Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Currie & Balerno News
January 2008
Earlier this month I had the privilege and pleasure of officially launching ‘Hector’, a state-of-art high spec number cruncher owned by the Research Councils of the UK.
I have never believed that government can cure all ills and right all wrongs but I am convinced that government can be an unbeatable source of good in many areas of our lives.
When I stood in front of Hector, which is to be run by a consortium led by the University of Edinburgh, it was another reminder that government money spent in the right places can make a positive contribution to our lives at home and abroad.
This government invested £52m in the development of Hector, and while we often think that these high tech developments have little impact on our everyday lives, we have consistently benefited from scientific developments. The new computer will be an indispensable tool for scientists across the UK research base, and will be an essential element in keeping UK scientists at the forefront and competitive in their fields of research.
I have been impressed that this new super computer, six times more powerful than any of the current fastest in the UK, and the fastest high spec number cruncher in Europe, can run at speeds of up to 100 teraflops and will be able to carry out up to 100 trillion calculations every second, 100,000 times faster than an ordinary computer.
We should celebrate the UK’s scientific achievements but even as we do we should recognise the need for continued investment in research and development. Other countries throughout the world appreciate the need to be at the forefront of scientific advancement. I am pleased that this government regards it as one of its top priorities.
I hope it is not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year.
