Monash University invests $60 million in Australia’s first AI supercomputer to transform research and health innovation

Monash University to Build Australia’s First AI Supercomputer for Higher Education

01 June 2025

Monash University is investing $60 million to develop and operate an advanced AI supercomputer, marking a first for Australia’s higher education sector. This initiative addresses the current shortfall in high-performance computing infrastructure in Australia, which has struggled to meet the demands of research and industry.

The new platform, called the Monash AdVanced Environment for Research and Intelligent Computing (MAVERIC), will enable Australian researchers to undertake large-scale computational projects that were previously out of reach. This aligns with Monash’s mission to drive social and technological progress for communities and industries.

Why MAVERIC Matters

AI-accelerated supercomputers are transforming research across many fields, including health, manufacturing, climate science, and engineering. AI-powered research is advancing early disease diagnosis, clinical trials, personalised medicine, and drug discovery. MAVERIC will help Australian researchers contribute to these critical areas on a global scale.

• Health focus: Early cancer detection, chronic disease management, clinical trials, and new medicine identification.
• Climate research: Analysis of complex datasets related to air quality, Antarctic studies, heat impacts on populations, and infection spread driven by climate change.

Boosting Research Capability and Collaboration

This investment will accelerate translational research, attract top talent, and foster partnerships between universities and industries both nationally and internationally. MAVERIC will support a wide range of disciplines including clinical sciences, engineering, and social sciences, helping solve complex problems that improve lives.

Monash University’s Vice-Chancellor and President highlighted that the university’s strengths in data science, AI, health, and climate research position it well to lead this effort. The missing element until now had been the computing infrastructure needed to fully leverage AI’s potential.

Commitment to Sustainability and Ethics

Monash will power MAVERIC using 100% renewable energy, aiming to keep its operation aligned with the university’s Net Zero goals. This reflects a commitment to reducing carbon footprint while advancing research.

Data protection and privacy are priorities. MAVERIC will operate as a sovereign system, ensuring all data remains within Australia under strict compliance with national laws. The platform will enforce ethics approvals and strong data security protocols to safeguard sensitive information.

Monash’s Position in AI and Computer Science

Ranked #1 in Australia for Computer Science and #34 globally in Data Science and AI, Monash has multidisciplinary expertise and strong partnerships with health networks serving over 4 million people. This foundation supports its leadership in AI research and application.

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