27 January 2026
The UK government has announced a significant £36 million investment aimed at expanding the DAWN supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, a move set to increase its artificial intelligence (AI) computing power sixfold by spring 2026. This expansion is a key part of efforts to strengthen the UK's national AI infrastructure and support cutting-edge research across the country.
As part of the upgrade, for the first time, AMD Instinct™ MI355X accelerators will be integrated into the DAWN system, providing UK researchers and start-ups with access to some of the world's most advanced AI computational resources. The integration is being managed by Dell Technologies and is supported through the government-backed AI Research Resource (AIRR). This initiative aims to democratize access to high-performance computing, enabling smaller entities and academic institutions to compete at the forefront of AI development.
Stephanie Dismore, Senior Vice President for EMEA at AMD, expressed pride in supporting Cambridge University’s AI research efforts. She highlighted that the collaboration leverages AMD’s high-performance computing technologies, including AMD EPYC™ processors and AMD Instinct™ accelerators, to accelerate scientific discovery. Dismore emphasized the importance of scalable and efficient compute solutions as AI models become increasingly complex, underscoring the company’s commitment to empowering innovation and addressing global challenges through responsible, high-performance computing.
This investment aligns with the UK government’s broader AI Opportunities Action Plan, which allocates over £2 billion to enhance public compute infrastructure for AI development. The plan includes ambitions to expand AIRR twentyfold by 2030 and to construct a new national supercomputer in Edinburgh, further cementing the UK’s position as a leader in AI research.
Launched in July 2025, AIRR offers UK researchers, small businesses, and start-ups free access to supercomputing resources that are typically reserved for major tech corporations. Currently, the network includes the DAWN supercomputer at Cambridge and Isambard-AI in Bristol, providing vital infrastructure to foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs across the nation.
