Edinburgh Secures Bid to Host Next-Generation Exascale System, Paving the Way for AI Breakthroughs and Clean Energy Revolution
In a groundbreaking development, Edinburgh has been selected as the preferred location to house the cutting-edge next-generation exascale facility. This high-performance computing system is set to unleash a wave of innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), medicine, and clean low-carbon energy. The decision to invest in this state-of-the-art facility underscores the UK government’s commitment to bolster its computing capacity and support groundbreaking scientific research.
Exascale computing represents the future of computational power, enabling systems to handle immensely complex tasks with unprecedented precision and speed. This monumental leap is poised to expedite research efforts tackling pressing global challenges, including the development of life-saving medications and advancements in nuclear fusion for clean, low-carbon energy production.
The University of Edinburgh will host this transformative exascale system, offering a powerful platform for conducting intricate workloads whilst also promoting critical research into the safety and development of AI. This initiative reflects the UK’s dedication to harnessing the potential of AI to improve lives in a safe and responsible manner.
The Secretary for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Michelle Donelan, emphasized the importance of empowering the systems that drive scientific breakthroughs to secure the UK’s position as a global leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation. The substantial investment in this exascale computer in Edinburgh will provide British researchers with an incredibly fast and versatile resource, supporting pioneering advancements in AI safety, life-saving drugs, and transformative clean low-carbon energy solutions. This investment forms part of the government’s £900 million commitment to ramp up the UK’s computing capacity, fostering economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs, and unlocking groundbreaking discoveries that enhance people’s lives.
The computational prowess of any system is gauged by its floating point operations, or flops, which quantifies the number of arithmetic calculations a computer can perform per second. The exascale system to be hosted in Edinburgh will be a staggering 50 times more powerful than the current leading system, ARCHER2, boasting an impressive computing capacity.
Edinburgh’s successful bid to host this national facility will not only generate new high-skilled job opportunities within the city but also significantly enhance the country’s research, technology, and innovation capabilities. This development aligns with the Prime Minister’s priorities, fostering economic growth, productivity, and prosperity nationwide.
The Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, highlighted the pivotal role of cutting-edge computing infrastructure in driving advances in research and innovation across diverse domains, ranging from drug design to energy security and extreme weather modeling. By housing this next-generation exascale system, Edinburgh will continue to position the UK at the forefront of emerging technologies, enabling collaborative endeavors that yield transformative insights across multidisciplinary fields.
Scotland’s Secretary of State, Alister Jack, emphasized the critical role played by the existing ARCHER2 system in Edinburgh, reinforcing the notion that the new exascale system, supported by the UK government, will further cement Scotland’s prominence in scientific research and innovation. In addition to advancing AI safety research, this development will create highly skilled job opportunities and drive economic growth in the region.
This recent announcement follows the news that Bristol will house a pioneering AI supercomputer named Isambard-AI, solidifying its position as one of Europe’s leading AI powerhouses. Isambard-AI will form an integral part of the national AI Research Resource (AIRR) and will significantly contribute to the safe development and utilization of AI technology. Both the exascale compute system and the AIRR were introduced as part of the UK government’s £900 million investment to elevate the country’s next-generation computing capabilities, aligning with recommendations outlined in the independent review of Future of Compute.
Coinciding with these exciting advancements, the world’s inaugural AI Safety Summit is set to take place in the UK on November 1 and 2. This summit will gather global leaders, technology organizations, academics, and civil society representatives to foster international consensus on managing the risks associated with rapid AI advancements, while maximizing the technology’s safe utilization for the betterment of society.
Edinburgh’s triumph in securing the prestigious exascale facility serves as a testament to the city’s position at the forefront of scientific innovation. The new compute system will undoubtedly accelerate groundbreaking research, spearhead AI advancements, and drive progress in clean energy solutions. As the UK propels itself into the vanguard of global AI and computing capabilities, the benefits will ripple across the nation, enriching lives and propelling economic and scientific growth.
