The UK will be the first country, outside the US, to join the global COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) consortium, Science Minister Amanda Solloway announced today (Thursday 28 May).

The consortium, launched by the US in response to the global pandemic, will allow the UK’s world-leading researchers and scientists to gain access to the world’s largest and fastest supercomputers and perform complex calculations quickly. This will rapidly accelerate UK coronavirus research, helping further treatments, knowledge and understanding of how the disease behaves through advanced modelling.

Bringing together government, industry, and academic leaders, the consortium has 40 members including IBM, US Department of Energy, Google and NASA. It has already supported 59 research projects, all running on high performance computing machines – including London based AI start up, Kuano, which is using the facilities to gain insights from diseases similar to COVID-19, such as SARs, to help design a new drug to defeat the virus.

The announcement was made during the G7 Science and Technology Ministerial held today, with the UK represented by Minister Solloway and John Whittingdale, Minister for Media and Data.

During the virtual meeting of science and technology ministers, the G7 nations set out a shared vision on tackling the pandemic. As a result, the UK committed to enhancing cooperation on shared COVID-19 research priority areas and launching a global partnership on artificial intelligence.

UK Science Minister, Amanda Solloway said:

Tackling coronavirus requires a joint and strong international effort and the very best minds in science and technology sharing their research and knowledge.

By joining this consortium, our leading researchers will be able to access some of the most advanced computers in the world to speed up their research, gain access to new developments, and share the UK’s world-class computing technologies to find a solution to this virus.

UK Data Minister, John Whittingdale said:

The UK has a longstanding reputation for innovation so it is fantastic to see our researchers and scientists working with the world’s fastest supercomputers to accelerate the treatment, research and understanding of the coronavirus.

We are determined to use the power of data and emerging technologies to improve people’s lives and the UK will make a vital contribution to the consortium.

The UK’s access to the High-Performance Computing consortium will be led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The consortium will also ensure that the UK’s other high performing computing facilities are contributing to the global effort against COVID-19, with the Met Office and UK Atomic Energy Authority providing capabilities.

Notes to editors

Visit the High-Performance Computing (HPC) consortium website to see its full membership.

Work has started on a £3 million project to improve the screen and replace the mechanical arm used to clear it.

The upgrade work is being done while adhering to strict Government guidelines on social distancing and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The Sheaf Screen prevents debris from travelling underground along the river where it may become lodged, creating a blockage. Blockages underground, in culverts, which are tunnels that carry water under roads, railways and buildings, are very difficult to clear and can result in flooding to the local area.

The screen currently needs regularly clearing using a combination of the mechanical arm controlled by an operator and manual labour, which can be very resource intensive during an incident. The current screen is in poor condition with some of the screen bars damaged or missing, so the screen is being replaced and two ‘grabs’ will be installed on an overhead monorail, making it easier to clear debris when it collects on the screen.

Phil Rogers, project manager at the Environment Agency said:

This upgrade work for the Sheaf screen is critical to help modernise this important piece of flood risk reduction equipment. The improvements mean that the grabs will work automatically around the clock to remove debris from the river and place in a skip for removal, significantly reducing the need for Environment Agency staff to be on site.

Sheffield has a history of river flooding, with the city experiencing floods in 1973, 1991, 2000 and 2007. Flooding from the River Sheaf in 1991 extended to the central train station and closed the East Coast mainline for four days. This flooding is caused because of blockages at culverts and bridges especially in the urban reaches of the River Sheaf and Porter Brook where large sections of the rivers are culverted.

Sheffield’s Victorian-engineered underground waterway, known as ‘The Megatron’, was built in the mid-1800s below the city centre and boasts an impressive network of cathedral-like brick archways and interconnecting darkened tunnels to contain the overflow of water from a storm.

The Sheaf Screen in Sheffield city centre is located at the upstream end of a 750m culvert which carries the River Sheaf below the central train station and the markets area. It joins up with the Porter Brook which is also largely hidden from view in the city and heads towards its confluence with the River Don.

As well as natural vegetation, the Sheaf Screen regularly collects larger objects including mattresses, tree trunks, bikes, branches and pipes. If these weren’t caught by the screen they could cause a significant blockage and increase the risk of flooding to the city.

While the work is in progress Sheaf Walk will be closed between Duchess Road and the A61. One lane of the A61 will occasionally be closed for deliveries to site. We apologise for any disruption this may cause while we carry out the work.

Sheaf screen proposed works