The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (www.epsrc.ac.uk) has invested more than £3 million in a new high-performance computing centre.

Based at the Loughborough Science and Enterprise Park, the HPC Midlands Plus super-computer hub will harness the expertise of seven universities across the Midlands. It is due to be officially launched in the spring.

Its director, Professor Steven Kenny, said: “High-performance computing technology pervades our lives. For instance, it is used in the design of aircraft engines and cars, the exploration of new materials for energy generation and storage, and the delivery of personalised health-care.

"The universities involved in the consortium have so far used high-performance computing to address a number of global challenges.

"Establishing HPC Midlands Plus will enable us to combine our power to explore how high-performance computing can impact even more sectors and emerging areas such as quantum technologies.”