High-performance computing facility with Los Alamos National Laboratory
The University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory are collaborating to create a new facility for high-performance computing and AI research in Washtenaw County focused on science, energy and national security. The state-of-the-art facility will include two centers: One to support Los Alamos scientists and engineers in conducting federal research, and the other for U-M faculty and students, and university partners from throughout the state, to collaborate with Los Alamos researchers on multidisciplinary research projects.
Read more about this exciting partnership, including answers to frequently asked questions, below.
U-M, Los Alamos to jointly develop Michigan-based AI research center
Dec. 5, 2024
ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory plan to develop a state-of-the-art facility for high-performance computing and AI research that will enhance and strengthen the university’s research capabilities in science, energy and national security and create new jobs in southeast Michigan.
The effort, part of a new partnership agreement, builds on a recently established research collaboration between the two institutions. Under the expanded agreement, the laboratory and the university will partner in areas such as artificial intelligence, materials science and advanced manufacturing.
The facility will be located in Washtenaw County and house two computing centers. One center will support Los Alamos scientists and engineers in conducting research and development focused on critical national security AI challenges. An adjacent academic computing center will enable U-M faculty and students, and university partners from throughout the state, to collaborate with Los Alamos researchers on multidisciplinary research projects.
The academic computing center will also provide U-M and Los Alamos researchers opportunities to design joint workforce development programs and educational programs for students and trainees.
“Our new partnership and growing collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory will sustain and strengthen U-M’s impact and excellence in research, innovation and discovery,” said U-M President Santa J. Ono. “In addition to offering incredible new opportunities for our students, staff and faculty, this effort will create high-quality jobs and invigorate the State of Michigan’s place in the growing AI ecosystem and flourishing information economy.”
U-M faculty have engaged with Los Alamos researchers for years. The university solidified a partnership with the New Mexico-based national laboratory earlier this year with a five-year, $15 million research contract. The collaboration focuses on developing advanced computing technologies, including artificial intelligence and sophisticated modeling techniques, to address complex challenges like unlocking fusion’s potential as a clean energy source.
The funding mechanism for the new facility has not been finalized, but will likely include a combination of federal and state money earmarked for economic development.
“Los Alamos drives a wide range of vital national security programs that utilize high-performance computing, AI and other capabilities like advanced materials and manufacturing to provide leading-edge solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems,” said Thom Mason, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory. “This partnership with the University of Michigan will provide critical new resources to support our data-intensive work.”
Located about 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe, Los Alamos National Laboratory is a multi-program, federally funded research and development center established in 1943. The U.S. Department of Energy operates 17 national labs across the nation.
“The collaboration between Los Alamos and the University of Michigan will combine the capabilities and intellectual DNA of two great public institutions to make revolutionary advances in supercomputing and AI for the nation’s benefit,” said Charlie Nakhleh, an associate laboratory director at Los Alamos.
Development of the new facility dovetails with other plans to increase the university’s research footprint, including the creation of a new Innovation District on North Campus that will encompass academic and research spaces. The district – designed to better facilitate research and partnership endeavors – is a key component in Campus Plan 2050, the university’s new comprehensive physical campus plan.
“With the broad expertise of our faculty across so many critical disciplines, a stronger partnership between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Lab is beneficial to both institutions,” Ono said.
“By bolstering our high-performance computing infrastructure, as well as our research collaborations in other areas, faculty, staff and students from across U-M will have access to the tools and resources necessary to catalyze advancements in critical areas ranging from the biosciences and artificial intelligence to climate and sustainability.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the project?
The University of Michigan (U-M) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) are collaborating to create a new national AI research center in Washtenaw County. This high-performance computing facility will support important research in science, energy and national security.
What will the facility include?
The project includes two main components:
- A facility for federal, classified research.
- A separate facility for non-classified research, which will be used by U-M faculty, staff and students, with potential opportunities for use by other universities.
What is “high-performance computing” and how is it used?
High-performance computing involves solving complex problems by running sophisticated algorithms across thousands of processors (smaller computers) working together in parallel. High-performance computing, for example, allows researchers to rapidly test millions of potential drug compounds and identify promising candidates for treating diseases far more quickly than traditional laboratory methods. Other applications include the discovery and design of new materials, calculations on climate preparedness and sustainability. Industries such as mobility, national security, aerospace, life sciences and finance can benefit from advanced modeling and simulation capabilities.
Will this facility create new jobs?
The partnership is anticipated to strengthen U-M’s impact and excellence in research and education, offering new capabilities and opportunities to work on tough challenges such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, infectious disease and clean energy solutions. The effort is a significant step in continuing to strengthen U-M’s research partnerships with the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories.
Who is funding this project?
The funding mechanism for the new facility has not been finalized, but will likely include a combination of federal and state money allocated for economic development.
Is Los Alamos National Laboratory moving a significant part of its operations to Michigan?
No, this will be a new high-performance computing facility that expands the lab’s current computing capabilities. LANL will retain all of its facilities and operations in New Mexico.
Will this facility produce nuclear weapons?
No, this is an AI research and high performance computing facility. It will focus on scientific computation to address various national challenges, including cybersecurity, nuclear and other emerging threats, biohazards, and clean energy solutions.
What are the environmental considerations?
The project is committed to minimizing energy use through various initiatives:
- Exploring advanced water-cooling technology.
- Considering opportunities for heat re-use.
- Implementing clean energy solutions such as solar power and geothermal energy.
How will this benefit the broader Michigan community?
The project will provide several benefits:
- Creation of high-paying, knowledge economy jobs.
- Opportunities for students and early career professionals to stay in Michigan.
- Construction jobs and opportunities for Michigan businesses.
- Expansion of Michigan’s research and innovation ecosystem.
- Enhanced infrastructure, including a new electrical substation that will benefit the local community.
- Strengthened partnerships with federal agencies and research institutions.
- The opportunity to extend economic development by attracting businesses that work with classified or secure information.
Where will the facility be located?
The facility will be located on a 20-acre property at 10221 Textile Road in Ypsilanti Township.
Will local infrastructure be able to support this facility?
Yes, the local infrastructure has been carefully considered:
- The Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority has confirmed adequate water and wastewater capacity.
- DTE will construct a new electrical substation at 6630 Rawsonville Road, near the site.
- One-third of the new substation’s capacity is expected to be available for community benefit.
- All necessary infrastructure improvements are included in the project’s scope.
Will this affect the local power grid reliability?
No adverse impacts to the grid or reliability are anticipated due to the dedicated infrastructure being built. The new electrical substation is actually expected to provide additional capacity for community use.
What other National Laboratories does U-M partner with?
In addition to its latest partnership with LANL, U-M maintains strong collaborative research agreements with a number of other DOE National Laboratories, including Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington state.
With an annual research volume that exceeds $2.04 billion, the University of Michigan is a world-leading public research university serving the people of Michigan and the world. Efforts at the university’s 19 top-ranked schools and colleges are addressing some of the greatest challenges of our time in areas ranging from microelectronics to global infectious diseases to artificial intelligence.
The university’s recent collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Labs, including Los Alamos, have been especially fruitful. Discoveries made at the national laboratories have saved lives, solved mysteries of nature, improved products, transformed industries, and served as a training ground for students who go on to pursue careers in science and technology.
Read: $15M to fund U-M, Los Alamos National Laboratory collaborations (May 15, 2024)
Press Inquiries
Please reach out to Don Jordan at [email protected].