Supporting competitiveness and innovation potential of SMEs

• October 23, 2023
• Andrew

Context

High-Performance Computing (HPC) provides huge potential to drive innovations by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and thus driving their growth, competitiveness, and resilience in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Stimulating the HPC innovation potential of SMEs can position SMEs as technology leaders, fuel their success, and contribute to the overall advancement of industries and economies. By promoting HPC adoption, this action will unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth, and foster economic development for SMEs.

Objective

The objective of the action is to empower SMEs with advanced computational capabilities on the basis of HPC, enabling them to drive innovation, enhance competitiveness, and overcome challenges in the digitisation of R&D and business processes.

Scope

Proposals are expected to define an outreach approach for identifying and attracting SMEs whose innovation potential and competitiveness will be significantly increased by the uptake of advanced HPC services. A mechanism involving financial support to third parties through open calls will adequately stimulate such innovation potential of SMEs participating in the action. The action supports SMEs to solve specific business challenges through uptake of HPC.

Funding

A contribution from the EU of up to EUR 30 million and a duration of 4 years would allow this specific challenge to be addressed adequatrly. Nevertheless this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals with another duration or requesting other amounts.

Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by:

− a consortium of a minimum of 3 independent entities (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries

− consortium members are expected contribute to the project with a share of at least 10% of the total declared personnel resources and the number of partners should not exceed eight.

Timetable and deadlines

Call opening: 05 September2023

Deadline for submission: 07 November 2023 – 17:00:00 CET (Brussels)

Evaluation: November/December 2023

Information on evaluation results: December 2023

GA signature: April 2024