Compaq Computer is teaming with nuclear research facility, Sandia National Laboratories and life science company, Celera Genomics, to build what is anticipated to be one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. The deal is expected to be announced Friday at a Department of Energy news conference in Washington. The supercomputer will be designed by the PC maker and Albuquerque-based Sandia, and will be able to crunch 100 trillion operations a second, a Compaq representative said. That is about eight times the peak speed of the fastest existing computer. Since it acquired Massachusetts-based Digital Equipment in 1998, Compaq has been boosting sales of its powerful servers and supercomputers as it pushes to diversify from its traditional PC business. Rockville-based Celera will provide applications that life science researchers can use in their work, such as further mapping of the human genome and other biological research. Although terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the three companies plan to spend millions of dollars, employ hundreds of workers, and develop new technology as part of the effort, scheduled to be completed in 2004. Energy Department officials said outgoing Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and others will formally announce the agreement. Take me to ZDNet Enterprise Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Click on the TalkBack button and go to the ZDNet News forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom. And read what others have said.