April 5, 2019 — The Ninth Call for Applications to SHAPE (SME HPC Adoption Programme in Europe) invites applications from European SMEs with an interesting idea that would benefit from High Performance Computing for increasing their competitiveness.
SHAPE aims to work with the selected SMEs to introduce HPC-based tools and techniques into their business, operational, or production environment. The selected solutions should bring a potential tangible Return on Investment to the SMEs business.
The SHAPE process is as follows: the SME applies to the programme via the online or downloadable form (links below) – at this stage assistance is available from PRACE if required, but also the form includes guidelines on the expected content. The applications are then reviewed and rated, based principally on the strength of the business case and technical feasibility of the proposed work. The successful SMEs then can receive machine time on a PRACE system, and most importantly effort from a PRACE expert to work alongside the SME in evaluating and/or developing the HPC-based solution. In return the SME provides in-kind effort, publicity of their participation in SHAPE, and a public white paper on the work achieved in the project at its conclusion.
Application submissions: The Ninth Call for Applications to SHAPE opens on Monday 1 April 2019 with a closing date of Friday 31 May 2019. The Selection Committee will include of representatives of the PRACE Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC), the PRACE IP Project and the PRACE Peer Review Team.
The application form is open from 1 April until 31 May 2019:
http://www.prace-ri.eu/shape-application-form/
PRACE experts will work with the selected SMEs in order to develop their solutions, providing the participating SMEs with knowledge that will allow them to make an informed decision on the selected HPC solution. Consideration will be given to independent service providers to become involved with the implementation at a later stage.
Since its inception in 2013, SHAPE has enabled over 40 SMEs located throughout Europe, working in many fields (including computational fluids dynamics, steel casting, medicine, genomics, environment and renewable energies, artificial intelligence), to demonstrate the concrete benefits of using HPC for improving their competitiveness. Via participation in SHAPE, jobs have been created, costs reduced, contracts won and new and innovative services have been offered. For more information about SHAPE, see http://www.prace-ri.eu/hpc-access/shape-programme.
For support to prepare the application, or for further information, please contact shape[at]prace-ri.eu.
About PRACE
The Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) is an international non-profit association with its seat in Brussels. The PRACE Research Infrastructure provides a persistent world-class high performance computing service for scientists and researchers from academia and industry in Europe. The computer systems and their operations accessible through PRACE are provided by 5 PRACE members (BSC representing Spain, CINECA representing Italy, ETH Zurich/CSCS representing Switzerland, GCS representing Germany and GENCI representing France). The Implementation Phase of PRACE receives funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (2014-2020) under grant agreement 730913.
About SHAPE
SHAPE, the SME HPC Adoption Programme in Europe is a pan-European, PRACE-based programme supporting HPC adoption by SMEs. The Programme aims to raise awareness and equip European SMEs with the expertise necessary to take advantage of the innovation possibilities opened up by High Performance Computing (HPC), thus increasing their competitiveness.
Source: PRACE