VSC's new Tier-1 supercomputer sofia ranks among the world's most powerful and energy-efficient systems
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The newest Tier-1 supercomputer of the Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC), Sofia, has made a strong international debut in the latest TOP500 and Green500 rankings, demonstrating both high computational performance and outstanding energy efficiency.
Announced on 23 June 2026, Sofia ranks 222nd in the TOP500 list of the world's most powerful supercomputers and 41st in the Green500 ranking, which measures energy efficiency.
These results place Sofia among the leading research computing systems worldwide and highlight Flanders' commitment to providing researchers with cutting-edge, sustainable computing infrastructure.
"For AI and large-scale simulations, computational power has become essential research infrastructure. With sofia, that infrastructure is available close to our researchers, here in Flanders." — Ward Poelmans, Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC)
A Powerful New Resource for Flemish Research
Hosted by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) at the Nexus data center in Research Park Zellik, Sofia was designed to support the growing computational demands of modern scientific research.
From artificial intelligence and climate science to biomedical research and large-scale simulations, researchers increasingly rely on high-performance computing (HPC) to tackle complex challenges that would otherwise be impossible to solve.
"Sofia's position in the TOP500 demonstrates that Flanders continues to invest in world-class research infrastructure," says VUB Rector Jan Danckaert. "Its Green500 ranking shows that this is being achieved in a thoughtful and energy-efficient way."
Designed with Sustainability in Mind
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design and deployment of Sofia.
The system operates on renewable electricity and is housed in a highly energy-efficient data center. Where possible, rainwater is used for cooling, while waste heat generated by the supercomputer is recovered and reused to help heat buildings within the Research Park.
According to Karin Voets, CIO of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the goal extends beyond efficient hardware.
"We selected a system that delivers maximum computational performance per watt in an exceptionally energy-efficient data center. At the same time, we aim to help users optimize their applications so that every kilowatt generates the greatest possible scientific and societal value."
"Located at the Nexus data center in Zellik, sofia brings world-class supercomputing capacity to researchers across Flanders."
Supporting the Next Generation of Research
For the Flemish research community, Sofia represents an important step forward in computational capacity and accessibility.
"After months of hard work, we are delighted with this Green500 result," says Ward Poelmans of the Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC). "Flanders now has a supercomputer that performs at an internationally competitive level while remaining remarkably energy efficient. For AI and large-scale simulations, computational power has become essential research infrastructure. With Sofia, that infrastructure is available close to our researchers, here in Flanders."
Starting on 3 July 2026, Sofia will begin supporting its first academic research projects. Researchers across Flanders will use the system to advance work in artificial intelligence, climate modeling, health and life sciences, engineering, and many other scientific domains.
Funding and First Research Projects
The acquisition of sofia was made possible through an €8.6 million investment by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), funded by the Flemish Government.
Starting on 3 July 2026, sofia will begin supporting its first academic research projects. The system will provide Flemish researchers with advanced computational resources for a wide range of scientific domains, including artificial intelligence, climate research, medical applications, and large-scale simulations.
Further information
Ward Poelmans – Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC)
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Interested in the story behind sofia? Learn more about the inauguration of the Flemish Tier-1 supercomputer and its role in supporting cutting-edge research across Flanders.
