The government has announced £36 million government investment into the AI supercomputer centre in Cambridge.
The money will be used to increase the power of one of the UK’s leading supercomputing centres sixfold.
Home to the DAWN supercomputer, the University of Cambridge is part of the AI Research Resource (AIRR) – a national programme that gives free access to the kind of high-powered computing usually only available to the world’s biggest tech companies.
The supercomputer has already supported over 350 projects including developing AI tools that could speed up personalised cancer vaccines.
The extra supercomputing power will be available from Spring 2026 and create benefits such as faster, more accurate tools that help doctors spot diseases much earlier; smarter technology that cuts waiting times and makes public services easier to use; and better climate modelling to help communities prepare for extreme weather.
Minister for AI Kanishka Narayan, said: "The UK is home to world-class AI talent, but too often our ambitious researchers and most promising start-ups have been held back by a lack of access to the computing power they need.
"This investment changes that – giving British innovators the tools to compete with the biggest players and develop AI that improves lives, from spotting diseases earlier to helping communities prepare for extreme weather, right across the country."
Professor Sir John Aston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, University of Cambridge: "This investment marks an important milestone for the UK’s AI Research Resource, expanding the power of Cambridge’s DAWN supercomputer and strengthening our national computing ecosystem. It will give researchers, clinicians and innovators the tools they need to drive breakthroughs that improve public services.
"The University of Cambridge is proud to work with industry leaders such as Dell to ensure world‑class compute is available to those tackling society’s most complex challenges, helping the UK shape the next generation of AI for public good."
