Open call for SMEs and start-ups: experiments with supercomputers and scaling up generative AI applications

The FFPlus project has opened the first out of six round of open calls to set up experiments with supercomputers and to scale up generative AI applications. 

FFplus is a European initiative highlighting and promoting the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) by SMEs and start-ups across Europe, showing the business benefits and impacts of adopting HPC and AI in real business models. 

There are two types of open calls:

Business experiments: 

• Max. funding budget: 200.000€
• Target group: SMEs new to HPC
• Aim: address specific business challenges using HPC
• Duration: up to 15 months, starting January 2025 for this first round of open calls
• Funding: part of a 4 million€ total budget

Innovation studies:

• Max. funding budget: 200.000€ for the main participant
• Target group: SMEs and start-ups active in generative AI
• Aim: assist in scaling up operations that require extensive computational resources
• Duration: up to 10 months, starting December 2024 for this first round of open calls
• Funding: part of a 4 million€ total budget

More information can be found on the FFPlus website, for questions you can also contact the Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC) via this link.