University Opens Redtail AI Compute Applications
The University of Utah is accepting project applications for compute time on the Redtail AI Factory, with requests due Dec. 1.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
The University of Utah opened project applications for compute time on Redtail AI Factory, a computing resource launched Oct. 6 with 21 initial projects. Applications for the Winter 2027 allocation round opened Monday and are due Dec. 1.
Why it matters
Redtail gives Utah researchers, state organizations and commercial users access to AI computing resources operated by the Center for High Performance Computing. Access is awarded on merit, which shapes which research projects can use the facility.
Redtail is backed by $50 million in public and private investment over five years and launched with 21 initial projects selected competitively. The stub does not provide hardware specifications or compute capacity figures.
The players
University of Utah
The University of Utah is a public research university in Salt Lake City that operates Redtail AI Factory through its Center for High Performance Computing.
Center for High Performance Computing
The Center for High Performance Computing is the University of Utah unit that operates Redtail and assesses allocation requests quarterly.
The details
Applicants must be CHPC principal investigators, and each request must be tied to a specific project rather than a research group. General open access is not planned, so selected projects will receive allocations that begin Jan. 1, 2027.
Timeline
Oct. 6, 2026: Redtail formally launched with 21 initial projects.
Nov. 9, 2026: Applications opened for the Winter 2027 allocation round.
Dec. 1, 2026: Application deadline for compute allocation requests.
Jan. 1, 2027: Selected projects can begin using allocations.
Tech Race
Redtail extends the Center for High Performance Computing's long-running role in providing shared computing to Utah institutions into AI-specific infrastructure. Its $50 million five-year funding model positions the state's research computing alongside other publicly backed AI computing initiatives.
Utah researchers and affiliated organizations can apply for Redtail compute time by the Dec. 1 deadline if they are CHPC principal investigators with a specific project. Selected projects gain access beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with allocations awarded based on merit.
The takeaway
Researchers planning AI projects in Utah should note the Dec. 1 deadline and confirm they qualify as CHPC principal investigators before applying. Requests must be tied to a single defined project.
What happens next
Applications for the Winter 2027 allocation round are due Dec. 1, 2026, and selected projects can begin using allocations Jan. 1, 2027.
Further reading
For more on the state's computing and research developments, see Artificial Intelligence coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
