Bristol Centre for Supercomputing

Advancing research and discovery with high-performance computing

A hub for advanced research technologies

Led by the University of Bristol, the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing builds on the University's expertise in high performance computing, establishing the centre as a leading host for some of the UK’s most sophisticated supercomputers.

With a strong history in AI research, the centre attracted a £225 million UK government investment to develop Isambard-AI, a dedicated AI research supercomputer. Poised to rank among the world’s top 10 supercomputers, Isambard-AI will position the UK as a global leader in AI.

The centre is also home to Isambard 3, a world-class supercomputer, offering over six times the performance of its predecessor, Isambard 2. Built for more traditional computation, Isambard 3 will focus on research in a wide range of areas like clean energy and health.

An angled photograph of Isamabrd-AI inside the modular data centre. There are blue and red pipes which show the liquid cooling system. There is a blue glow.

Isambard-AI

Isambard-AI is the UK’s fastest and most powerful supercomputer, purpose-built for AI research. Designed to provide open-source intelligence, it is transforming research and driving AI-led breakthroughs in critical areas like automated drug discovery and climate research.

Ranked 11th most powerful in the world, 6th most powerful in Europe and 4th greenest in the world, Isambard-AI is able to process in one second what it would take the entire global population 80 years to achieve.

Isambard-AI is a critical part of the AI Research Resource (AIRR), enabling researchers from the UK and across the globe to accelerate their research projects for the benefit of all. Built for breakthroughs, powered by people.

Isambard 3

The fully operational Isambard 3 is one of the UK's most powerful CPU-based supercomputers, boasting over 55,000 cores and delivering six times the performance of its predecessor, Isambard 2.

It leverages novel technologies including the Arm® Neoverse™-based NVIDIA Grace CPU Superchip, has an expanded storage system to support data-intensive workloads, and is set to support research in diverse fields such as clean energy and medicine.

Isambard 3 is located at the National Composites Centre site alongside Isambard-AI, and shares sustainable qualities, including advanced cooling methods and the ability to recover and reuse waste energy.