The Flemish Government invested 8.6 million euros in Sofia, with the Prime Minister lauding it as a milestone for science and innovation.

Sofia represents a leap in capability over the previous model Hortense at Ghent University, delivering substantially more computing power and expanded AI capacity.

A new TIER-1 supercomputer named Sofia has been inaugurated at the Nexus Data Centre in Zellik, Flemish Brabant, as part of a rotating six-year cycle that shifts TIER-1 installations among Flemish universities.

The project signals continued investment in high-performance computing to bolster research and industry collaboration across Belgium.

Sofia is accessible to both academia and industry, with a stated goal of being used at least 80% of the time.

Sofia is part of the Flemish Supercomputer Centre (VSC) network and sits within the Nexus Data Centre as a key component of the VSC infrastructure.

As the region’s most powerful computer, Sofia is designed for broad scientific use, including climate modeling, chemical simulations, and AI tool development for medical research.

Sofia remains highly energy-intensive, relying on water cooling to prevent overheating and protect cables, despite efforts to minimize power use.

Belgium currently hosts two TIER-1 systems—one in Charleroi and Sofia in Zellik—alongside TIER-2 systems at each participating university.