New Hartree Centre strategy advances computing for UK industry

As the nation's sole supercomputing hub focused on fostering industry collaboration, the Hartree Centre plays a pivotal role in equipping businesses with the essential skills and technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. These tools are instrumental in addressing various sector-specific challenges, ranging from precision medicine to managing flood risks.

Situated at the STFC's Daresbury Laboratory within the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus in the Liverpool City Region, the Hartree Centre is at the forefront of boosting productivity, innovation, and economic advancement for both large and small UK enterprises.

Strategic vision for industrial advancement

The strategic plan for 2024-2029 delineates the Hartree Centre's ambitions to build upon its historical successes and further contribute to the UK's societal and economic development. The strategy details the Centre's intent to sustain its collaborative efforts with partners in narrowing the divide between scientific research and the industrial sector, thereby fostering socio-economic progress.

This vision is encapsulated in its flagship initiative, the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI), a £210 million collaboration with IBM. Launched in 2021, the HNCDI has made significant strides in enabling businesses to enhance staff skills and harness advanced digital technologies.

Aligning with national priorities

The Hartree Centre's strategic objectives are in harmony with the UKRI's ‘Transforming Tomorrow Together’ strategy and the STFC's strategic delivery plan. These objectives underscore the Centre's commitment to a shared mission, encompassing:

• Innovation: establishing the Hartree Centre as a pivotal partner for advancing the UK industry's engagement with novel digital technologies
• Places: promoting the Hartree Centre as the national hub for industry access to premier computing resources
• People and careers: developing the digital competencies of the UK's industry and public sector to leverage emerging technologies effectively
• Ideas: leveraging the Centre's resources and expertise to pioneer technologies and scientific breakthroughs that address national priorities in high-performance computing, AI, quantum computing, and more
• Impact: facilitating industrial, societal, and economic benefits across the UK by enabling industries to utilise and integrate cutting-edge digital technologies
• Organisation: maintaining a progressive, sustainable, and efficient Hartree Centre that prioritises the growth, safety, and wellbeing of its diverse workforce

Fostering digital innovation and skills

A key aspect of the strategy is the expansion of the Hartree Centre's capabilities through a new, advanced facility to bolster the UK's supercomputing and AI endeavours. This expansion aligns with the UK Government's broader objectives to advance computing and AI technologies for the industrial sector and society at large. The Centre's ongoing investment in its workforce and commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive environment underscore its role in driving UK's digital innovation forward.

Envisioning the future of digital technologies

Kate Royse, Director of the Hartree Centre, remarked: "The Hartree Centre stands out for its continuous focus on translating emerging digital technologies to solve challenges and deliver meaningful societal and economic impact for UK industry. I couldn’t be prouder of our commitment to the future of supercomputing and AI and their application to real business challenges, fostering societal and economic impact in the UK. Our unique ability to work at the intersection of research and innovation enables us to place cutting edge digital solutions into the hands of UK businesses, regardless of their size. By setting out our direction for the next five years, I am excited that through collaboration, innovation, and talent development, we are well positioned to shape the future of digital innovation in the UK."

Catalysing innovation through partnerships

The strategy document showcases several ongoing projects that embody its strategic priorities, including collaborations with safesteps to develop tailored care plans for reducing fall risks in the elderly and with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) on creating digital twins for fusion power plants. These initiatives highlight the Hartree Centre's role in transforming the landscape of digital innovation through strategic partnerships.