ResearchComputeA field guide for Australian researchers

This one has real dates.

NCI Gadi access

National Computational Infrastructure

Gadi is the national supercomputer in Canberra, run by NCI. Most research time is awarded through NCMAS. NCI also has a small startup scheme for people testing the machine, and a paid door for companies.

Research schemes are free if awarded. Industry access is paid. The startup scheme was listed as closed.

Who it is for

Australian researchers through NCMAS or a partner scheme. The startup scheme is for researchers who want to see whether NCI fits their work, or who are writing a larger application. Companies can ask about fee-for-service access.

What you get

Time on Gadi. When the startup scheme is open, the public page caps a startup grant at 5,000 service units a year. That is a test allocation, not a production one. NCMAS awards are much larger and much harder to get.

How to get it

  1. Create an account in the NCI user portal if you are eligible to hold one.
  2. For a large 2027 project, look at NCMAS. That call is closed. Allocations are announced on 18 December 2026.
  3. For a first try, read the startup scheme. The public page says startup is currently closed and asks interested researchers to contact help@nci.org.au.
  4. If you are a company, write to help@nci.org.au about fee-for-service access. Do not expect the research schemes to accept an ABN on its own.
  5. Practice the workflow on a campus cluster or on Nectar first. Gadi is Linux, and jobs wait in a queue.

Deadlines

NCMAS 2027 allocations announced, including Gadi

18 December 2026

NCMAS publishes 2027 allocations. NCI Gadi is one of the two machines in that call.

Add the upcoming dates to your calendar

Read this before you apply

  • Startup status changes. Closed on the day this guide was checked does not mean closed next month.
  • ANU sits next to NCI, but Gadi is a national facility, not an ANU-only campus cluster.
  • The 5,000 service-unit startup cap is far below the NCMAS minimum. It is for evaluation.

Check before you rely on this

  • NCI’s own page said the startup scheme was closed at the time of writing. Re-check before you tell a student it is open.

Sources