The United States Department of Energy announced that its next supercomputer will be based on NVIDIA 's upcoming Vera Rubin chips and liquid-cooled servers from Dell Technologies , boosting the country's capabilities in scientific research and national security.
The new system, codenamed “Doudna,” is expected to be operational in 2026 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Named after Jennifer Doudna, a Nobel laureate for her contributions to the CRISPR, it will support more than 11,000 scientists in fields ranging from physics to biology.
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US Energy Secretary Chris Wright highlighted the strategic importance of supercomputers for national security and the country's scientific superiority . The reference to national security is not accidental. Supercomputers are used, among other things, for: nuclear simulations, cryptanalysis, development of new materials for defense, and analysis of cyber threats. At the same time, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang described supercomputers as " vital tools for defense and innovation ."
Doudna herself emphasized that her early research that led to the discoveries around CRISPR was funded in part by the Department of Energy, highlighting its long-standing role in scientific progress. The Doudna system thus continues a tradition that connects high-performance computing with groundbreaking research projects and the development of advanced technologies with applications at multiple levels, from nuclear technology to biotechnology.
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The choice of NVIDIA's Vera Rubin chips and liquid-cooled servers Dell's shows a clear shift towards highly energy-efficient yet powerful infrastructures, ideal for computationally intensive tasks, such as: climate simulations, research for new drugs and biotechnology, and big data analysis and artificial intelligence.
The recent announcement of the US Department of Energy's new supercomputer, which will be based on NVIDIA technology, comes at a time of increased political pressure on the company due to its activities in China.
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US Senator Tom Cotton warned of the importance of restrictions on AI technology exports, stressing that sending advanced AI chips to China poses a national security risk. Similarly, Senators Banks and Warren expressed concerns about a potential NVIDIA R&D center in Shanghai, which could boost China's technology in strategic areas.
Source: Reuters
