CPCA - High Performance Computing & AI Feasibility Study.

Post-pandemic, it has never been more important for Cambridge to be leading the way in AI, innovation, technological developments and drug discovery. However, supercomputing, the foundational building block for further growth, requires reliable and abundant sources of power. There are currently an estimated 40 trillion gigabytes (40 zetabytes) of data in the world due, in part, to machines signing on to networks and the Internet - and this figure is set to continue doubling every two years. With the imminent arrival of exascale computing (some 1,000 times faster and more powerful than the petascale), Cambridge's unique and highly skilled ecosystem urgently requires a specific HPC roadmap to: \r

• ensure there is suitable future provision of 100% sustainable power for its prolific research communities and power-hungry sectors\r

• ensure the provision of world-class data centre facilities and fibre within the Cambridge region\r

• support the convergence of technology for global advances\r

• strengthen and retain its global positioning as one of the premier hubs for both supercomputing and AI in the UK and Europe, and stay ahead of the game\r

• The creation of a genuine supercomputing ecosystem to ensure accessibility to all, sharing of best practice and networked working between smaller start-ups and established research institutions. \r

In recent years, significant resources have been spent on progressing housing, transportation and community in the city- but now we need to move Cambridge forward technologically to support our existing businesses and be a location of the future. Many of the larger companies are currently served by their own means. As their compute grows, their needs will inevitably change. Meanwhile, smaller companies do not believe they have a voice at the table. Their needs are subsequently uncoordinated, unrepresented and under-served - which affects their ability to remain in the region. This needs to be addressed as part of this roadmap, to ensure they are part of the convened group.\r

We intend the HPC roadmap to become a core pillar of the technological future of Cambridge and the extended region, as part of the Combined Authority's remit and ICT strategy. As we level-up and progress post COVID, we also need to be getting ahead of the need to retain our regions contribution to the rest of the country.