Architectures and operating systems

Demands on processing (scale and speed) mean that conventional architectures are being stretched to their limits and new architectures (in hardware and software) are needed. (Evidence source 1,2) This research area supports an emerging transition towards computer systems with energy-efficient parallel architectures. It underpins research areas including Software Engineering, Programming Languages and Compilers, and Operational Research.

This is an area with a high level of international collaboration, as evidenced by the prominence of UK researchers in international projects such as the European Network on High Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation (HiPEAC). (Evidence source 3) The UK hosts a centre of excellence in HPC and a portfolio of HPC facilities that can support research in this area (e.g. in enabling robust comparison of architecture performance). The UK is also involved in global collaborations on middleware and architecture tools.

Major industrial partners such as ARM, Microsoft, AMD, Amazon, IBM, Intel and Samsung choose to work with UK researchers, demonstrating the high quality of UK research in this area (Evidence source 1,2). The UK has particular strength in parallel hardware architectures, distributed systems, autonomous systems and increasing complexity associated with organising and managing software systems (Evidence source 1). There is potential for transformative research, particularly in relation to big data, machine learning and parallel architectures. (Evidence source 1,2)

Architectures and Operating Systems has great potential to influence cyber-security, as determined in consultation with the UK cyber-security research community (Evidence source 1,4). The increasing importance of cyber-security due to the Internet of Things (IoT) and pervasive and ubiquitous computing will present a huge range of challenges to researchers in this area which they will need to address (Evidence source 1,4). Architecture is crucial to providing the capacity for robust systems, and maintaining UK expertise in this field is deemed particularly important for UK cyber-security (Evidence source 1).

The UK has a good level of student support in this area (Evidence source 5). Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) include strong links with software engineering and industry. A number of students are also funded through Industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) (Evidence source 5). The UK's current research capacity in this area is considered appropriate to address the research challenges.

This research areas is expected to contribute to the Connected and Resilient Nation Outcomes, with particular relevance to the following Ambitions:

C1: Enable a competitive, data-driven economy

This research area can contribute to creation of an effective software and HPC infrastructure at a national, regional and local level, to support data analytics and statistical techniques.

C2: Achieve transformational development and use of the Internet of Things

This area can help develop robust, affordable, safety-critical and secure Internet of Things systems.

C3: Deliver intelligent technologies and systems

This area will contribute to developing a foundation of systems to underpin development of smart tools and technologies.

C4: Ensure a safe and trusted cyber society

This area can produce trusted tools, technologies and frameworks for people and businesses to transact their digital lives online, and underpin security for data analytics.

R3: Develop better solutions to acute threats: cyber, defence, financial and health

This area can contribute to reliable UK computing infrastructure by enabling resilient, safe, secure critical systems.

1. Community and user engagement (individual input, group feedback, team visits/events and evidence-gathering activities).
2. Input from the ICT Strategic Advisory Team, the UK Computing Research Committee (UKCRC) Executive Committee and Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 panellists.
3. M. Duranton et al., HiPEAC Vision 2015, (2015).
4. National Audit Office (NAO), The UK Cyber Security Strategy: Landscape Review, (2013).
5. Analysis of EPSRC data (grant data, application statistics, portfolio funding landscape).