High-performance computing (HPC) is a powerful driver of innovations across various industries. Forward-looking organisations can harness the power of HPC to revolutionise their operations and contribute to new knowledge.
Luxembourg has since recognised the vast potential of HPC in shaping its economic landscape. This is reflected in the Joint Call HPC initiative, which was first issued in 2022 to stimulate collaboration between research institutes and private companies that want to harness supercomputing for transformational research initiatives and overall business outcomes.
“The first call stemmed from a deep-rooted commitment by the government to support HPC capabilities in Luxembourg. The overall objective has been to bridge the gap between companies already involved in data-driven domains but with little or no expertise in the use of HPC infrastructures, and research institutes that are well-versed in HPC technology. By facilitating knowledge transfers between these entities, the call aims to propel innovation through collaborative efforts,” explains Maximilian Przybyl, Advisor – Corporate R&D and Innovation Support at Luxinnovation.
Wider spectrum of applicants
Applications will officially open on 15 September. The fundamental ideas remain the same, however, Mr. Przybyl mentions a crucial emphasis to make HPC technology accessible to a larger range of companies, including SMEs and startups. By encouraging partnerships in HPC, groups that may not have previously considered supercomputing due to perceived constraints can explore this technology within the confines of the joint call.
“While research institutes bring theoretical expertise, companies contribute practical perspectives, resulting in a combination of innovations and solutions that addresses real-world challenges. During the first call, we saw that the collaboration between both parties worked very well, and there was a real interest from both sides. By opening the scope to SMEs and even startups, you create an even broader playing field for HPC applications,” Mr Przybyl points out.
Project funding and access to HPC infrastructures
For companies, the Ministry of the Economy will co-finance up to €700,000 of the eligible project costs using the R&D aid scheme. The applicable co-financing rate differs based on the company size and the technological complexity of the project. Research institutes, in contrast, can receive up to 100% funding from the FNR for their project-specific costs of up to €400,000.
“Providing funding incentives for R&D aims to stimulate entire ecosystems. We have HPC infrastructure in Luxembourg which is fairly new, especially in the SME market. Nevertheless, the applications are numerous and span from conducting complex simulations and predictions, to big data analytics and virtual testing for new inventions,” says Ralf Hustadt, Special Advisor Digitalisation, Data Economy and Gaia-x
Two-phase application process
Application under the Joint Call HPC is split into two parts. In the first phase, companies and research institutes can submit a simple project outline on Luxinnovation’s research-industry-collaboration platform between 15 September and 15 November 2023. Users of the platform can already connect with potential partners, share and view ideas.
The second phase, from 2 January to 29 February 2024 entails the submission of a more detailed project application. Companies during this phase can benefit from Luxinnovation support to prepare the application and further coaching.
The full proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. The formal funding decisions for successful applications are expected in July 2024.
“The reason for having these two phases is to ensure the eligibility of the participating organisations early during the first round. This way, they are certain that their projects meet the conditions and objectives of the call,” specifies Mr Przybyl.
Upcoming webinar series
To simplify the key elements for all interested parties, Luxinnovation will be organising a series of webinars before the submission deadline for phase one.
“The aim is to provide fair and consistent information to various interested parties, including companies, research institutes, and other stakeholders. The first episode in September will explain the scope and procedures of the call. The two Q&A sessions will be an opportunity to address questions on specific cases,” concludes Mr Przybyl.