The Computer Centre inaugurated its new Windows-based High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC) at a ceremony co-hosted by the Computer Centre and Microsoft Hong Kong Limited on October 20, 2004 in the Council Chamber of the University. This Windows-based HPCC, the set-up of which was sponsored by Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, is the first HPCC development in Hong Kong SAR running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This state-of-the-art system is a valuable addition to the array of High Performance Computing (HPC) facilities of the Computer Centre to support computation-intensive research projects of the University.

Officiated by Professor Paul Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University and Mr Robbie Ray Wright, Director, Business Marketing Organization of Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, the ceremony attracted more than 80 guests to witness the inauguration of this groundbreaking HPCC system that highlighted a remarkable partnership between the University and Microsoft.  At the ceremony, we were particularly delighted to have Professor W K Li of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science demonstrating an innovative application developed for Financial Portfolio Optimization and Risk Management utilizing the Microsoft .NET technology on the new HPCC and Professor Thomas F Coleman from the Cornell University of the United States sharing his experience in exploiting the potentials of Windows-based HPCC environment.