We’ve funded a range of projects to guide our roadmap for the future

Surveying accessibility of federated compute for junior researchers

We are conducting a study to improve accessibility within the UK’s National Federated Compute Service (NFCS) Network Plus roadmap, specifically targeting the needs of junior researchers.

Currently, complex allocation processes and high barriers to entry often exclude early-career scientists or PhD students from high-performance computing (HPC) resources. This project aims to identify “plug and play” pathways for smaller-scale projects to ensure the long-term sustainability and inclusivity of our national infrastructure.

We propose a technical survey of the UK’s resource readiness through an exoplanet themed hackathon to engage wider audience.  By simulating high-demand, ad-hoc resource requests using datasets from the upcoming Ariel space mission, we will test the viability of “pod” environments for rapid allocation and management across different institutions.

The project will engage junior researchers as well as network provider to assess how federated services can better accommodate diverse competency levels and provide a technical roadmap for future development.