The objective of this project, FFplus, is to provide SMEs the resources and support they need to test new applications of HPC and artificial intelligence (AI).
High-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) have recently emerged as transformative technologies with the potential to significantly boost industrial competitiveness and deliver numerous economical and societal benefits.
In this context, the newly launched project, FFplus, will support and empower SMEs by addressing technical aspects, facilitating access to EuroHPC resources, assisting with administrative tasks, business development, and outreach.
SMEs will be supported through open calls to fund business experiments and innovation studies demonstrating the business benefits of HPC and generative AI. In details, FFplus will issue six open calls that invite European SMEs to submit proposals for business experiments and innovation studies that demonstrate the benefits of HPC and generative AI. Successful applicants will receive startup funding and support from FFplus to conduct these experiments.
The successful uptake of technologies will be promoted through success stories, which will focus on business benefits for SMEs while implementing the HPC or generative AI in their business processes.
FFplus builds on the methods and accomplishments of the Fortissimo project series, which have left an invaluable legacy in the European HPC and business landscapes. Starting with Fortissimo (2013-2016), Fortissimo 2 (2015-2018) and FF4EuroHPC (2020-2023), more than 130 experiments involving 330 partners have been executed, resulting in 120 success stories. These success stories have encouraged actors across the European industrial landscape to implement new digitalization technologies in manufacturing (Industry 4.0), and to develop new products and services that bolster the EU economy.
FFplus is managed and coordinated by a consortium of six partners who participated in earlier Fortissimo projects, University of Stuttgart, Scapos AG, Teratec, CINECA, CESGA, Arctur and CYFRONET. Geographically, the consortium covers six European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Slovenia. This enables to simultaneously strengthen pan-European activities, but also linking FFplus with strong national activities and regional ones.
More details
FFplus was developed in response to the call DIGITAL-EUROHPC-JU-2023-SME-01, aiming to support the competitiveness and innovation potential of SMEs.
The project is funded by Digital Europe Programme (DEP), an EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations, with a total budget of up to EUR 30 million.
The project started on 1 May 2024 and is due to run for a period of 48 months.
More information regarding current and upcoming EuroHPC Research & Innovation calls can be found here.
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