NSF Leadership-Class Computing Facility

Discovery at the frontiers of science and engineering requires computing power at a massive scale, sustained over a long period of time. To reach this goal, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding the design of a Leadership-Class Computing Facility (LCCF) through its Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) process, with an operations model on a multi-decade scale.

Computation – through large scale simulation, data analysis, and artificial intelligence applications – is essential across many areas of research and development. The LCCF will enable transformative discoveries for broad classes of curiosity-driven and use-inspired science and engineering applications.

The LCCF is expected to begin operations during 2026 and will deploy the largest academic supercomputer dedicated to open-scientific research in the NSF portfolio. The supercomputer, called Horizon, will provide 10x performance improvement for simulation over the current NSF Leadership-Class Computing system, Frontera, as well as meet the unique scientific requirements of the NSF community.

For AI applications, the leap forward will be even larger, with more than 100x improvement over Frontera.  Horizon will include a significant investment in specialized accelerators to enable state-of-the-art artificial intelligence research, as well as more general-purpose processors to support the diverse needs for simulation-based inquiry across all scientific disciplines.

The LCCF is also envisioned as a key element in advancing a future National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR), which is currently being piloted by NSF in coordination with other federal agencies and non-governmental partners. The NAIRR is envisioned as a widely accessible, national cyberinfrastructure that will advance and accelerate the U.S. AI R&D environment and fuel AI discovery and innovation in the United States.

Key Features of the LCCF

Large-scale data storage systems

Wide suite of software and services

Four distributed science centers across the US

Wide range of education and outreach plans

LCCF Visitor Center

The LCCF Visitor Center will be a space for the community to explore and connect with TACC’s powerful computational technologies. Visitors of all ages will be invited to engage with interactive exhibits as they explore the foundational concepts of STEM. The center will also host educational and speaker events, highlight TACC systems, and allow the community to plug into TACC programming, among many other activities. At the LCCF Visitor Center, our team is creating a place for learning, engagement, and hands-on experiences for students, teachers, parents, and beyond.

Want to learn more?

Connect with us: visitor-center@tacc.utexas.edu.

Programs

NSF LCCF Internship Program

Are you interested in acquiring the computational skills necessary to enter the tech workforce? This unique opportunity includes training to access cutting-edge computing resources, workplace readiness training, and team-building opportunities.

NSF LCCF Internship Program

InSPIRE Workshop

This workshop is designed for computational-focused STEM faculty at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The inaugural event took place October 8-10, 2025. Learn more about the first session, and keep an eye out for information about the next.

InSPIRE Workshop 2025

Reports

The LCCF has been designed through an intensive process striving to reflect the collective requirements and insights of the community. Multiple workshops were held to determine what science researchers hope to accomplish over the next 10 years, and what technologies users believe are critical to the success of the design. These reports summarize the community response.

Report of the Workshop in Future Directions in Extreme Scale Computing for Scientific Grand Challenges

Held 09-10 January 2020 Texas Advanced Computing Center The University of Texas at Austin

Omar Ghattas, George Biros, Dan Stanzione, Rick Stevens, John West

Summary of Community Inputs from SC19

A Report from the LCCF Birds of a Feather Session Held 21 November 2019, Denver CO

Omar Ghattas, Dan Stanzione, Rick Stevens, John West

Contact Us

For more information, please contact lccf-community@tacc.utexas.edu.