The Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC), a consortium which provides high-performance computing facilities and support to member universities, said the deal encompassed delivery of a "life sciences solution" including a Linux-based supercomputer cluster and a series of advanced bioinformatics tools.
"These tools will provide training for VPAC members and the bioinformatics community in computational drug discovery and design via a central hub, reducing research and development cycle times," the partners said in a statement.
Bill Appelbe, VPAC chief executive officer, said one of the deal's aims was to secure additional capacity after the consortium's existing infrastructure reached its upper limit due to heavy use by its 200-strong subscriber base. He added that the consortium was also looking for a collaborative partner to assist its in-house team of 15 scientists provide local support to its members.
