Switch-on of supercomputer the size of a supermarket now 'tantalisingly close'

The frame of the building at a site near Roslin, Midlothian, has now been completed with the final structural beam in place.

The beam was signed by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, Professor Kim Graham, the Provost of the University of Edinburgh and Professor Mark Parsons, director of EPCC, the national supercomputing centre led by the university.

The supercomputer, which will work on major discoveries in fields such as sustainable aircraft engineering, extreme weather events and drug discovery, is due to be operational by early 2028.

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Prof Parsons said: “Now that the steel frame has been completed on the building, getting the Next National Supercomputer online feels tantalisingly close. It’s been fantastic to see construction progress smoothly and I look forward to working with our partners at UKRI and the UK Government as we progress towards installation and switch-on.”

Supercomputing allows researchers to carry out modelling that is unfeasible or too costly to do in the real world, such as simulating heart blood flow, predicting heatwaves, modelling flood defences and understanding volcanic eruptions – helping to accelerate scientific discovery, improve public services and enhance the UK's resilience to future challenges.

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Prof Graham said: “This is an exciting moment for Edinburgh and the UK as construction on the external build for the Next National Supercomputer nears completion. It has been a privilege to host Minister Narayan at the site, showcasing Edinburgh’s globally impactful contributions in health innovation, supercomputing, AI and advanced technologies. We look forward to continuing to work with the UK Government to deliver on their priorities, boosting economic growth in our region and across the UK.”

Mr Narayan said seeing the construction near Roslin was a “powerful reminder” that the UK's ambition to build world-leading computer capability was “becoming a reality”.

He added: “This Next National Supercomputer will be a vital national asset, giving researchers and companies the power to pursue transformational discoveries on British shores and strengthening our position at the forefront of global science.”

The work to build the UK’s Next National Supercomputer has been funded by the UK Government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is being delivered as a partnership between UKRI and the University of Edinburgh’s EPCC, the UK’s first National Supercomputing Centre.

During his visit to Edinburgh, Mr Narayan met with the School of Chemistry’s Dr Antonia Mey, who explained the ways that supercomputing helps researchers better understand antibiotic resistance, one of the world’s most pressing medical challenges.

The Minister also toured labs at BioQuarter, speaking with researchers including Professor of Experimental Medicine Kenneth Baillie, who explained the use of supercomputing to find treatments for Covid-19, and Professor Will Whiteley, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, who explained how population-scale data and supercomputing allow for a better understanding of stroke and dementia.

The supercomputer will provide advanced computing power for both academia and industry.

Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Robertson Group, which is constructing the home of the supercomputer, added: “The University of Edinburgh and Robertson have shared a longstanding partnership and continue to deliver high-quality projects together that support research, innovation and discovery. It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to the site and showcase the strong progress being made on this nationally significant project.”