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DRIVING SME AND
STARTUP INNOVATION
BY UNLEASHING
THE POTENTIAL OF
HPC AND GENERATIVE AI

FFplus is a European initiative highlighting and promoting the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) by SMEs and start-ups across Europe. The scope of the targeted actions includes both the solution of business challenges through computational methods on HPC systems and the use of supercomputing resources for the development of (generative) Artificial Intelligence (AI) software solutions and services. The computational methods encompass a large range of possibilities: modelling and simulation, data analytics, machine learning, and AI – all options empowering SMEs through enhanced innovation and competitiveness. The strategic objective of using supercomputers for generative AI is to facilitate and strengthen the technological development of European SMEs in that important area.

ENHANCING INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE EUROPEAN INDUSTRY

FFplus is a successor of previous Fortissimo projects (Fortissimo, Fortissimo-2, FF4EuroHPC), which have directly addressed how to overcome the barriers for SMEs by utilising HPC, HPDA or AI to optimise or develop products or processes and aimed to strengthen the global competitiveness of European industry.

During the FFplus project (2024-2028), six Open Calls will be published to acquire business experiments and innovation studies, targeting the highest quality experiments involving innovative, agile SMEs, showcasing the transformative potential of HPC and generative AI. Proposals will address business challenges faced by European SMEs and startups from various industrial sectors.

FFplus OPEN CALL

During the project's lifetime, SMEs and Start-ups will be supported through six open calls to fund business experiments (Type 1) and innovation studies (Type 2).

Business experiments will address the uptake of HPC by SMEs in order to solve specific business challenges of SMEs that have had no prior use of, or experience with, HPC services.

Innovation studies, in contrast, will support European SMEs and Start-ups already active in the field of generative AI technology, which lack the necessary computational resources to scale up.

The First Open Call was launched on June 21st and closed on September 4th, 2024. The second Open Call will be provided in Summer 2025. 

Successful applicants will receive funding and support from FFplus to conduct sub-projects. 

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CREATING INSPIRING SUCCESS STORIES

The publication of success stories from the experiments, showing the benefits and impacts of adopting HPC in the SMEs business models, and from the innovation studies, showing the effect of adopting large-scale HPC resources for the development of generative AI, will take place during the project duration.

Within the Fortissimo projects, 121 success stories were produced in collaboration with 310 partners from over 20 European countries.

Get inspired by Fortissimo success stories here!

 

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COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL COMPETENCE CENTRES AND DIGITAL INNOVATION HUBS

FFplus represents a key tool for the National Competence Centres (NCCs) and Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) to foster their work with SMEs and to facilitate the widening of industrial HPC user communities and service providers in Europe.

The National Competence Centres (NCCs) are the central points of contact for HPC and related technologies in 32 European countries.

Find the list of all NCCs here.

News

18. October 2024

The FFplus Consortium is excited to report on the response to the first FFplus call for business experiments and innovation studies!
11. October 2024

FFplus project and Fortissimo Success Stories presented at events

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14. August 2024

FFplus Partners Contribute to Several Events to Promote the First Open Call


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Events

17. November 2024 - 22. November 2024 Atlanta, USA

SC24 Conference

 1. October 2024 - 2. October 2024 Amsterdam, Netherlands

AI & Big Data Expo Europe 2024

 25. September 2024 - 8. July 2024 Online

EUROHPC JU Information Day: AI-Friendly EuroHPC Systems


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FFplus NEWSLETTER

Ensure you don't miss any valuable information about the open call, events, success stories, and topics related to HPC and AI.

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PROJECT PARTNERS

The FFplus consortium consists of 7 HPC expert organisations from the private sector with lots of experience gained while working with Industry, other HPC experts and the Academy on several R&D EU projects. The project is coordinated by the High Performance Computing Center (HLRS).

HLRS Arctur CINECA CESGA scapos AG Teratec CYFRONET
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