Directed Research and Development in High - Performance Computing

ORNL uses a small portion (<3%) of its overhead budget to perform proof-of-principle type research and to develop capabilities that ensure the Laboratory stays on the cutting edge of science and technology in certain areas. This internal R&D program, formally called Laboratory Directed R&D (LDRD), has two components: Seed Money and Director’s R&D. Seed Money provides an avenue of support for innovative, risky ideas that “bubble up” during the course of normal programmatic activity. The projects are relatively small and span 12 to 18 months in duration (Table 1). Director’s R&D is for strategic purposes to develop capabilities that are consistent with the Laboratory’s R&D agenda. Director’s R&D projects are much larger than Seed Money projects (Table 1) and are typically funded for two years. The LDRD projects funded in high-performance computing and simulation science since FY 1998 are listed in Tables 2 and 3. Summaries and abstracts of this research are included below.