Monash unveils Australia’s first AI supercomputer for research
Monash University has announced the development of an advanced artificial intelligence supercomputer, MAVERIC, in partnership with NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and CDC Data Centres.
MAVERIC will be Australia's first higher education AI supercomputer and features the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 platform, marking its initial deployment in the country. The project is aimed at advancing sovereign AI innovation capabilities across research domains including academia, government, and private sector organisations.
AI for research
The new supercomputer is designed to tackle a broad range of complex problems, such as breakthroughs in cancer detection and climate science. Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, emphasised the partnership's role in strengthening research capabilities nationally.
"We want our people – Monash academics, students and our research partners – to be at the forefront of shaping the future of AI; not just in how it's applied, but in unlocking entirely new possibilities and innovations. Our focus is on solving real problems and putting AI to work in a meaningful way – from breakthroughs in cancer detection, to redefining what's possible in preserving the health of our planet for future generations," Professor Pickering said.
The MAVERIC system, built on the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 architecture, is purpose-built for large-scale AI and data-intensive workloads. This will place Monash University at the forefront of AI supercomputing infrastructure within Australia.
Technology and infrastructure
The build of MAVERIC will integrate NVIDIA's accelerated computing and AI Enterprise software using Dell Technologies' high-performance Integrated Rack Scalable Systems, including the IR7000 rack and PowerEdge XE9712 servers. The collaboration aims to provide Monash with a platform responsive to the growing computational demands of AI research.
Angela Fox, Senior Vice President and Managing Director ANZ, Dell Technologies, commented on the longstanding collaboration between Monash University and Dell Technologies:
"For almost two decades, Dell Technologies has collaborated with Monash University on innovative technology solutions that allow research projects to reach their full potential. MAVERIC's AI capabilities, run on Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, will allow the university to participate in the fight against some of humanity's biggest challenges, including disease and environmental science. To do so while boosting Australia's sovereign AI capabilities is a win for the research community and a win for Australia."
Energy and sustainability
CDC Data Centres will house MAVERIC at its Brooklyn, Melbourne facility. The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 platform uses a closed-loop liquid cooling system considered to be up to 300 times more water efficient than conventional data centre cooling systems. CDC facilities are engineered with a zero water consumption approach to primary cooling, contributing to Monash's sustainability goals and conserving water resources annually.
Industry perspectives
Dennis Ang, Senior Director for the ASEAN and ANZ Region at NVIDIA, described the scale and ambition of the project:
"Monash University's NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 supercomputer marks a new era for Australian research, empowering scientists and innovators to tackle the world's toughest challenges with unprecedented AI capabilities and energy efficiency. Together, we're building the foundation for breakthroughs that will create new economic opportunities and supercharge the next generation of researchers, developers and startups."
Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, also welcomed the project:
"I welcome this collaboration between a great research institution and leading technology companies. I met with NVIDIA today, and they were excited about the prospect of this tech platform being deployed in Australia for the first time. "If Australia is going to stay at the cutting edge of research, we need to make sure we are accessing the best technology possible. "This will be key to unlocking growth and productivity in Australia, and ensure Australian researchers continue to be among the best in the world."
Greg Boorer, Founder and CEO of CDC, commented on the facility's role in supporting the supercomputer and broader research sector:
"This is a great example of how CDC's next generation liquid cooling technology is helping transform the digital infrastructure of the research and education sector. CDC is proud to support the advancement of Australian research through the hosting of Monash University's supercomputer MAVERIC. This partnership is a significant step forward in our mission to support the nation's most critical organisations and institutions in driving the continued prosperity of Australia in an environmentally conscious and sustainable way."
Construction of MAVERIC is scheduled to begin in 2025, with activation planned for early 2026.
