The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) today launched a call to participate in the Distributed Storage and Compute Grid (DSCG) Pilot. With this Call, the Alliance is seeking organizations to join a pilot project that will establish Canada's first nationally operated distributed storage and compute grid. This initiative, funded through the Government of Canada's Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, will be a uniquely Canadian service that leverages our large geography for true site diversity and high-speed network connectivity across the country.
The DSCG Pilot addresses critical infrastructure gaps that have long challenged Canadian researchers, including limited options for active data storage, collaboration barriers, and escalating local operating costs. The Alliance aims to pilot colocating Alliance-owned infrastructure at partner institutions and linking these sites over CANARIE’s National Research and Education Network (NREN) and associated regional area networks (RANs) to form a resilient grid. With an interconnected network of compute resources spanning Canada's vast geography, this initiative will provide researchers with unprecedented access to secure, scalable infrastructure while reducing the burden on individual institutions.
The DSCG Pilot is a cornerstone component of the upcoming Canadian Research Data Platform to provide a seamless integrated Canadian research data ecosystem. This comprehensive approach will ensure that Canadian researchers have access to the advanced infrastructure needed to conduct world-class research and maintain Canada's competitive edge in the global landscape.
Through strategic investments in digital research infrastructure, the Alliance continues to ensure that the Canadian research community have access to the tools necessary to conduct innovative research that addresses global challenges and drives technological advancement.
For more details and to participate, visit our webpage: https://alliancecan.ca/en/distributed-storage-and-compute-grid