The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC) is a federally funded, national initiative that provides advanced digital infrastructure, tools, and services to support researchers across all disciplines—including science, social science, and the arts. Its mission is to ensure equitable access to high-performance computing, secure data storage, cloud platforms, and research software for institutions across the country.
Note: for researchers working with sensitive information that must be stored on-site, DRAC resources may not be a suitable solution.
If you have questions about applying for DRAC resources, feel free to book a 1:1 consultation with UBC ARC by emailing arc.support@ubc.ca.
| Tool/Platform | Description | Best For | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Alliance (DRAC) | Canada’s national research cloud for large-scale research use | Large datasets, collaborative research, national initiatives | Only available for research-focused projects; application required |
Researchers can apply for access to DRAC’s high-performance computing resources through two pathways:
- RAS (Rapid Access Service) Immediate, non-competitive access for smaller-scale needs.
- RAC (Resource Allocation Competition) A peer-reviewed process for larger or guaranteed resource allocations. Application typically opens in the fall.