KUWAIT CITY, Aug 12: On Tuesday, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan, Acting Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), officially inaugurated the ICARUS system, marking the launch of Kuwait's first integrated national platform for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking during the inauguration, Dr. Al-Humaidan highlighted the significance of ICARUS as a key enabler for Kuwait’s scientific and research communities, enhancing the country’s position in the realm of advanced technologies. The new system is set to provide cutting-edge processing and data capabilities, with a computational performance of 244 teraflops (244 trillion calculations per second) and substantial storage capacity — 500 terabytes for temporary storage and 5 petabytes for permanent storage. These specifications will allow ICARUS to tackle research challenges across a range of critical sectors, including environmental studies, energy, water, petroleum, biomedical engineering, and climate change.

Al-Humaidan emphasized that the ICARUS system will serve as a powerful tool for researchers and engineers, enabling them to solve complex problems more efficiently and cost-effectively, and in less time compared to traditional computing methods. He noted that ICARUS aligns with Kuwait’s broader sustainable development goals and supports the country’s Vision 2035 by enhancing its technological infrastructure.

"The launch of ICARUS is not merely a technical achievement," Dr. Al-Humaidan remarked. "It is a strategic investment in Kuwait’s scientific and technological future, providing opportunities for both local and international cooperation and reinforcing Kuwait's growing role as a regional hub for research and innovation. This project aligns perfectly with the political leadership's focus on building a knowledge-based economy."

In a separate statement, Engineer Tahani Hussein, the technical official overseeing the ICARUS system, explained the system’s design and capabilities. She stated that ICARUS was crafted to balance high computing power with energy efficiency, allowing for both parallel and sequential management of computing loads. The platform merges big data and AI technologies on a single infrastructure, enabling advanced data analysis, simulation, and processing of diverse research workloads.

Engineer Hussein highlighted several key benefits of ICARUS, including accelerating research in fields like energy, environment, water, and medical technologies. She also emphasized its role in supporting data-driven decision-making through advanced simulation and big data analytics, enhancing risk management, and providing opportunities for training national experts in supercomputing and AI. Furthermore, she noted that the system will position Kuwait among the leading nations in terms of advanced computing capabilities.

The launch of ICARUS marks a milestone in Kuwait’s scientific and technological advancement, underscoring the nation’s commitment to innovation and research excellence.