About COMCHA
Overview
The COMCHA network was launched in 2017 as a spontaneous initiative of several Spanish groups involved in the High-Luminosity LHC Upgrade, aimed at addressing common challenges in signal reconstruction, artificial intelligence, big data, tracking, and the development of machine learning algorithms on CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs. Originally conceived as a discussion forum, it quickly became clear that the initiative should not be limited to LHC groups alone, since many other research areas were facing similar challenges with disruptive and innovative computing technologies. Today, more than ten Spanish groups are part of the COMCHA network.
In 2023, thanks to the Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación 2021–2023, by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Computing Challenges for Particle Reconstruction and Selection (COMCHA) network received dedicated funding [RED2022-134769-T] to continue and expand its activities. This support has been decisive in strengthening collaboration and coordination among Spanish groups working on computing advancements for HEP experiments, enabling joint efforts and encouraging participation in both national and international competitive project calls.
Executive Board
Arantza Oyanguren (IFIC)
Luca Fiorini (IFIC)
Xavier Cid Vidal (IGFAE)
Diego Martínez Santos (UdC)
Veronika Chobanova (UdC)
Santiago Folgueras (ICTEA-UO)
Pietro Viscia (ICTEA-UO)
Pablo Martínez del Árbol (IFCA)
Xavier Vilasis (URL)
Elizabet Golobardés (URL)
Carla Marín (UB)
Daniel Cagigas (ETSI-US)
Miguel Ángel Martínez del Amor (ETSI-US)
Héctor Gómez (CAPA-UZ)
Cristina Fernández (CIEMAT)
Daniel Nieto Castaño (UCM)
Martin Børstad Eriksen (IFAE)
Jose Enrique García Navarro (IFIC)
Jose Salt Cairols (IFIC)
Isidro González Caballero (ICTEA)
Objectives
- Encourage collaboration meetings and common projects related to advanced computing between different nodes of the network. Invite international experts to collaborate.
- Organize schools related to AI and advanced computing to train master and doctoral students in the field.
- Further the digital and ecological transition based on low power sustainable hardware and optimized software, in collaboration with technology companies.
- Support exchange of ideas among groups, including data analysis and technological developments.
- Support the collaboration through specific face-to-face meetings and workshops dedicated to new computer challenges.
- Investigate the opportunities offered by emerging technologies including quantum computing and neuromorphic systems, in a collaborative way.
- Organize events to promote collaboration and discussion on Computing Challenges at the international level. In particular, in collaboration with the HEP Software Foundation, IRIS-HEP and other similar international communities.
- Organize annual meetings of the COMCHA network to share results and techniques, and discuss future strategies.
- Encourage collaboration with other related Spanish networks (CPAN, RED LHC, etc.) and entities (AIHUB-CONEXION CSIC, PTI CSIC Digitalization and Data Science…)
- Support transfer to the industry under the form of patents licensing, contracts.
- Give technical support to the groups for performing their research in our national computing infrastructures (PIC, ARTEMISA) and in the use of common technical and programming tools.
- Improve the representation and visibility of the Spanish groups in similar international initiatives.
- Enhance gender diversity in computing activities from early stages of education.
