Objective and Focus: The objective of the first IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2008), sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Scalable Computing (TCSC), is to highlight and showcase real-world problem solving using scalable computing. The contest will focus on end-to-end problem solving using concepts, technologies and architectures (including Clusters and Grids) relevant to the overall scope of TCSC (http://www.ieeetcsc.org). Participants in the challenge will be expected to identify significant current real-world problems where scalable computing techniques can be effectively used, and design, implement, evaluate and demonstrate solutions.

Call for Proposals:

The first IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2008) will be held in conjunction with the 8th CCGrid Conference in Lyon, France, May 19-22, 2008 (http://ccgrid2008.ens-lyon.fr/). TCSC is inviting research teams to submit proposal detailing their contributions to the challenge. The deadline for submitting proposals is February 01, 2008. Proposal should be up to five (5) pages long and should clearly outline:

1. The technology/application domain, the specific problem addressed and its relevance to scalable computing challenge.
2. The specific application scenario that will be addressed and its requirements.
3. The overall solution architecture and its underlying concepts and technologies, highlighting the innovated aspects of the solution.
4. The expected outcome and impact of the project as well as specific deliverables that will be presented and demonstrated at the conference.
5. The team members along with their contact information.

Up to 5 teams will be selected based on proposals submitted and will be invited to participate in the challenge and to demonstrate their project at the CCGrid conference. Participation from students and young researchers, especially in leadership roles, is strongly encouraged. Selected team will receive a travel award up to $1000 to help with travel to the conference. Each selected team will be expected to present and demonstrate their project at the conference. The teams will be judged by a panel of judges based on the following criteria:

1. The significance and potential impact of the application and its appropriateness for scalable computing
2. Novelty, technical complexity and correctness of the presented solution and the results achieved
3. Extent to which the presented solution pushes the envelope in scalable computing
4. Demonstration and presentation by the team

Awards:

• First prize: Plaque + $1000
• Second prize: Plaque + $500

Tentative timeline:

• Proposals due: February 11, 2008.
• Feedback about proposals: February 25, 2008.
• Project update to panel: April 01, 2008.
• Final presentation/demo: May 19-22, 2008.

Coordinators:

• Manish Parashar, Rutgers University, USA: parashar@caip.rutgers.edu
• Rajkumar Buyya, University of Melbourne, Australia: raj@csse.unimelb.edu.au