The University of Edinburgh has been announced as the home of the UK’s next national supercomputer.
The significant investment represents a huge endorsement of the University and its future as a world-leader in supercomputing and AI, recognising the strength and value of Edinburgh’s expertise.
Major investment
The UK Government has confirmed funding of up to £750 million for this vital piece of national infrastructure, which will be located at the University’s Advanced Computing Facility.
Announced as part of the Chancellor’s Spending Review, the new supercomputer will give scientists across the UK access to compute power on a world-leading scale.
It places the University, the city of Edinburgh and wider region at the centre of a nation-wide effort to drive technological innovations and support industry using computing and AI.
The decision will protect jobs, which may otherwise have been lost from Scotland, and provide further benefits and investment to the regional economy.
“This significant investment will have a profoundly positive impact on the UK’s global standing, and we welcome the vast opportunities it will create for research and innovation. Building on the University of Edinburgh’s expertise and experience over decades, this powerful supercomputer will drive economic growth by supporting advancements in medicine, bolstering emerging industries and public services, and unlocking the full potential of AI. We look forward to working alongside the UK Government and other partners to deliver this critical UK-wide resource.“
-Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh
New horizons
Once operational, the supercomputer will provide high-performance computing capability for key research and industry projects across the UK.
It will enable researchers to undertake large-scale complex modelling, test scientific theories and improve products and public services in areas including medicine, climate change and national security.
The new supercomputer will vastly exceed the capacity of ARCHER2, the current national supercomputer also hosted by the University.
It will work alongside the forthcoming AI research resource, a network of the UK’s most powerful supercomputers built to bolster scientific research.
Building on expertise
The University has been home to the UK’s high-performance computing services for more than 30 years.
The new supercomputer will be housed in a new wing of the Advanced Computing Facility (ACF), operated by EPCC and its team of staff.
The University has been a world-leader in AI and computing for more than 60 years. It is the birthplace of AI research and learning in Europe.
