Isambard-AI will be 10 times more powerful than the UK's current fastest supercomputer and amongst the most powerful in the world, putting Bristol at the forefront of AI innovation. When it opens in summer 2024, at the National Composites Centre, it will be used by a wide range of organisations across the UK. AI researchers will be able to harness the power of AI in emerging technologies and in accelerating research in areas such as automated drug discovery and climate research.
This was a strategically important and time critical project for the University. With extensive expertise in guiding multi-million pound IT outsourcing and systems infrastructure projects, including in Higher Education, VWV swiftly assembled a team of specialists to address various legal and regulatory matters concerning Isambard-AI. This helped to deliver the project at pace, aligning with both governmental and university objectives.
VWV provided comprehensive expertise encompassing procurement, grant funding, supply chain management for delivery of the facility, as well as legal, charity, governance, and regulatory matters crucial for the University's hosting. Their longstanding partnership with the University ensured seamless integration into the project team, facilitating informed decision-making.
Led by partners Stephanie Rickard and James Barr, VWV's team included experts from their renowned Higher Education sector group. The close collaboration between VWV and the University's project team allowed the University to deliver the project within a tight schedule.
Stephanie commented, "We were delighted to work with the University on this significant and exciting project. It was a challenging project given the number and complexity of the legal issues involved and critical pathways. It was truly a team effort to get it over the line."
For more information about how VWV can help Higher Education institutions in relation to projects of this kind, and to find out more about our expertise and our commercially focused and collaborative way of working, please contact Stephanie Rickard, James Barr or Jane Byford, Head of VWV's HE sector.
More information about the project can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bristol-set-to-host-uks-most-powerful-supercomputer-to-turbocharge-ai-innovation
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/technology-secretary-announces-investment-boost-making-british-ai-supercomputing-30-times-more-powerful
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2023/november/supercomputer-announcement.html