Business models of high performance computing centres in higher education in Europe

High performance computing (HPC) service centres are a vital part of the academic infrastructure of higher education organisations. However, despite their importance for research and the necessary high capital expenditures, business research on HPC service centres is mostly missing. From a business perspective, it is important to find an answer to the question of “on what business models do HPC centres run”. By means of an interview series at university HPC centres, this study describes how business models of HPC centres in higher education work. Interviews and visits to these HPC sites have led to the finding that four generic types of business models exist: library, shareholder, cost centre, and industry collaboration model; each of which run on different revenue streams like subsidies, selling shares, pay for use, and revenue from industrial partners, respectively. In practice, most university HPC centres combine these generic types and run on a hybrid model. The assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the business models can help university HPC centres’ directors, school administration and governance to design a reasonable business model.