Hivenet and Inria strengthen their partnership with a new challenge for a sovereign and sustainable distributed cloud

Since 2023, Inria and Hivenet have been working together as part of the Alvearium challenge, to develop distributed storage and computing technologies to reduce hyperscalers' dependence on cloud infrastructures. This approach is based on the use of decentralised computing resources, mobilising the computing power available on different types of hardware, from personal PCs to high-performance servers.

With this in mind, a second challenge, called CUPSELI, was officially launched on 14 February 2025 at the World AI Cannes Forum (WAICF).

A major scientific collaboration

The CUPSELI challenge mobilises a large-scale scientific community, bringing together 11 Inria research teams - ARGO, COAST, COATI, OCKHAM, MAGELLAN, MIMOVE, NEO, TADAAM, TOPAL, STACK and WIDE - from six research centres: Rennes, Bordeaux, Lorraine, Côte d'Azur, Lyon and Paris.

The project is part of a close collaboration with leading academic institutions, including the University of Bordeaux, the University of Lorraine, the University of Rennes and the University of Côte d'Azur, as well as research bodies such as the CNRS, the Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute, the Institut Mines-Télécom and the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon.

Under the scientific direction of Olivier Beaumont, Director of Research at the Inria Centre at the University of Bordeaux, this initiative involves the recruitment of nine doctoral students, including four Cifre theses, and two post-doctoral students. The advances resulting from this work will be tested on cutting-edge infrastructures, in particular the Jean Zay and SLICES computing platforms, guaranteeing concrete and operational applications of the research results.

Scientific advances for a sovereign cloud

The CUPSELI challenge tackles three major technological issues:

• AI that is sustainable and distributed across a range of computing devices:
  Development of AI models capable of running efficiently on different types of hardware, from personal computers to servers. This approach optimises the use of resources and reduces energy consumption, offering a more sustainable solution. The aim is to create a sovereign cloud where users can contribute computing power without relying on centralised data centres.
• Secure distributed computing:
  Advanced encryption techniques for data protection within distributed networks meeting the needs of the most demanding sectors such as healthcare, finance and public administration.
• Large-scale distributed computing: 
  Designing new methods for efficiently exploiting computing resources that are made available intermittently, according to need. This will provide a solid alternative to traditional cloud solutions.

A strong impact on the digital ecosystem

As part of the AI Action Summit, the CUPSELI challenge aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale distributed computing model capable of competing with existing centralised solutions. It paves the way for new applications in key sectors such as healthcare, finance and public infrastructure, where data sovereignty and security are essential.

With this new challenge, Inria and Hivenet are reaffirming their commitment to responsible and sustainable digital technology, while actively contributing to the technological independence of France and Europe.