L’The Central Scientific Computing Unit (USC-C) is theINAF (National Institute for Astrophysics) structure responsible for defining, implementing, and managing the Institute's digital strategies and technological infrastructures.
Our mission is to provide the Italian astrophysical community with the computational tools and IT services necessary to compete at the highest levels within the international research landscape.
our mission
The USCC’s vision is founded on providing direct support to scientific research and technological innovation. From managing astronomical Big Data to developing advanced cloud solutions, our goal is to ensure that INAF’s information assets and computing capacity remain secure, scalable, and cutting-edge resources.
Operational Sectors
To respond thoroughly to the Institute's diverse needs, the Unit is organized into 4 specialized Operational Sectors :
Computing and Storage: HPC infrastructure and storage.
Scientific Archives and IA2: Data preservation and distribution.
Network Infrastructure and Security: Monitoring and protection of digital assets.
IT Services and INAF Cloud: Collaborative platforms and cloud services.
organizational structure
The effectiveness of the USC-C lies in its structured governance, which coordinates technical expertise distributed across INAF’s various territorial offices. This section outlines the organizational chart, sector managers, and the methods by which the Unit interfaces with the Scientific Directorate and the Institute's other bodies.
Time & Space Allocation Committee (CAT&S).
Access to high-level computing resources is regulated by CATS. This scientific committee evaluates requests to use the infrastructure (CPU time and storage space) based on criteria of excellence and project relevance, ensuring an equitable and efficient distribution of available resources.