From Users, For Users: Strengthening the VSC Community and Shaping the Future of HPC

VSC Connect Blog

Interview with Lander Willem, Chair of VSC User Committee

The Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum (VSC) has a dedicated User Committee that bridges the gap between researchers and the operational teams. Who better to share insights on its mission and vision than Lander Willem, the newly appointed chair of the VSC User Committee?

Lander Willem holds a research professorship within the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health (FAMPOP) at the University of Antwerp, focusing on health economic evaluations in the domains of healthcare organisation and public health campaigns.

After five years as a member of the VSC User Committee under the excellent leadership of Francisco Tjess Hernandez, I am honoured to take on the role of chair. At its core, the User Committee serves as the bridge between the research community and the operational and management teams of the VSC.

Our mission is to promote HPC in Flanders and beyond by highlighting success stories and showcasing potential through events, workshops, and online platforms. In addition, we aim to improve services through user feedback, refining our computing, storage, and cloud offerings to reflect the evolving needs of today’s research community — and anticipate those of tomorrow.

One area we have been particularly focused on recently is finding the right balance between Tier-1 and Tier-2 systems. While Tier-2 systems offer directly accessible compute power, Tier-1 requires a formal proposal process — but provides much larger resources. We are now exploring ways to encourage and support large users to shift towards Tier-1 where appropriate. This transition not only optimises the use of available infrastructure but also enhances efficiency and performance across the entire user base.

As I take on the chairmanship, my goal is to ensure that the voice of VSC users remains strong, visible, and unified. I warmly invite all users to share their ideas and feedback with us.

A great opportunity to do so is the upcoming VSC User Day on December 17, 2025, where you can discover real-world HPC applications, connect with fellow researchers, and raise the challenges you encounter. These conversations are what drive us forward.

Together, we can ensure that researchers in Flanders have the tools, guidance, and inspiration they need to achieve more. I look forward to this new chapter and to working with all of you to shape the future of HPC in Flanders.

Each year, the VSC community comes together at the VSC User Day — a major gathering of VSC users and staff dedicated to sharing experiences, exploring innovative research, and strengthening collaboration across disciplines. The event offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and celebrate the breakthroughs made possible by VSC infrastructure. It truly embodies the spirit of the VSC community — from users, for users.