diff --git a/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt b/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
index 11c3313e2ad..1afea8b847d 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
+++ b/packages/service-library/requirements/_base.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile
+# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile with python 3.8
 # To update, run:
 #
 #    pip-compile --output-file=requirements/_base.txt requirements/_base.in
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ pydantic==1.8.2
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   -r requirements/_base.in
-pyinstrument-cext==0.2.4
-    # via pyinstrument
 pyinstrument==3.4.2
     # via -r requirements/_base.in
+pyinstrument-cext==0.2.4
+    # via pyinstrument
 pyrsistent==0.17.3
     # via jsonschema
 pyyaml==5.4.1
diff --git a/packages/service-library/requirements/_test.txt b/packages/service-library/requirements/_test.txt
index 7c7b662b9d0..7497b5df289 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/requirements/_test.txt
+++ b/packages/service-library/requirements/_test.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile
+# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile with python 3.8
 # To update, run:
 #
 #    pip-compile --output-file=requirements/_test.txt requirements/_test.in
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ cryptography==3.4.7
     #   paramiko
 distro==1.5.0
     # via docker-compose
+docker[ssh]==5.0.0
+    # via docker-compose
 docker-compose==1.29.1
     # via
     #   -c requirements/../../../requirements/constraints.txt
     #   pytest-docker
-docker[ssh]==5.0.0
-    # via docker-compose
 dockerpty==0.4.1
     # via docker-compose
 docopt==0.6.2
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ idna==2.10
     #   yarl
 iniconfig==1.1.1
     # via pytest
-isort==5.9.0
+isort==5.9.1
     # via pylint
 jsonschema==3.2.0
     # via
@@ -107,6 +107,15 @@ pyrsistent==0.17.3
     # via
     #   -c requirements/_base.txt
     #   jsonschema
+pytest==6.2.4
+    # via
+    #   -r requirements/_test.in
+    #   pytest-aiohttp
+    #   pytest-cov
+    #   pytest-docker
+    #   pytest-instafail
+    #   pytest-mock
+    #   pytest-sugar
 pytest-aiohttp==0.3.0
     # via -r requirements/_test.in
 pytest-cov==2.12.1
@@ -121,15 +130,6 @@ pytest-runner==5.3.1
     # via -r requirements/_test.in
 pytest-sugar==0.9.4
     # via -r requirements/_test.in
-pytest==6.2.4
-    # via
-    #   -r requirements/_test.in
-    #   pytest-aiohttp
-    #   pytest-cov
-    #   pytest-docker
-    #   pytest-instafail
-    #   pytest-mock
-    #   pytest-sugar
 python-dotenv==0.18.0
     # via docker-compose
 pyyaml==5.4.1
diff --git a/packages/service-library/requirements/_tools.txt b/packages/service-library/requirements/_tools.txt
index eb8bd3687d7..310b19d3d60 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/requirements/_tools.txt
+++ b/packages/service-library/requirements/_tools.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile
+# This file is autogenerated by pip-compile with python 3.8
 # To update, run:
 #
 #    pip-compile --output-file=requirements/_tools.txt requirements/_tools.in
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ filelock==3.0.12
     # via virtualenv
 identify==2.2.10
     # via pre-commit
-isort==5.9.0
+isort==5.9.1
     # via
     #   -c requirements/_test.txt
     #   -r requirements/../../../requirements/devenv.txt
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pathspec==0.8.1
     # via black
 pep517==0.10.0
     # via pip-tools
-pip-tools==6.1.0
+pip-tools==6.2.0
     # via -r requirements/../../../requirements/devenv.txt
 pre-commit==2.13.0
     # via -r requirements/../../../requirements/devenv.txt
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ toml==0.10.2
     #   pre-commit
 virtualenv==20.4.7
     # via pre-commit
+wheel==0.36.2
+    # via pip-tools
 
 # The following packages are considered to be unsafe in a requirements file:
 # pip
+# setuptools
diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/archiving_utils.py b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/archiving_utils.py
index a8c2329e54d..7fc755e7fd6 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/archiving_utils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/archiving_utils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import zipfile
-from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Iterator, List, Set
 
+from servicelib.pools import non_blocking_process_pool_executor
+
 MAX_UNARCHIVING_WORKER_COUNT = 2
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ async def unarchive_dir(
     all tree leafs, which might include files or empty folders
     """
     with zipfile.ZipFile(archive_to_extract, mode="r") as zip_file_handler:
-        with ProcessPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers) as pool:
+        with non_blocking_process_pool_executor(max_workers=max_workers) as pool:
             loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
 
             # running in process poll is not ideal for concurrency issues
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ async def archive_dir(
     dir_to_compress: Path, destination: Path, compress: bool, store_relative_path: bool
 ) -> bool:
     """Returns True if successuly archived"""
-    with ProcessPoolExecutor(max_workers=1) as pool:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor(max_workers=1) as pool:
         return await asyncio.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(
             pool,
             _serial_add_to_archive,
diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/pools.py b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/pools.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..11b03178f91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/pools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+
+# only gets created on use and is guaranteed to be the s
+# ame for the entire lifetime of the application
+__shared_process_pool_executor = {}
+
+
+def get_shared_process_pool_executor(**kwargs) -> ProcessPoolExecutor:
+    # sometimes a pool requires a specific configuration
+    # the key helps to distinguish between them in the same application
+    key = "".join(sorted(["_".join((k, str(v))) for k, v in kwargs.items()]))
+
+    if key not in __shared_process_pool_executor:
+        # pylint: disable=consider-using-with
+        __shared_process_pool_executor[key] = ProcessPoolExecutor(**kwargs)
+
+    return __shared_process_pool_executor[key]
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def non_blocking_process_pool_executor(**kwargs) -> ProcessPoolExecutor:
+    """
+    Avoids default context manger behavior which calls
+    shutdown with wait=True an blocks.
+    """
+    executor = get_shared_process_pool_executor(**kwargs)
+    try:
+        yield executor
+    finally:
+        # due to an issue in cpython https://bugs.python.org/issue34073
+        # bypassing shutdown and using a shared pool
+        # remove call to get_shared_process_pool_executor and replace with
+        # a new instance when the issue is fixed
+        # FIXME: uncomment below line when the issue is fixed
+        # executor.shutdown(wait=False)
+        pass
diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/utils.py b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/utils.py
index 67c9dfa3b62..06599816792 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/utils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/utils.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import os
+
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Awaitable, Coroutine, List, Optional, Union
 
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_application_setup.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_application_setup.py
index b6b360f27e1..a003074862d 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_application_setup.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_application_setup.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 import pytest
 from aiohttp import web
-
 from servicelib.application_keys import APP_CONFIG_KEY
 from servicelib.application_setup import (
     APP_SETUP_KEY,
@@ -37,7 +36,12 @@ def setup_zee(app: web.Application, arg1, kargs=55):
 
 
 @app_module_setup(
-    "package.needs_foo", ModuleCategory.SYSTEM, depends=["package.foo",], logger=log
+    "package.needs_foo",
+    ModuleCategory.SYSTEM,
+    depends=[
+        "package.foo",
+    ],
+    logger=log,
 )
 def setup_needs_foo(app: web.Application, arg1, kargs=55):
     return True
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_archiving_utils_extra.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_archiving_utils_extra.py
index c61abd24615..c29831056b1 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_archiving_utils_extra.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_archiving_utils_extra.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def print_tree(path: Path, level=0):
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def state_dir(tmp_path) -> Path:
-    """ Folder with some data, representing a given state"""
+    """Folder with some data, representing a given state"""
     base_dir = tmp_path / "original"
     base_dir.mkdir()
     (base_dir / "empty").mkdir()
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def state_dir(tmp_path) -> Path:
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def new_state_dir(tmp_path) -> Path:
-    """ Folder AFTER updated with new data """
+    """Folder AFTER updated with new data"""
     base_dir = tmp_path / "updated"
     base_dir.mkdir()
     (base_dir / "d1").mkdir()
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_monitoring.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_monitoring.py
index 3cbc39004f8..f7986cb0972 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_monitoring.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_monitoring.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import time
 
 import pytest
-
 from servicelib import monitor_slow_callbacks
 from servicelib.aiopg_utils import (
     DatabaseError,
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_utils.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_utils.py
index ef63d598ae0..e655d9bf435 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_utils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_incidents_utils.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import operator
 
 import attr
-
 from servicelib.incidents import BaseIncident, LimitedOrderedStack
 
 
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_openapi_validation.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_openapi_validation.py
index 706df603309..3be32c56c71 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_openapi_validation.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_openapi_validation.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 import pytest
 from aiohttp import web
-
 from servicelib import openapi
 from servicelib.application_keys import APP_OPENAPI_SPECS_KEY
 from servicelib.rest_middlewares import (
@@ -53,7 +52,16 @@ def client(loop, aiohttp_client, specs):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    "path", ["/health", "/dict", "/envelope", "/list", "/attobj", "/string", "/number",]
+    "path",
+    [
+        "/health",
+        "/dict",
+        "/envelope",
+        "/list",
+        "/attobj",
+        "/string",
+        "/number",
+    ],
 )
 async def test_validate_handlers(path, client, specs):
     base = openapi.get_base_path(specs)
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_pools.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_pools.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f3e80917b94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_pools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+from asyncio import BaseEventLoop
+from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
+
+
+from servicelib.pools import non_blocking_process_pool_executor
+
+
+def return_int_one() -> int:
+    return 1
+
+
+async def test_default_thread_pool_executor(loop: BaseEventLoop) -> None:
+    assert await loop.run_in_executor(None, return_int_one) == 1
+
+
+async def test_blocking_process_pool_executor(loop: BaseEventLoop) -> None:
+    assert await loop.run_in_executor(ProcessPoolExecutor(), return_int_one) == 1
+
+
+async def test_non_blocking_process_pool_executor(loop: BaseEventLoop) -> None:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor() as executor:
+        assert await loop.run_in_executor(executor, return_int_one) == 1
+
+
+async def test_same_pool_instances() -> None:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor() as first, non_blocking_process_pool_executor() as second:
+        assert first == second
+
+
+async def test_different_pool_instances() -> None:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor(
+        max_workers=1
+    ) as first, non_blocking_process_pool_executor() as second:
+        assert first != second
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_middlewares.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_middlewares.py
index 4e33964e72c..c586e3e3567 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_middlewares.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_middlewares.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 import pytest
 from aiohttp import web
-
 from servicelib import openapi
 from servicelib.application_keys import APP_OPENAPI_SPECS_KEY
 from servicelib.rest_middlewares import (
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_routing.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_routing.py
index 3d0b163a1de..4719611fe9b 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_routing.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_rest_routing.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 # pylint:disable=redefined-outer-name
 
 import pytest
-
 from servicelib import openapi
 from servicelib.rest_routing import (
     create_routes_from_namespace,
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_sandbox.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_sandbox.py
index 734bb477e80..a544feae992 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_sandbox.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_sandbox.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 # pylint:disable=redefined-outer-name
 
 import pytest
-
 from servicelib import openapi
 
 
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/tutils.py b/packages/service-library/tests/tutils.py
index bce55348625..29a2165e2d4 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/tutils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/tutils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 import attr
 from aiohttp import web
-
 from servicelib.rest_codecs import DataEncoder
 
 
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/with_postgres/conftest.py b/packages/service-library/tests/with_postgres/conftest.py
index 86ef3646067..0b485ef9ccb 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/with_postgres/conftest.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/with_postgres/conftest.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 import pytest
 import yaml
-
 from servicelib.aiopg_utils import DataSourceName, is_postgres_responsive
 
 current_dir = Path(sys.argv[0] if __name__ == "__main__" else __file__).resolve().parent
@@ -37,6 +36,8 @@ def postgres_service(docker_services, docker_ip, docker_compose_file) -> DataSou
 
     # Wait until service is responsive.
     docker_services.wait_until_responsive(
-        check=lambda: is_postgres_responsive(dsn), timeout=30.0, pause=0.1,
+        check=lambda: is_postgres_responsive(dsn),
+        timeout=30.0,
+        pause=0.1,
     )
     return dsn
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
index c5f0c2ae48b..be7f60a0bc3 100644
--- a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import urllib.parse
-from concurrent.futures.process import ProcessPoolExecutor
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Tuple
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Header, HTTPException, status
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@
     list_frontend_services,
 )
 from ...utils.requests_decorators import cancellable_request
+from ...utils.pools import non_blocking_process_pool_executor
 from ..dependencies.database import get_repository
 from ..dependencies.director import DirectorApi, get_director_api
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ async def list_services(
     # 3. then we compose the final service using as a base the registry service, overriding with the same
     #    service from the database, adding also the access rights and the owner as email address instead of gid
     # NOTE: this final step runs in a process pool so that it runs asynchronously and does not block in any way
-    with ProcessPoolExecutor(max_workers=2) as pool:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor(max_workers=2) as pool:
         services_details = await asyncio.gather(
             *[
                 asyncio.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/utils/pools.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/utils/pools.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..479c81ad544
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/utils/pools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+
+# only gets created on use and is guaranteed to be the s
+# ame for the entire lifetime of the application
+__shared_process_pool_executor = {}
+
+
+def get_shared_process_pool_executor(**kwargs) -> ProcessPoolExecutor:
+    # sometimes a pool requires a specific configuration
+    # the key helps to distinguish between them in the same application
+    key = "".join(sorted(["_".join((k, str(v))) for k, v in kwargs.items()]))
+
+    if key not in __shared_process_pool_executor:
+        # pylint: disable=consider-using-with
+        __shared_process_pool_executor[key] = ProcessPoolExecutor(**kwargs)
+
+    return __shared_process_pool_executor[key]
+
+
+# because there is no shared fastapi library, this is a
+# duplicate of servicelib.pools.non_blocking_process_pool_executor
+@contextmanager
+def non_blocking_process_pool_executor(**kwargs) -> ProcessPoolExecutor:
+    """
+    Avoids default context manger behavior which calls
+    shutdown with wait=True an blocks.
+    """
+    executor = get_shared_process_pool_executor(**kwargs)
+    try:
+        yield executor
+    finally:
+        # due to an issue in cpython https://bugs.python.org/issue34073
+        # bypassing shutdown and using a shared pool
+        # remove call to get_shared_process_pool_executor and replace with
+        # a new instance when the issue is fixed
+        # FIXME: uncomment below line when the issue is fixed
+        # executor.shutdown(wait=False)
+        pass
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/diagnostics_monitoring.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/diagnostics_monitoring.py
index 9670016b9e3..1c859a27024 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/diagnostics_monitoring.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/diagnostics_monitoring.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """ Enables monitoring of some quantities needed for diagnostics
 
 """
-import concurrent.futures
 import logging
 import time
 from typing import Callable, Coroutine
@@ -32,14 +31,13 @@ def get_collector_registry(app: web.Application) -> CollectorRegistry:
 async def metrics_handler(request: web.Request):
     registry = get_collector_registry(request.app)
 
-    with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor() as pool:
-        # NOTE: Cannot use ProcessPoolExecutor because registry is not pickable
-        result = await request.loop.run_in_executor(
-            pool, prometheus_client.generate_latest, registry
-        )
-        response = web.Response(body=result)
-        response.content_type = CONTENT_TYPE_LATEST
-        return response
+    # NOTE: Cannot use ProcessPoolExecutor because registry is not pickable
+    result = await request.loop.run_in_executor(
+        None, prometheus_client.generate_latest, registry
+    )
+    response = web.Response(body=result)
+    response.content_type = CONTENT_TYPE_LATEST
+    return response
 
 
 def middleware_factory(app_name: str) -> Coroutine:
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/exporter/formatters/formatter_v2.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/exporter/formatters/formatter_v2.py
index 3012fbdd3e2..ef4e51b9416 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/exporter/formatters/formatter_v2.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/exporter/formatters/formatter_v2.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
-from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor
 from collections import deque
 
 from aiohttp import web
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@
 from aiopg.sa.engine import SAConnection
 
 from simcore_postgres_database.models.scicrunch_resources import scicrunch_resources
+from servicelib.pools import non_blocking_process_pool_executor
 
 from ..exceptions import ExporterException
 from .formatter_v1 import FormatterV1
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ async def _write_sds_content(
     )
 
     # writing SDS structure with process pool to avoid blocking
-    with ProcessPoolExecutor(max_workers=1) as pool:
+    with non_blocking_process_pool_executor(max_workers=1) as pool:
         return await asyncio.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(
             pool,
             write_sds_directory_content,
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
index e6dab821184..bc92187cdfd 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 """
 import asyncio
-import concurrent.futures
 import logging
 import textwrap
 import uuid as uuidlib
@@ -397,10 +396,9 @@ async def __load_projects(
                 continue
             try:
 
-                with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor() as pool:
-                    await asyncio.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(
-                        pool, ProjectAtDB.from_orm, row
-                    )
+                await asyncio.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(
+                    None, ProjectAtDB.from_orm, row
+                )
             except ValidationError as exc:
                 log.warning(
                     "project in db with uuid [%s] failed validation, please check. error: %s",