Core Competences

• High Performance & High Throughput Computing (HPC & HTC)
  Design and operation of computing facilities for parallel and sequential applications, addressing compute and data intensive workloads, including AI/ML tasks.
• Cloud Computing
  Expertise in implementing and managing public and private cloud services leveraging technologies like OpenStack, Ceph, and MinIO. LIP develops and supports research-focused cloud infrastructures.
• Distributed Computing
  Extensive participation in federated infrastructures such as EGI, IBERGRID, and WLCG, with over 20 years of experience in providing scalable and reliable distributed computing services.
• Software Quality Assurance and Release Management
  Leading software provisioning and SQA efforts within EGI and WLCG, setting quality guidelines and developing assurance tools for research software. Development and operation of software provisioning and release systems (e.g., EGI UMD/CMD). Development of SQA tools and platforms like the SQAaaS and JePL.
• Data Management
  Experience in conceiving and operating large-scale storage solutions for research data exploiting technologies like Ceph, Lustre, StoRM, XRootD, coupled with advanced computing capabilities. 
• Open Science & FAIR Data
  Promotion of open science practices, FAIR data principles, and research data management. Active participation in EOSC-related projects and upcoming coordination of a national data management center. Expertise in supporting research data repositories and related services.
• Network and Communications
  Design and administration of high-speed data communication networks supporting scientific applications and research data access across LIP and CNCA facilities.
• Containers for Research
  Development of tools like udocker for containerization in HPC environments. Expertise in container orchestration with a particular focus on Kubernetes and related technologies.

Research Infrastructures

LIP is the technical backbone of INCD – National Distributed Computing Infrastructure, which is transitioning to become the CNCA – National Advanced Computing Centre. This infrastructure supports research and innovation across scientific disciplines, offering:

• Over 11,000 CPU cores, 30+ PB of storage, and multi-Gbps connectivity
• Federated operations across four sites (Lisbon, Coimbra, Braga, Vila Real)
• Integration with European and global infrastructures like EOSC, WLCG, EGI and IBERGRID.

LIP leads the technical coordination of distributed computing and cloud computing in CNCA.

LIP and the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid

LIP operates Tier-2 and Tier-3 facilities supporting the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The Tier-2 facility contributes to global simulation and data processing, while Tier-3 is dedicated to data analysis by LIP researchers.
These infrastructures are integrated into CNCA, ensuring national-level resource sharing and global collaboration.

Key Projects and Initiatives

LIP's Computing Group is an active partner in numerous national and European initiatives, such as:

• EuroHPC & EuroCC (including EuroCC-2)
• EOSC projects: EOSC Beyond, EOSC-Synergy, ENVRI-Hub Next
• AI & Digital Twins: AI4EOSC, InterTwin, DT-GEO
• Earth Observation: C-SCALE, iMagine, Agriculture of Data
• Software Quality and Provisioning: Leadership in EGI’s UMD/CMD repositories
• Research Data Management & FAIR: Future national coordination