Large-scale HPC approaches and applications on highly distributed platforms

The ever-increasing complexity of scientific and industrial challenges due to the enormous amount of data available nowadays requires advanced high-performance computing (HPC) solutions capable of processing and analyzing data efficiently on highly distributed platforms. Traditional centralized HPC systems frequently fall short of the demands of contemporary large-scale applications (e.g., large language models), prompting a move towards more flexible and scalable distributed computing environments. Furthermore, the growing emphasis on the environmental impact of large-scale computing has highlighted the need for sustainable computing practices that minimize energy consumption and carbon footprint. This special issue targets contributions that investigate both the challenges and the opportunities arising from this evolution. The accepted articles highlight enhancements in five key areas: (i) HPC in the cloud continuum, (ii) heterogeneous HPC architectures, performance tools, and programming models, (iii) parallel and distributed algorithms and applications, (iv) data management and storage systems, and (v) sustainable and energy-efficient HPC systems. In total, 29 submissions were received, and 20 papers were selected after a rigorous peer-review process. Collectively, these contributions provide a representative snapshot of current research efforts towards resilient, efficient, and sustainable HPC approaches and applications on highly distributed platforms.