University of Surrey chosen to lead £3.9m national training hub for UK’s new Compute Strategy
The UK’s new Compute Roadmap, announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aims to strengthen the nation’s high-performance computing capabilities and workforce, with the University of Surrey chosen to host one of two national training hubs in a bid to close the gap in critical skills.
The Surrey-based Accelerated Compute Infrastructure Training Hub (ACIT-Hub) has secured £3.9 million in funding, with a majority share awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to deliver personalised, industry-recognised training for Research Technology Professionals (RTPs).
Accelerated compute technology drives progress in fields such as AI, drug discovery, engineering and climate modelling. The UK has invested more than £1.8 billion in this infrastructure, with expected economic benefits exceeding £23.7 billion by 2034. However, there remains a clear need for better coordination, training and support to develop the skilled professionals who build and maintain these systems.
Unlike traditional research grants, this initiative is almost entirely RTP-led, showing the commitment both Surrey and UKRI have towards RTPs. The ACIT-Hub will offer industry-recognised, tailored training courses and events covering accelerators, networking, storage, orchestration and management software. Designed and led by expert RTPs themselves, the programme will ensure training is practical, relevant and accessible to meet the evolving needs of the sector.
Dean Roe and Dr Jaydeep Mody, co-leads of the hub from Surrey’s Research Computing Services, were instrumental in securing the bid alongside Dr Cooper, highlighting the expertise supporting the venture at Surrey.
The ACIT-Hub is led by Research Technology Professionals and will draw upon our collective knowledge and experience of the real-world challenges of supporting and delivering the technologies and systems underpinning accelerated compute. The ACIT-Hub will offer practical, high-quality training that meets the needs of our community. We’re proud that Surrey is leading this effort to strengthen the UK’s computing capabilities and support the next generation of technical experts.Dean Roe
The University of Surrey’s success in hosting the hub builds on its global reputation in AI research and training. The Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing has been ranked first in the UK for Computer Vision since records began, while the Institute for People-Centred AI is leading research that empowers individuals and benefits society.
The ACIT-Hub is partnering with other leading universities; Oxford, Sheffield, Imperial and Bristol, and draws on networks such as the UKRI Tier 2 JADE consortium to deliver coordinated, industry-relevant training and support the UK’s accelerated computing goals.
Britain has top of the class talent in AI and our plan will put a rocket under our brilliant researchers, scientists, and engineers – giving them the tools they need to make Britain the best place to do their work.Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Peter Kyle
This will mean we can harness the technology in Britain to transform our public services, drive growth, and unlock new opportunities for every community in the country.
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