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Isambard-AI: UK’s Most Powerful AI Supercomputer Officially Launches in Bristol
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After running for more than a year, the University of Bristol has officially launched Isambard-AI, a world-class supercomputing system set to accelerate the UK’s artificial intelligence research.

Built and operated by the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing (BriCS) and housed at the National Composites Centre (NCC) in the Bristol and Bath Science Park, the system was unveiled by Peter Kyle, the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

Isambard-AI forms a key part of the UK Government’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) — a national initiative to strengthen the country’s capabilities in responsible, cutting-edge AI development.

Performance and Global Standing
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In the June 2025 Top500 list, Isambard-AI ranked 11th worldwide, delivering 216.50 PFLOPS of performance. Combined with the Dawn supercomputer at the University of Cambridge (ranked 82nd with 19.46 PFLOPS), the UK’s total AI compute power now approaches 236 PFLOPS.

Isambard-AI cabinets at University of Bristol — Source: NVIDIA

Powered by over 5,400 Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and next-generation HPE Cray EX technology, Isambard-AI stands as the 6th fastest supercomputer in Europe and the 4th greenest in the world, according to the Green500 list.

Energy-Efficient and Sustainable by Design
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Sustainability was central to the project’s design. Isambard-AI:

Runs entirely on zero-carbon electricity.
Operates in a low-carbon, modular data center using HPE’s 100% fanless direct liquid cooling, cutting cooling power use by up to 90%.
Has potential to recycle its waste heat for nearby homes and businesses.

A Hub for AI Research and Innovation
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The University of Bristol was chosen to host this national supercomputing research facility due to its long-standing expertise in high-performance computing and AI research.

“This is a pivotal moment for AI in the UK, and the University of Bristol is proud to be at the heart of it,” said Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University. “We are now home to the UK’s most powerful AI supercomputer.”

The BriCS team completed the project in under two years — a process that typically takes four to five years — by combining its expertise with cutting-edge modular data center techniques.

Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, Director of BriCS, highlighted Isambard-AI’s potential:

“This facility places Bristol at the center of the AI revolution, enabling breakthroughs in critical areas such as drug discovery and climate research. It will also help establish the UK as an international hub for AI innovation.”

Transformative Research Applications
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Isambard-AI’s vast computational power is already enabling groundbreaking research, such as:

Dementia care: Analyzing video recordings from wearable devices to help people perform daily tasks more effectively, with potential to trigger memories for early-stage dementia patients.
Medical imaging: Using AI to interpret MRI scans for earlier cancer detection and personalized treatment planning.
Drug discovery: Studying over 30 disease-related proteins to develop targeted therapies.
Agricultural health: Monitoring dairy cattle behavior to detect early signs of subclinical diseases.

Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip — Source: NVIDIA

Driving the UK’s AI Future
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The launch aligns with the UK’s ten-year AI infrastructure strategy, aimed at boosting national computing capacity to deliver next-generation breakthroughs.

Interest has been overwhelming — over 80 research teams and SMEs have already applied for access to Isambard-AI, signaling strong demand for this leap in the UK’s AI capabilities.