The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Policy Analysis (ACE II AF-APA), on Wednesday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) to advance computing capacity in research and education.

The partnership will enable LUANAR to access MAREN's High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility, making it the first university in Malawi to adopt HPC technology. This strategic move supports LUANAR's growing data science initiatives and enhances its capability to process large datasets, further strengthening its research agenda.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, LUANAR Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda highlighted the significance of the collaboration, noting that the university is in the process of establishing a Big Data Hub through ACE II AF-APA. This initiative responds to the increasing demand for data-driven policy solutions in agri-food systems and natural resource management.

"Today's agreement is not just about technology; it is a commitment to mutual growth," said Professor Kaunda. "Through joint supervision, collaborative research, co-teaching, and specialized training, we are building a robust academic ecosystem, one that empowers the next generation of data scientists, researchers, and thought leaders with advanced analytics and practical skills."

Professor Kaunda further acknowledged MAREN's vital role as the national research and education network, emphasizing that its advanced computing infrastructure is essential for enabling world-class research.

"Access to HPC will allow our researchers, staff, and postgraduate students to handle complex data sets, run large-scale simulations, and pursue groundbreaking research that was previously limited by technological constraints," he added.

MAREN Chief Executive Officer Solomoni Dindi commended LUANAR for leading the way in embracing high-performance computing.

"Universities must seize the opportunity to use HPC to reduce the timeframes of their research," Dindi said. "LUANAR, in particular, is engaged in a broad spectrum of agricultural research, an area that is the backbone of Malawi's economy. The HPC facility will empower the university to conduct data-intensive research efficiently and generate cutting-edge, practical solutions, especially in the agricultural sector, where such innovations are urgently needed."

The HPC facility, the only one of its kind in the SADC region, is a specialized computing environment that utilizes clusters of high-powered processors to perform complex calculations and process vast volumes of data at exceptionally high speeds. Its establishment is part of a broader effort to strengthen science and technology across the region.