Edinburgh will get its supercomputer after all

Edinburgh Reporter

a day ago

The UK Government pressed the pause button on the supercomputer promised for the Scottish capital when it was first elected in 2024, but there is now a green light for the multi-million pound project in the Spending Review to be announced on Wednesday.
The government will allocate up to £750 million for the new supercomputer to be sited in Edinburgh which will give scientists in the UK access to computing power found in only a few other countries.
The University of Edinburgh will be home to the new national supercomputer which it is said will strengthen the UK's position 'as an AI-maker and research power'. The supercomputer will work along with the AI Research Resource which is due to become operational soon (its funding was also paused last year).
The University of Edinburgh has already built a £31 million wing of the Advanced Computing Facility to house the supercomputer with funding from the City Region Deal which is funded with contributions from both The UK and Scottish governments.
The AI Research Resource is already being used to research vaccines for Alzheimer's and treatments for cancer by simulating how drugs work in side the body, 'testing' millions of potential drugs virtually. The supercomputer will allow scientists the power they require for research which could make transformational change, and in the field of medicine it will speed up the creation of new drugs.
UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle said: '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.
'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.'
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: '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.'
Rt Hon Ian Murray at Dover House London
Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said: 'This is a landmark moment and will place Scotland at the forefront of the UK's technological revolution. The £750 million investment in Edinburgh's new supercomputer places Scotland at the cutting edge of computing power globally.
'This will see Scotland playing a leading role in creating breakthroughs that have a global benefit – such as new medicines, health advances, and climate change solutions. This is the Plan for Change – delivering real opportunities and economic growth for communities across Scotland.'
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: 'This significant investment will have a profoundly positive impact on the UK's global standing, and we welcome the vast opportunities it will create for research and innovation.
'Building on the University of Edinburgh's expertise and experience over decades, this powerful supercomputer will drive economic growth by supporting advancements in medicine, bolstering emerging industries and public services, and unlocking the full potential of AI. We look forward to working alongside the UK government and other partners to deliver this critical national resource.'
Edinburgh Central MSP, Angus Robertson has been appealing to his Labour colleagues who represent Edinburgh constituencies since last October when he wrote to all of them, and to Peter Kyle, explaining that without such a supercomputer it would be impossible for the UK to be a 'science superpower'. He also said: 'The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal is well on the way to establishing Edinburgh as the data capital of Europe along with the creation of 21,000 jobs.'
Correctly predicting the announcement in the Spending Review Mr Robertson said on X it would be a welcome U-turn.
One of the first things the UK Labour government did was cutting the Exascale computer at Edinburgh University worth nearly £1 billion. They are now reportedly considering a welcome u-turn. #Edinburgh #DataCapital#Supercomputer #AI#Exascale https://t.co/GQjRqXn1W5 — Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) June 10, 2025
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