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Journal of Computing in Higher Education

, Volume 25, Issue 3, pp 166–181 | Cite as

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

  • Markus Eurich
  • Paul Calleja
  • Roman Boutellier
Article
First Online:

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Academic infrastructure Business model High performance computing Life cycle management Strategy 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Markus Eurich
    • 1
    • 2
  • Paul Calleja
    • 2
  • Roman Boutellier
    • 1
  1. 1.Chair of Technology and Innovation Management, Department for Management, Technology, and Economics (D-MTEC)ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
  2. 2.Centre for Scientific ComputingUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK

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