On Friday, 16 October 2026, the traditional Open Day of the HPC Trdina supercomputer took place at the University of Novo mesto, Faculty of Information Studies (FIS). The event offered secondary school students an opportunity to explore high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and their practical applications.
The event opened with an address by Assist. Prof. Maruša Gorišek, Vice-Dean for Scientific Research at FIS, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of acquiring knowledge and developing digital competencies in modern information technologies.
This was followed by a lecture by Prof. Srđan Škrbić, who introduced the HPC Trdina supercomputer, outlined its capabilities, and explained the connection between high-performance computing and the development of artificial intelligence. He also presented the SLAIF – Slovenian AI Factory project, which aims to establish advanced computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence in Slovenia and promote collaboration between research institutions, industry, and the public sector.
Next, Beno Zupanc from the Rudolfovo Public Research Institute presented the architecture of the HPC Trdina supercomputer and demonstrated its practical use at Rudolfovo. The students gained insight into how supercomputing infrastructure operates and the role it plays in performing computationally demanding tasks.
The presentations were followed by a quiz hosted by Assist. Prof. Maruša Gorišek, giving participants the opportunity to test their knowledge of supercomputing and artificial intelligence.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the HPC Centre led by Jani Pogačar. The students had the opportunity to see the HPC Trdina supercomputer up close and learn more about how it operates.
The event was organised in cooperation with the Slovenian National Supercomputing Network (SLING). Through this collaboration, FIS promotes the use of high-performance computing in education and research and contributes to the development of digital competencies among future generations.
