Currently, we are coordinating with institutions such as PhilRice, UPLB-BIOTECH, and UP-MSI for possible collaborations. These institutions have expressed their interest to use the facility for their research activities like simulations, data warehousing, database management, genome assembly, and more.

UPLB-BIOTECH

The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) is the center of research and education for Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines- Los Banos (UPLB). Its research projects specialize on the application of biotechnology on agricultural and forest resources, creating products like human food, animal feeds & fertilizers, health & medicinal products, and environmental products like biofuel.

BIOTECH and ASTI look forward to a research partnership entitled, "Application of Data Warehousing and Grid Computing Technologies to Drug Discoveries". The HPC will be utilized as a warehouse of chemical and drug data coming from various databases. It shall act as a compound library through which data from various sources are integrated for easy access, search, manipulation, and analysis. The grid will also allow the integration of related tools and services in the system by developing a web interface for the project.

UP-MSI is the National Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences in the Philippines. It leads in education, research and extension programs on the study of marine life and environment and covers a wide expanse of research and teaching areas from marine environment, biology & biotechnology to physical & geological oceanography. MSI's focus on research intends to capture data and information for sustainable use and conservation of our marine resources.

With the local computing facility now in place, UP-MSI has been one of the pioneer users of the HPC facility. The current joint research of UP-MSI that involves researchers from James Cook University and Siliman University on the "Development of a dual-resolution larval dispersal model for Bohol Sea" is one example of research projects of UP-MSI. This research project uses different simulation and dispersal models like hydrodynamic modelling to study larval settlement behavior. Because it is a process-intensive and data-extensive research, it has enormously benefited from the efficiency provided by grid technology.

PAGASA

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration is a government service institution under DOST that conducts scientific investigation on atmospheric, astronomic, geologic and physical conditions. It is responsible for providing public information like weather forecasts, warnings and advisories against natural hazards like typhoons and floods through consistent monitoring. PAGASA formulates programs and projects to avoid natural disasters and provide a secure living condition against natural hazards.

PAGASA is a part of the platform of the e-Science grid network with its GeoServer and GeoNetwork servers connected to the grid. It also employs the ASTI cluster in running the High-Resolution Regional Model (HRM) which PAGASA uses in modeling weather systems.