Tillicum is the University of Washington's next generation, GPU-accelerated computing platform designed to support cutting-edge research in AI, machine learning, data science, and scientific simulation. Operated by UW-IT Research Computing, Tillicum provides scalable, high-throughput computing without requiring hardware ownership.
Tillicum is part of the integrated research cyberinfrastructure at UW, offering a flexible, usage-based access model for time-limited projects requiring GPU performance at scale.
Tillicum is not yet in service. The projected date for this service offering is Fall 2025.
Named after the Chinook Jargon word Tillicum, meaning "the people", the platform celebrates the collaborative spirit of research at UW and honors the Coast Salish peoples on whose land we learn and work.
Tillicum is built for GPU-accelerated performance and large-scale scientific workflows. Key features include:
Tillicum operates under a usage-based allocation model, offering researchers access to high-performance compute and temporary storage for defined project periods.
To obtain access:
Our team will review your request and get back to you with next steps.
Tillicum provides high-speed, temporary storage designed for active computation.
Tillicum is available to:
Not supported:
Tillicum is priced based on GPU usage at a rate of $0.90/GPU hour. Researchers only pay for the compute time they used.
Tillicum is exempt from indirect (F&A) costs.
There are no slot fees or hardware purchases - pricing reflects on-demand, project-based compute access.
Hyak - Shared high-performance computing cluster
Kopah - On-premises S3-compatible storage
Lolo - Research data storage archive
To request current pricing or to begin the purchase process, please complete the Tillicum Project Access Request Form.
Interested in seeing if Tillicum fits your research computing needs? Please complete the Tillicum Demo Account Request Form.
Not sure where to start? Complete the Research Computing Consulting Intake Form to connect with the UW-IT Research Computing team for guidance on selecting the right computing services for your research project.
For more details about Tillicum please visit our Service Catalog.