Session B • CERN LHC Run4 computing infrastructure procurement

As CERN prepares for the High‑Luminosity LHC era (Run 4), the computing infrastructure behind the experiments must scale in performance and capacity while staying within tight constraints on cost, power, and operability. With LS3 planned to start in July 2026 and the HL‑LHC start shifting to around June 2030, procurement planning needs to balance long lead times with market uncertainty and rapid technology change.

This presentation gives a practical, industry‑facing overview of CERN’s upcoming procurement of compute and storage for Run 4, building on established tendering principles used for Run 3: maximizing performance per CHF and per watt for servers, and capacity per CHF and per watt for storage, while minimizing total cost and power consumption and optimizing utilization. We will outline what typically appears in technical specifications (performance benchmarks, energy efficiency, serviceability, delivery cadence), the expected tendering cycles, and how companies can position themselves via supplier registration, market surveys, and compliant bids.