Research and Human Capital Development Division remit is to advance scientific boundaries by enabling world-class research through promoting and facilitating the use of computational technologies and techniques amongst researchers forster innovation through effective partnership the training of a new generation of computationally skilled researchers in areas underpinned by high end computing, particularly those of national and continental strategic importance, to the benefit of basic and applied research in the public and private sectors.

The success and effectiveness of the CHPC: R&HCD Division will be measured by the quantity and quality of its high end computing outputs in the domains of:

• quality research publications and research degree outputs;

• innovation outputs;

• human capital development;

which support national and continental strategic initiatives and push research and innovation boundaries.

The focus of CHPC: R&HCD (and indeed the entire CHPC) should be on achieving these goals. The technical and operational strategy and acquisitions of CHPC should be geared similarly.

The focus of CHPC is on High End Computational (HEC) Science-this includes research into novel high end architectures, mathematical and programming algorithmic development and implementation.

These outcomes are closely correlated: motivated highly skilled people make things happen. The following groups will be mobilised to achieve this:
     
CHPC funded Flagship Projects-the number, role, rules of engagement, funding levels, deliverables and MoU's will be revisited;
     
Broadened and deepened user base-not only to inspire a larger number of people from traditionally computable areas to engage with HEC, but also to engage non-traditional areas, e.g. social sciences, emergency services, finance... etc.;
     
Virtual Research Organisations (VRO's)-which have become the bedrock of many contemporary grand challenge research efforts-and Special Interest Groups (SIG's) should be established and/or nurtured;
     
Particular focus must be directed towards engaging national DST/NRF funded research chairs and centres of excellence;
     
CHPC research scientists should be developed so as to be able to head effective research groups and advanced laboratories-ACELab and others;
     
National strategic initiatives necessitating a significant high end computing component (e.g. SKA, KAT, NBN, Space, PBMR...) should be embraced and supported;
     
Partner with industrial and commercial organisations active in areas dependent on high end computing;
     
Support commercialisation of research outputs and encourage public private partnerships as well as collaboration with government funded research laboratories and departments;
     
Researchers throughout the country-in academic institutions, state and privately funded research structures, commerce and industry-should all be equally empowered so as to be able to perform high end computationally driven and supported research.
     
Forster next generation of talents in eResearch and contribute towards the public awareness of HEC through effective outreach activities

 
Inputs to achieve this:
     

• Engage in national High End Computing (HEC) advocacy and discussions with University students and school learners,public and private sectors media and society.   
  

• Employ appropriate research staff in a range of positions: full-time, seconded, part-time, associate; dual appointments; short and longer term.

     
Training:
      

• Facilitate and conduct broad as well as specialised conferences, mini-conferences; courses and workshops;
• Appoint post-docs and grant scholarships both directly and via flagship projects;    
• Send CHPC and other researchers on highly specialised, not locally available, training abroad:
• Accommodate research visitors who are able to transfer advanced high end computing skills to local researchers;      
• Support, facilitate and develop national post-graduate qualifications in high end computing.
  

• Meaningful research collaborations are to be established with other research institutes (nationally and internationally) in the HEC space. Promote partnerships between HEC researchers and experimentalists.
• Promote the development of a national cyberinfrastructure ecosystem embracing networked distributed hpc/hec platforms and grids.