Monash University Launches Australia’s First AI Supercomputer for Research Purposes
Monash University has announced the development of MAVERIC, an advanced artificial intelligence supercomputer, in collaboration with NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and CDC Data Centres. MAVERIC will be Australia’s first higher education AI supercomputer, featuring the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 platform, which marks its initial deployment in the country. This project aims to enhance sovereign AI innovation capabilities across various research domains, including academia, government, and private sector organisations. The supercomputer is designed to address complex challenges, such as breakthroughs in cancer detection and climate science. Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, highlighted the partnership’s significance in strengthening national research capabilities. She stated that Monash aims to position its academics, students, and research partners at the forefront of AI development, focusing on solving real-world problems and unlocking new possibilities for future generations.
The MAVERIC system, built on the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 architecture, is specifically designed for large-scale AI and data-intensive workloads, placing Monash University at the forefront of AI supercomputing infrastructure in Australia. The construction of MAVERIC will integrate NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and AI Enterprise software with Dell Technologies’ high-performance Integrated Rack Scalable Systems, including the IR7000 rack and PowerEdge XE9712 servers. Angela Fox, Senior Vice President and Managing Director ANZ at Dell Technologies, remarked on the longstanding collaboration with Monash University, emphasising that MAVERIC’s AI capabilities will enable the university to tackle significant global challenges, including disease and environmental science. Additionally, CDC Data Centres will house MAVERIC at its Brooklyn, Melbourne facility, utilising a closed-loop liquid cooling system that is up to 300 times more water-efficient than traditional data centre cooling methods. This approach aligns with Monash’s sustainability goals, as CDC facilities are designed with a zero water consumption strategy for primary cooling.
Categories: AI Research, Technology and Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability
Tags: MAVERIC, Artificial Intelligence, Supercomputer, NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, Research, Cancer Detection, Climate Science, Sustainability, Data Centres