Joint Project to Develop Data Handling Techniques for Industry

Researchers from the University of Liverpool are leading a £4 million data science research project that aims to utilise emerging hardware such as graphics cards to significantly reduce the time it takes to analyse difficult data sets.

Working with the STFC’s Hartree Centre, the researchers at the University’s Liverpool Big Data Network are aiming to harness the power of an under-used, existing algorithm that is capable of translating complex data sets into useable information, but at a fraction of the cost.

The project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will focus on pharma, nuclear security, defence, manufacturing, biology, chemistry, physics and psychology, areas which all generate and manipulate difficult data sets.

Deputy Director of STFC Hartree Centre, Michael Gleaves, said: “This project will strengthen the ability of the team, as a key pillar within the UK community, to take the lead in developing a next-generation solution to problems encountered across a vast range of industrial sectors.”

IBM Research, with over 24 researchers in the STFC Hartree Centre in Daresbury, is a key industrial partner in the project and as well as working as an integral part of the team, will also provide access to supercomputing facilities supported by computational science and engineering expertise.

IBM Research's Chief Science Officer for the collaboration with STFC, Kirk Jordan, said: “IBM Research is excited about this particular project as it is yet another example coming out of the Hartree Centre demonstrating how the STFC and IBM Research collaboration will provide significant benefits and value to UK industrial competitiveness and will create reusable assets to help multiple industries. In addition, working with Liverpool University, we are pleased to help develop the computational skills of the next generation of scientists.”

Further information is available on the University of Liverpool’s website: www.liverpool.ac.uk