Intel spinout Cornelis says its chips are being used for US supercomputer

💻⚛️ In a major boost for America's national security and high-performance computing capabilities, **Cornelis**, the Intel networking company spinout, has announced that its advanced networking technology is powering **Lynx**, a next-generation U.S. supercomputer developed at **Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory**. The system is part of a **$70 million National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)** initiative designed to strengthen the nation's ability to model, simulate, and maintain the U.S. nuclear stockpile without live nuclear testing.

Lynx connects **952 high-performance computing nodes** using Cornelis' cutting-edge **CN5000 400G networking fabric**, enabling scientists to perform some of the world's most demanding nuclear simulations with exceptional speed, reliability, and efficiency. The project forms part of a broader collaboration involving the nation's leading nuclear laboratories, where advanced computing has become essential for ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of America's nuclear deterrent.

Officials at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory praised the long-standing partnership with Cornelis, noting that years of public-private research have helped deliver a powerful new computing platform capable of supporting increasingly complex scientific workloads. The National Nuclear Security Administration also described Lynx as a critical milestone in evaluating next-generation supercomputing technologies that will support future national security missions.

Cornelis, which was spun out of **Intel** in 2020, is positioning itself as a challenger to networking giants such as **Nvidia** and **Broadcom** in the rapidly expanding markets for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Its **Omni-Path architecture** focuses on ultra-low latency, congestion-free communication, allowing thousands of computers to exchange enormous amounts of data with maximum efficiency during complex AI and scientific workloads.

One of the technology's most innovative capabilities is its intelligent traffic-routing system, which dynamically redirects information through faster network paths when congestion occurs. CEO **Lisa Spelman** compared the concept to choosing a slightly longer driving route that ultimately saves time by avoiding heavy traffic, illustrating how smarter routing can dramatically improve overall system performance.

As global demand for AI infrastructure and exascale supercomputing continues to accelerate, the deployment of Cornelis technology inside one of America's most sensitive national security computing environments highlights the growing strategic importance of advanced networking chips. The project also reflects the increasing role of specialized semiconductor innovation in supporting artificial intelligence, scientific discovery, defense research, and the future of next-generation computing. 🚀⚡