Advanced Computing Design Call

^5th edition

^{Ref.: FCT/CPCA/2024/01}

Overview and Objectives

The Foundation for Science and Technology, I. P. (FCT) manages the National Network for Advanced Computing (RNCA) and seeks to aggregate national advanced computing resources, promoting cooperation between the various centers involved and developing national and international partnerships with other entities. Under the terms of the Regulations for Advanced Computing Projects, published under no. 10/2022 in the Diário da República, the allocation of RNCA computing resources is carried out following a competitive bidding procedure whose terms are published on the FCT website.

Computer models and platforms

• High Performance Computing (HPC) - Deucalion, MareNostrum 5, Cirrus
• Computing for Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Deucalion, MareNostrum 5
• Scientific Cloud Computing (Cloud) - Stratus

Recipients and Eligibility

They are beneficiaries, individually or in co-promotion:

• R&D institutions (Research and Development)
• The Collaborative Labs;
• The technological interface centers;
• Science and technology infrastructures;
• Science and technology networks and consortia;
• Private non-profit institutions that have R&D activities as their main objective;
• Digital Innovation Hubs;
• Other public and private, non-profit institutions that develop or participate in research, development or innovation activities;
• Companies that develop advanced computing projects, in research, development or innovation activities.
• Individuals operating in Portugal and wishing to develop advanced computing projects in any scientific area.

Regarding applications from companies as beneficiaries, advanced computing projects should:

• occur in the scope of pre-competitive research and innovation, for which the goods or services that are the subject of that research or innovation have not yet been assigned a commercial value.
• not to exceed, for all applications of this type, 50% of the total computing budget to be allocated in this Call.

Evaluation

Under Article 14 and 15 of the Advanced Computing Projects Regulations all applications received will be treated according to the criteria that are densified and detailed in the evaluation guide.

• A0 - Experimental Access and A1 - Development Access are only subject to administrative and technical validation.
• A2 - Regular Access and A3 - Larger Access submitted to scientific evaluation* and administrative and technical validation. *A2 and A3 applications that meet at least one of the following criteria: a) Are associated with a project(s) by the PI or co- PI approved with a previous scientific merit assessment at Calls Projects for Advanced Computing (CPCA) in the last 3 years; and b) Each application is associated with an approved project by the PI or co- PI at another Call funded by FCT in the last 3 years, and that project is active at the time of the application; >>>> are exempt from a new scientific merit assessment at Call .

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If they do not meet the above criteria, A2 and A3 applications will be submitted to a new "full" scientific merit evaluation with external evaluation panels invited by FCT, I.P. according to the following evaluation criteria:

• S1: Scientific relevance (40%);
• S2: Innovation and impact (30%);
• S3: Project planning and implementation (30%);

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All the applications received will be subject to validation of their technical suitability by the technical teams operating the computer platforms.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted in English and on the appropriate form.

Schedule

Applications A0 and A1 - lots	Submission Dates
A	September 10, 2024 (1pm) - October 22, 2024 (5pm)
B	October 22, 2024 (5 p.m.) - December 17, 2024 (5 p.m.)
C	December 17, 2024 (5 p.m.) - March 18, 2025 (5 p.m.)
D	March 18, 2025 (5pm) - June 17, 2025 (5pm)
E	June 17, 2025 (5 p.m.) - September 10, 2025 (5 p.m.)
Applications A2 and A3	Submission Dates
1st phase - expressway 2nd phase - full expressway	September 10, 2024 (1 p.m.) - October 10, 2024 (5 p.m.) January 16, 2025 (1 p.m.) - February 27, 2025 (5 p.m.)

Documentation

No information published on this page replaces or supersedes the Regulations and Notice of the Opening of Call and the information available on the FCT website.

Contacts

Further information and clarification can be requested via email: rnca@fccn.pt with "FCT/CPCA/2024/01" in the subject line.