Isambard's innovation sparked a global shift toward Arm-based supercomputers, now a thriving market worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It powered the first Arm-based supercomputer, Fugaku, at RIKEN in Japan, the world’s fastest from 2020-21 and one that continues to drive cutting-edge research worldwide. 

Building on this legacy, the newly established Bristol Centre for Supercomputing cements the university's position as a leader in high-performance computing and AI innovation. With a £225 million UK government investment, the centre is developing Isambard-AI, a pioneering AI supercomputer poised to rank among the world’s top 10. 

Currently, the centre hosts Isambard 3, a £10 million next-generation supercomputer delivering six times the performance of its predecessor. A milestone that has already propelled the UK to the forefront of AI research and application – pushing the boundaries of scientific research. 

Developed as a collaboration between the GW4 universities, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, the centre is set to significantly boost research discovery, driving new, scientific research in a wide range of areas, such as sustainable net zero, green energy and healthcare.

With its advanced capabilities, Isambard 3 will support collaborations with academic and industrial partners all over the world and accelerate understanding in areas such as artificial intelligence and scientific simulations. It will also enable heat recycling for local infrastructure, illustrating the project’s commitment to societal and environmental impact.