Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 26
16th Report - UK Research and Innovation: Investment in research infrastructure
Published 21 Oct 2026
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Investment in research infrastructure All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The ARCHER2 national supercomputer will not be replaced on time, as the Department and UKRI could not afford the £750 million cost of its replacement until recently. The expected 13-month delay between ARCHER2 closing and its replacement becoming operational would have been longer without the University of Edinburgh’s decision to proactively prepare its site by upgrading a grid connection, at its own expense.55
From: Public Accounts Committee, 16th Report - UK Research and Innovation: Investment in research infrastructure (HC 104), 21 October 2026
Government response
Government response awaited: deadline 21 December 2026.