DRIVING SME AND STARTUP INNOVATION BY UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF HPC AND 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 economic and societal benefits.

In this context, the FFplus project will support and empower SMEs by addressing technical aspects, facilitating access to EuroHPC resources, and highlighting the adoption of HPC and AI for SMEs and Startups across Europe, showing the business benefits and impacts of adopting HPC and AI in real business models.

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.

The project activities will be managed by the partners, each leading the following work packages:

WP1: Project Management (HLRS)

WP2: Open Call Management (scapos)

WP3: Experiment and Innovation Studies Oversight (CINECA)

WP4: Monitoring and Supporting the HPC/HPDA/AI Uptake (TERATEC)

WP5: Success Stories, Dissemination and Interaction with the HPC Ecosystem (Arctur)