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The computing challenge
The Human Brain Project presents a huge challenge for computing. The project will need massive computing power but this, on its own, will not be enough. Simulating just one neuron requires the full power of a laptop computer and the human brain has billions. As researchers come closer to simulating the complete human brain they will need ever more powerful computing resources.
Jülich, a partner in the project, will host the main supercomputing centre. In the project, Jülich will work with industry to design and set up the necessary infrastructure. In the later stages this work researchers on the project will have access to a computer a thousand times more powerful than the most powerful computers existing today.
To simulate the complete human brain, the project's computer engineers will design new techniques of multi-level simulation. In this approach, highly active neurons will be simulated in great detail while simulations of less active neurons will be less detailed - making the best possible use of the available computing power.