Dear Professor Moyer, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted and honored to welcome you
on behalf of the University of Hamburg and here in the CCH right across the street from
the University to the 24th ICC Conference. The CCH and the University have long been
good neighbors. Both strive to promote Hamburg's foundation and international reputation as
a place of science and research. We would like, therefore, to thank you for bestowing
recognition of the free and un-theatic city of Hamburg. It is rare that the city has the
opportunity to host such an eminent group of internationally renowned experts. Thanks to your
attendance, the ICC is unique in the world. The wealth of topics to be addressed is of
impressive quality. They are innovative, progressive and vital. That means indispensable,
especially for the University of Hamburg whose job it is to research and to teach. It is only
possible by staying a place of the times and keeping up with developments. As a large urban
region, Hamburg needs modern information technology and extremely well-trained programmers to meet
the challenges posed by the economy, science and administration. The HHR3 is a good example
of a forward-looking project. Hamburg computer network has a long tradition. From 1991 until
2000, there were two technically sophisticated stages of expansion. These, however, are not
comparable to the possibilities we enjoy today, 100 megabits and 10 gigabits. The HHR3 has created
a common workroom for about 40,000 positions in Hamburg's universities and in research.
We are fascinated by the fact that scientific knowledge proliferates at such breathtaking
speed. No one can comprehend this or judge this better than you, ladies and gentlemen. To top
research projects, top research projects require handling extremely large amounts of complexly
organized data as well as efficient programming and an immense number of technical operation and
processes. They demand, therefore, the greatest possible storage capacity and periods of latency,
a demand which can only be met by compact, highly specialized soft and hard wire. Numerous
projects implemented with the support of HPC have enabled workgroups to participate successfully in
prestigious research programs such as the Federal and State Excellence Initiative, the DFG Research
Centers, Graduate Colleges, SFPs, BMBF programs and European Union programs and to acquire
significant third-party funding. The University of Hamburg has stepped up to the plate to play a
prominent role in this international game. The goal is not merely to keep a piece with scientific
developments but to contribute to innovation. This is a task of our universities. It is both
a great challenge and a great responsibility. To accomplish all of this, university structures
need to be modernized and made compatible with international standards. Above all, this happens
very quickly. We are in the midst of renewal. For many, this change is too fast. On a personal
level, this is understandable and in individual cases, it leads to friction. This is why caution
is in order. But we can't turn back and to slow down, the speed of renewal is particularly towards
today's students absolutely irresponsible. We are obliged to offer our students excellent
educational opportunities which meet international standards as well as enables them to acquire
internationally recognized degrees. Here and now and not in 10 years, we are dependent upon
international congresses, cross-border exchanges of ideas and personal and institutional networks.
The more open, the more freely and exactly we exchange knowledge and research results,
the richer the experience we gain in return. Working together encourages us to contribute
on the same path. It often protects us from wrong terms and detours.
The fascination of this conference lies from the university's perspective in two things.
Firstly, supercomputing is part of the process of knowledge itself and secondly, it is an
indispensable source of support for our scientific and organizational work without
which knowledge in many other areas would not be possible. I wish all of you exciting and
insightful conference. I would like to thank the conference organizers for a splendid job. Thank you.