Texas A&M University System is developing a sovereign AI platform named IGNITE, which stands for Innovative Growth in Next Generation AI Technology Ecosystem. The project aims to provide researchers with high-performance computing power that current university systems lack.
The platform is being constructed by Dell Technologies Inc. using graphics processing units from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. The infrastructure is housed within an Equinix Inc. data center located in Dallas, providing physical security for the compute resources.
According to Vince Kellen, chief information officer of the Texas A&M University System, utilizing on-premises data centers is significantly more cost-effective than using commercial neocloud providers. He estimates that cloud-based alternatives cost 5 to 10 times more for scientific research.
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station manages the project and adheres to strict security frameworks, including NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, and Texas Administrative Code 202. The team intends for the platform to meet Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 standards.
