Isambard-AI: The UK’s Most Powerful AI Supercomputer Officially Launched in Bristol
After more than a year of preparation, the University of Bristol has officially launched Isambard-AI, a world-class supercomputing system designed to accelerate artificial intelligence research across the UK.
The system was built and is operated by the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing (BriCS) and is housed at the National Composites Centre (NCC) within the Bristol and Bath Science Park. The launch ceremony was led by Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Isambard-AI is a key part of the UK government’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) initiative, which aims to strengthen the nation’s capabilities in responsible and cutting-edge AI development.
Performance and Global Ranking #
On the Top500 list of June 2025, Isambard-AI ranked 11th in the world with a performance of 216.50 PFLOPS.
Together with the University of Cambridge’s Dawn supercomputer (ranked 82nd with 19.46 PFLOPS), the UK’s combined AI compute power now reaches nearly 236 PFLOPS.
Powered by more than 5,400 NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and next-generation HPE Cray EX technology, Isambard-AI is also ranked sixth fastest in Europe and the fourth most energy-efficient supercomputer worldwide according to the Green500 list.
Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Design #
Sustainability is at the heart of Isambard-AI’s architecture. The system:
- Runs entirely on zero-carbon electricity.
- Operates within a low-carbon, modular data center featuring HPE’s 100% fanless direct liquid cooling, cutting cooling power consumption by up to 90%.
- Has the potential to recycle waste heat to warm nearby homes and businesses.
A Hub for AI Research and Innovation #
The University of Bristol was selected to host this national AI supercomputing research facility due to its long-standing expertise in high-performance computing (HPC) and AI research.
“This is a landmark moment for the UK’s AI development, and the University of Bristol is proud to host the nation’s most powerful AI supercomputer,” said Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol.
The BriCS team, combining its expertise with advanced modular data center technology, completed the project in under two years—a process that typically takes four to five years.
Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, Director of BriCS, highlighted Isambard-AI’s potential:
“This facility places Bristol at the heart of the AI revolution, enabling breakthroughs in 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 #
Isambard-AI’s massive compute power is already enabling groundbreaking research across multiple fields, including:
- Dementia care: Analyzing video from wearable devices to help patients perform daily tasks and potentially trigger memory recall in early dementia.
- Medical imaging: Using AI to interpret MRI scans for earlier cancer detection and personalized treatment planning.
- Drug discovery: Studying more than 30 disease-related proteins to accelerate the development of targeted therapies.
- Agricultural health: Monitoring dairy cattle behavior to detect early signs of subclinical illness.
Driving the UK’s AI Future #
The launch of Isambard-AI aligns with the UK’s 10-year AI infrastructure strategy, designed to boost national computing power for next-generation innovation.
Demand is already high—over 80 research teams and SMEs have applied for access, underscoring the UK’s strong need for advanced AI resources.
With Isambard-AI now live, the UK has taken a major step toward establishing itself as a global leader in AI research, innovation, and sustainable supercomputing.