The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has unveiled the new supercomputer ‘Mary Coombs’ at its newly opened £30 million supercomputing centre at Daresbury Laboratory. Named after pioneer Mary Coombs, the world’s first commercial computer programmer, the GPU-based system offers a tenfold increase in performance compared to its predecessor ‘Scafell Pike’ while consuming less energy. With a computing power of 24.41 petaflops – equivalent to 24.41 quadrillion floating-point operations per second – it enables companies and public institutions to analyse vast datasets at lightning speed and scale AI applications. The inauguration marks a milestone in the UK’s digital strategy and supports the government’s ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’.
Mary Coombs (1929–2022) was the first woman to program for commercial purposes in 1952 – at the Lyons Electronic Office (LEO), the world’s first business computer. Originally working as an administrative trainee at J. Lyons & Co., her mathematical talents led her to the programming department, where she developed payrolls for Ford and the Inland Revenue, as well as ballistics calculations for the military. The naming not only honours her pioneering achievement in a male-dominated industry but also symbolises the transition from early computing machines to modern AI systems.
The Hartree Centre at Daresbury Laboratory, the UK’s only supercomputing centre focused on industry collaborations, integrates the supercomputer into the £210 million ‘Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation’ programme – a partnership with IBM. It offers access to experts in supercomputing, AI, and data science to transform industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, and the environment. From accelerating new drugs and climate predictions to sustainable energy, companies without their own infrastructure can now perform complex simulations without high investment.
‘Mary Coombs’ is specifically suited for AI workloads and advanced visualisations, which enormously accelerates the processing of big data. A single process that would take centuries on a conventional computer is completed here in seconds. Its energy efficiency reduces the carbon footprint, making the supercomputer a model for green high-performance computing. For comparison: a sequence of 24.41 quadrillion calculations, at one operation per second, would take almost 773 million years.
Professor Kate Royse, Director of the Hartree Centre, emphasized: The system provides British industry with the necessary computing power and expertise to turn ambitious ideas into real solutions. From drug discovery to climate research: companies process data more efficiently, without in-house supercomputers or AI specialists. By accessing world-class technology and Hartree experts, companies can innovate, accelerate research, and bring products to market faster – with tangible benefits for the economy and society.
Paul Vernon, Head of Daresbury Laboratory, called the facility an “important national asset” for research and innovation. It solidifies the North West region as a hub for advanced technologies, digital skills, and highly skilled jobs. Through digital technology infrastructure, we are building a stronger, more innovative economy and securing the UK’s leading position in global R&D.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, praised: Investors are responding enthusiastically to the region’s role in the UK’s advanced computing sector. From AI research to health innovations and climate science: the pioneering work in Daresbury has a far-reaching impact, and “Mary Coombs” will further turbo-charge these capabilities.
The Supercomputing Centre strengthens British competitiveness at a time when AI and data analysis are key to productivity and growth. It enables small and medium-sized enterprises to compete with global players and promotes interdisciplinary projects. Further expansions, including quantum computing integration, are planned to secure the lead. The initiative underscores the importance of public investment in digital infrastructure for sustainable economic growth.
