Scotland will be home to the UK’s most powerful supercomputer after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that up to a further £750m will be invested to build the UK’s new national supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh.
The news comes just two days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer kicked off London Tech Week by unveiling £1bn of extra funding to scale up the country’s AI compute power twenty-fold.
The move puts Edinburgh at heart of the UK’s plans to unlock a decade of national renewal through AI in an attempt to strengthen the country’s position in the world of AI.
Edinburgh’s new supercomputer is set to give scientists from across the UK the compute power they need for R&D.
This will form part of the Chancellor’s commitment to investing in Britain’s renewal at the Spending Review on Wednesday 11th June.
It will work alongside the AI research resource – a network of the UK’s most powerful supercomputers that were built to bolster scientific research.
“From the shipyards of the Clyde to developments in steam engine technology, Scottish trailblazers were central to the industrial revolution – so the next great industrial leap through AI and technology should be no different,” said Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
“Basing the UK’s most powerful supercomputer in Edinburgh, Scotland will now be a major player in driving forward the next breakthroughs that put our Plan for Change into action.”
Reeves added: “We are investing in Scotland’s renewal, so working people are better off.
“Strong investment in our science and technology sector is part of our Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth, and as the home of the UK’s largest supercomputer, Scotland will be an integral part of that journey.”
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