joint development of architecture and software for supercomputers, co-design is able to provide high computing performance but fundamental research is required to unleash its potential.

Assistant to the President of the Centre for Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligence of the NRC "Kurchatov Institute" Vasily Velikhov made a report on the development of a national computer network based on quantum communication. He spoke about the status of the implementation of the project of the inter-university quantum network (IQN) and the first steps towards developing a secure digital infrastructure of a new generation. Such a network will make high-performance distributed computing available to all universities.

Head of the Department of Automation of Computer Systems at CMC MSU Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Ruslan Smelyansky presented in his report a vision of what the computing infrastructure of the future will be. The speaker stated that the main engine for the development of computing technologies is applied needs. At the same time, speaking about the requirements for the development of a distributed computing infrastructure, he especially emphasized the importance of deterministic communication and ensuring a predictable level of performance in networks.

The organization of resource-intensive computer modeling in real time was the topic of a speech by Professor at the Department of Computer Modeling and Multiprocessor Systems at St. Petersburg State University Alexander Degtyarev. Here we were talking about developing a virtual polygon or, in other words, a personal virtual supercomputer that is a combination of a large number of different models for their subsequent expert selection. It will allow to develop a computer complex in real time that can most efficiently meet a specific task.

The speech of MLIT Scientific Leader Vladimir Korenkov was dedicated to the history of development and the current state of distributed computing at JINR. In his report, he also highlighted trends in distributed computing for major scientific projects. MLIT Deputy Scientific Leader Tatyana Strizh spoke about the path that MLIT has taken over the past 60 years since its foundation. In her speech, she highlighted that the Laboratory, starting from the establishment stage, aims at building a prototype for providing computing resources to users on demand. MLIT Deputy Director Dmitry Podgainy spoke about what tasks of the JINR scientific programme are met using the supercomputer "Govorun". In his report, he announced the completion of a new stage in the modernization of the JINR supercomputer, implemented jointly by MLIT and the RSK group of companies. As a result, its performance for AI tasks has increased by more than a third. Using the example of the modernization of the supercomputer "Govorun" in 2024-2025, CEO and co-founder of the RSK group of companies Alexander Moskovsky presented hardware and software solutions for RSK, the leading Russian developer and integrator of innovative supercomputer solutions. Head of Architecture and Design at E-Flops Sergey Plyusnin spoke about current approaches to building solutions for HPC, DPC and cloud tasks.

In the following days of the GRID'2025 Conference, a number of reports on a wide range of topics were presented within the plenary sections. The Conference participants discussed the issues of computing and software for the NICA Megascience Project in the BM@N, MPD, SPD experiments, as well as in the JUNO neutrino experiment. Konstantin Herzenberger (VBLHEP) spoke about the distributed processing and storage of data from the BM@N experiment in preparation for the Run9. Arkady Taranenko (VBLHEP) presented the results of major simulation of the experimental facility of MPD and information on the development of data analysis techniques. Computer and Software Coordinator of the SPD experiment Danila Oleinik (MLIT) made a report on the progress of software development and experiment computing tasks. He emphasized significant progress in the development of a middleware complex responsible for multi-stage, high-throughput processing of experimental data. Slavomir Gnatich (MLIT) spoke about the development of software for the MPD experiment. Yulia Andreeva (CERN) presented the status and project plans of the distributed computing system WLCG (Worldwide LHC Computing Grid). For more than 20 years, the WLCG project has been successfully developing and currently meets the issues of distributed computing for experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. At the same time, the upcoming High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) project is an unprecedented challenge in terms of level, complexity and ensuring long-term sustainable operation. Xiaomei Zhang (Institute of High Energy Physics - IHEP, China) made a report on the distributed computing system of the JUNO experiment. Xuantong Zhang (IHEP, China) spoke about organizing the work of IHEP distributed computing for international physical collaborations. The report of Andrey Tsaregorodtsev (CPPM-IN2P3-CNRS, France) was dedicated to the status and development of the DIRAC platform.

Viktor Toporkov (MPEI) spoke about the strategy for scheduling multidisciplinary workflows and resource management in cloud computing. The topic was continued in the report of Nikita Balashov (MLIT) on the status of cloud infrastructures of JINR and Member States. He highlighted that the cloud infrastructure serves as a universal and flexible component of the JINR Multifunctional Information and Computing Complex. Over the past two years, JINR and its Member States have updated operating systems and core software as part of cloud infrastructures. Significant efforts were also made to introduce new applications and services. Two techniques of population annealing implemented in the MPI/CUDA hybrid architecture were presented in a report by Lev Shchur (L.D.Landau ITF and HSE). Vladimir Sukhomlin (Moscow State University) dedicated his speech to modern standards and trends in the training of highly qualified professional personnel in the field of information technologies. A report on high-performance computing in radiation biology was made by LRB Director Alexander Bugay. Among the tasks of the laboratory indicated in this regard were simulation of radiation-induced DNA damage using the Monte Carlo technique, simulation of DNA repair and cell survival, calculating the effects of radiation on tissues and organs. To meet these and a number of other tasks, colleagues from LRB use the power of supercomputer "Govorun", including the use of deep machine learning techniques. Among the future goals of theorists from LRB are calculations related to radiation-induced brain disorders and tumor reactions to radiation. The research programme of the ARIADNA collaboration, developed to implement applied research at the NICA accelerator complex, was presented to the Conference participants by Oleg Belov (VBLHEP). Among the main research areas on NICA beams, the speaker highlighted radiation protection on Earth and in space, radiation effects in microelectronics, the investigation of materials using ion beams, the investigation of materials under conditions of extreme radiation doses, new technologies for accelerator-driven systems (ADS), research related to radiation therapy, radiation biophysics and radiobiology. Alexander Bogdanov (St. Petersburg State University) spoke about the promising Data Mesh architecture that involves a change in the approach to data management. Stating that the constant evolution of data storage requirements is making organizations use more and more adaptive and major systems, the speaker emphasized that Data Mesh is suitable for world-class tasks, while having the flexibility of cloud systems. Nadezhda Baghdasaryan (MSTU named after N.E. Bauman) made a report on institutional transformation in the era of AI and the challenges facing modern scientific schools.

Hybrid artificial intelligence, as a combination of high-performance computing, neural networks and accurate mathematical models, became the topic of a report by Leonid Sokolinsky (SUSU (NRU)). The ideas and approaches presented during the speech aroused great interest of the participants and lively discussion. Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the IITP RAS Maxim Fedorov made a report on supercomputer simulation and machine learning in molecular sciences. He highlighted that the digitization of chemical information using AI and the use of hybrid AI techniques have great potential for the development of a wide variety of fields in science and innovation but this, in turn, requires the use of supercomputer technologies and big data that sharply raises the issue of training specialists in these areas. Bioinformatics, as informatics based on biocomputer technologies, DNA information storage and nanobioelectronics and its applications were considered in a report by Viktor Lakhno (IMPB RAS - a branch of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics RAS). Fedor Ratnikov (HSE) dedicated his speech to the features of surrogate prototypes for experiments in particle physics. He concluded that surrogate prototypes are a significant help in problems that require major simulation to interpret the results that certainly applies to high-energy physics. However, the requirements for such prototypes are quite specific: sufficient information content and variability of the generated objects, prioritization of physical indicators, quantitative estimation of systematic uncertainties of physical results due to bias and variability of the prototype are required. Andrey Shevel (PNPI, ITMO) in his report spoke about large language prototypes in high energy physics and future developments in this area. Oleg Semenov (ITER-Centre) made a report on the development of the Russian Scientific Network for Fusion Research project, aimed at developing a unified scientific network for research in the field of thermonuclear fusion. Today, the project unites 13 research centres in Russia. This is a unique information network that provides participants not only access to the results of all scientific experiments, but also the possibility of remote participation in experiments on scientific facilities. Viktor Kotlyar (IHEP - NRC KI) spoke about the integrated monitoring, automation and analysis system for the computing cluster of the A.A.Logunov Institute of High Energy Physics - Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute". The report of Alexey Artamonov (NRNU MEPhI) was dedicated to the methodology of intellectual analysis of scientific and technical information. A modern view of building a major solution for large data storage tasks was presented in a report by Stanislav Bogatyrev (Technology Company YADRO).

In just five days of GRID'2025, 37 plenary reports were presented. In addition, 127 reports were given in the following topical sections:

• Computing for megascience projects;
• Distributed computing, grid and cloud technologies, data storage system, HPC
• Application software in high-performance computing (HTC and HPC)
• Experimental data processing methods and technologies;
• Artificial intelligence techniques in life sciences.

Within the framework of GRID'2025, two round tables were organized. The first was dedicated to building the work of the joint scientific and educational laboratory of St. Petersburg State University and JINR. The laboratory is established to meet issues in the field of information technologies in high energy physics and the training of qualified personnel. The participants of the second-round table discussed the development of information and analytical platforms. In particular, the building of the JINR digital ecosystem as an integrated digital environment uniting a large number of information services and business processes was discussed in detail.

At the close of the Conference, JINR Vice Director Latchesar Kostov spoke. The latter highlighted that the reports and discussions of GRID'2025 were held at the highest level, giving rise to a number of new projects and joint research. "For Directorate of the Institute, this conference is one of the central events in the scientific life of JINR, which we will continue to provide comprehensive support to. It attracts not only young people, but also outstanding scientists in this area from the Member States and Partner States of the Institute," Latchesar Kostov emphasized.

Head of the Department of System Programming at SUSU Leonid Sokolinsky addressed the organizers of GRID'2025 with words of gratitude: "This conference is distinguished by a large number of participants and a wide range of topics. Everything is very relevant and deep. On the one hand, there is now a tough expansion of neural networks, on the other hand, the soft power of distributed computing. And it was this soft power that took us here. Thank you for the warm atmosphere!"

GRID'2025 was attended by scientists and specialists from 16 countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Romania, Slovakia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, France, South Africa.

The social programme of the Conference traditionally included a boat trip along the Volga and a picnic with a barbecue in Ratmino - one of the most picturesque corners of Dubna.

The GRID'2025 Conference was dedicated to the founders of MLIT: the 115th anniversary of the birth of M.G.Meshcheryakov and the 95th anniversary of the birth of N.N.Govorun. The Conference was held in anticipation of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the 60th anniversary of the Laboratory of Information Technologies.

The Conference partners were the RSK group of companies, as well as Platformics and ITCost.

Reports and videos of reports, as well as photographs of the GRID'2025 Conference are posted on the website https://grid2025.jinr.ru.

Selected proceedings of the Conference will be published in the journal "Physics of Elementary Particles and the Atomic Nucleus".

As reported by MLIT,
photo by Elena PUZYNINA, Alexey VORONTSOV