Edinburgh to lead new era of UK supercomputing

The UK Government has announced the University as the preferred location for the Exascale supercomputer, which will be able to perform one billion billion calculations each second. 

Once operational, it will provide high-performance computing capability for key research and industry projects across the UK. 

Exascale will help researchers model all aspects of the world, test scientific theories and improve products and services in areas such as artificial intelligence, drug discovery, climate change, astrophysics and advanced engineering.

Major investment

The computer – one of only a handful of its kind in the world – is funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It will be managed by EPCC, the University’s supercomputing centre. 

Exascale will be housed in a new £31 million wing of EPCC’s Advanced Computing Facility, which has been purpose-built as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

This investment means Edinburgh is one of the few places in Europe able to host a computer of such enormous scale, experts say.

Installation of the first phase is due to begin in 2025. 

The University has been home to the UK’s high-performance computing services for more than 30 years, and it hosts the country’s current national supercomputer, ARCHER2. 

Funding for the new supercomputer was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Spring Budget as part of an investment of around £900 million in both exascale and a separate AI Research Resource.

Data-driven future

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are thrilled to be chosen to host this significant leap forward in the UK’s supercomputing capabilities. Bringing the Exascale computer to Edinburgh is a testament to our expertise in managing such world-class facilities, and the depth of global talent in computer science and AI within the University. Exascale’s power will help all who work with it to untangle some of the world’s knottiest problems, ensure the UK is prepared for the data-driven future, and further establish Edinburgh as the data capital of Europe.”

Global leader

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “If we want the UK to remain a global leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation, we need to power up the systems that make those breakthroughs possible. 

"This new Exascale computer in Edinburgh will provide British researchers with an ultra-fast, versatile resource to support pioneering work into AI safety, life-saving drugs, and clean low-carbon energy. It is part of our £900m investment in uplifting the UK’s computing capacity, helping us drive stronger economic growth, create the high-skilled jobs of the future and unlock bold new discoveries that improve people's lives.”

Supercomputing heritage 

Exascale is the latest in a series of nationally strategic computing and AI developments at Edinburgh since the University established research hubs in the disciplines 60 years ago.

A year-long programme of events is marking those achievements and anticipating major developments in computer science and AI at Edinburgh in the future.

Further information

Video: https://youtu.be/aNMh3Hu2uZw

UK Government press release: "Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh"
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/game-changing-exascale-computer-planned-for-edinburgh

Find out more about the 60 year celebration here: 
edin.ac/60-years-computer-science-ai