CIUK 2026
What is CIUK?
Computing Insight UK (CIUK), formerly known as the Machine Evaluation Workshop, has been running since 1990. It combines an exhibition of the latest High Performance Computing (HPC) hardware and software with a programme of presentations from users describing how HPC and associated technologies have helped them tackle real-world problems.
CIUK 2026 takes place at Manchester Central Convention Complex from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December 2026, under the theme Grand Challenges for the Next Decade: Software, People, Research and Economic Growth. The full programme is now available (PDF).
DRI activities at a glance
The UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme has a strong presence across all three days. Here’s where to find us:
| When | Session | Led by | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Dec, 13:00 - 15:00 | Practical Sustainability for Research Computing Facilities: An Action Plan Workshop | NetDRIVE champions | Exchange Rooms 1 & 2, Manchester Central |
| Wed 2 Dec, 13:00 - 17:00 | Technical / SysAdmin Meet Up 2026 | ACIT Hub & HPC-SIG | Barbirolli Room, Bridgewater Hall |
| Wed 2 Dec, 15:30 - 17:30 | Generative AI and dRTP Skills | CHARTED & DRIFT | Exchange Rooms 1 & 2, Manchester Central |
| Thu 3 Dec, 11:30 - 13:00 | What can Federation do for me? The NFCS Roadmap | NFCS NetworkPlus | Exchange Rooms 8 - 10, Manchester Central |
| Thu 3 Dec, 14:00 - 15:30 | A Network + Update Session | DRI programme | Main programme, Session 3 |
| Thu 3 Dec, 14:00 - 15:30 | What is the future of Fortran-based science and engineering? | FortranFuture Network+ | Exchange Rooms 8 - 10, Manchester Central |
| Thu 3 - Fri 4 Dec | CAKE booth | CAKE | Exhibition, Exchange Hall |
Day Zero: Wednesday 2 December
Practical Sustainability for Research Computing Facilities: An Action Plan Workshop
When: Wednesday 2 December, 13:00 - 15:00
Where: CIUK Breakout Room, Exchange Rooms 1 & 2 (upstairs), Manchester Central
Organiser: Alex Owen (Queen Mary University of London), with the NetDRIVE champions
A hands-on workshop for people who run research computing facilities, focused on turning sustainability ambitions into a practical action plan for your own facility.
Technical / SysAdmin Meet Up 2026
When: Wednesday 2 December, 13:00 - 17:00
Where: Barbirolli Room, Bridgewater Hall
Organiser: Simon Atack, in association with HPC-SIG and the ACIT Hub
An informal meet up for system administrators and technical staff who build and run research computing services. It is open to all, including exhibitors.
There is no registration for the meetup itself, but if you would like lunch please register for it here.
Generative AI and dRTP Skills - Exploring the Landscape of Shifting Skills
When: Wednesday 2 December, 15:30 - 17:30
Where: CIUK Breakout Room, Exchange Rooms 1 & 2 (upstairs), Manchester Central
Organiser: Weronika Filinger (EPCC, University of Edinburgh), for CHARTED and DRIFT
Generative AI is changing what digital Research Technical Professionals (dRTPs) do day to day, and the skills they need to do it. This session explores how that landscape is shifting and what it means for training and careers.
Thursday 3 December
What can Federation do for me? The NFCS Roadmap
When: Thursday 3 December, 11:30 - 13:00
Where: CIUK Breakout Room, Exchange Rooms 8 - 10 (upstairs), Manchester Central
Organiser: Kieran Leach (EPCC, University of Edinburgh), for the National Federated Compute Services NetworkPlus
The NFCS NetworkPlus has been co-developing a roadmap towards a national federation of compute services. Come and find out what federation could mean for you, whether you use, run or fund research computing.
A Network + Update Session
When: Thursday 3 December, 14:00 - 15:30
Where: Main programme, Session 3
A chance to hear what the UKRI DRI programme and its NetworkPlus projects have been up to, and how you can get involved.
| Speaker | Talk |
|---|---|
| Nick Brown (EPCC, CAKE) | The UK Digital Research Infrastructure programme: progress, highlights and how to get involved |
| Jonathan Hays (QMUL, NFCS) | DRI’s Own Grand Challenge: The NFCS Roadmap for a Federation of UK Digital Research Infrastructure |
| Jonathan Cooper (UCL ARC) | Common challenges faced by Research Technical Professional groups in the UK, and current solutions: an interview study |
| Saranjeet Kaur Bhogal (Imperial College London) | The work between the work: Knowledge exchange within the dRTP community |
What is the future of Fortran-based science and engineering?
When: Thursday 3 December, 14:00 - 15:30 (running in parallel with the Network + Update Session)
Where: CIUK Breakout Room, Exchange Rooms 8 - 10 (upstairs), Manchester Central
Organiser: Austen Rainer (Queen’s University Belfast), for the FortranFuture Network+
Fortran still underpins a great deal of UK science and engineering. This breakout looks at how we sustain Fortran-dependent research so that it keeps advancing for decades to come. If you’re in Manchester early, don’t miss the 70 years of Fortran celebration on Tuesday 1 December.
CAKE at CIUK 2026
CAKE will have a booth in the exhibition on 3 - 4 December. Come and find us to hear about the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Programme and how CAKE connects it, including the DRI Landscape, CAKEbox resources, our knowledge-exchange fellowships and placements and visits.
Also in Manchester that week
On Tuesday 1 December, the day before CIUK, the Science and Industry Museum hosts an event celebrating 70 years of Fortran. It is free to attend but needs separate registration.
Registration: Register for CIUK 2026
More information: https://www.sc.stfc.ac.uk/ciuk-2026/