NEC Australia and the University of Melbourne have just signed a $3 million collaboration deal for research programs based around a new supercomputer.
Under the contract, NEC will supply a SX-4 supercomputer to help the university further its research activities. The computer, which is capable of performing 3.6 billion calculations per second, is hundreds of times faster and more powerful than a home PC.
Under the terms of a technology upgrade agreement between the two organisations, the SX-4's capabilities, as well as the value of the contract, are set to grow in coming months.
Along with the university, private industry will also be allowed leased access to the supercomputer, according to an NEC statement regarding the contract.