EuroHPC Virtual Training Academy

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Digital Europe Programme

Programme Description

Digital Europe Programme is the first EU programme that aims to accelerate the recovery and drive the digital transformation of Europe.

Worth €7.6 billion (in current prices), the Programme is a part of the next long-term EU budget, (the Multiannual Financial Framework), and it covers 2021 to 2027. It will provide funding for projects in five crucial areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society.

The Programme is fine-tuned to fill the gap between the research of digital technologies and their deployment, and to bring the results of research to the market – for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and businesses, and in particular SMEs. Investments under the Digital Europe programme supports the Union’s twin objectives of a green transition and digital transformation and strengthens the Union’s resilience and strategic autonomy.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

DIGITAL-EUROHPC-JU-2023-ACADEMY-02-01

Call

EuroHPC Virtual Training Academy

Summary

Central objective of the action is to establish the EuroHPC Academy covering the multidisciplinary field of HPC, including related areas such as emerging technologies (e. g. quantum computing), and its cross-cutting dimension. The action will ensure the availability of common quality and qualification standards in HPC, the compatibility of training modules and learning objectives as well as the uptake of standardisation of training and education in the European HPC ecosystem. Overall, the Academy will significantly contribute to a more knowledgeable HPC workforce driving innovation and competitiveness in the European economy.

Detailed Call Description

The activities of the EuroHPC Academy will be centred around several action pillars. The pillars represent key strategic components and work together to achieve the objectives of the virtual academy.

  1. Competence and qualification framework (CQF)
  2. Reference course material for the modular CQF
  3. Assessment and certification scheme
  4. Technical infrastructure

The EuroHPC Academy will support training providers with the implementation of HPC education, training, qualifications and assessments. It will provide structured material, exercises and assessments linked to a certification scheme which will incentivise also individual and independent learning. Central for the widest possible adoption of services are cooperation activities with the relevant stakeholders and communities including, but not limited to, Hosting Entities of EuroHPC supercomputers and EuroHPC initiatives such as the network of National Competence Centres for HPC (EUROCC 2, CASTIEL 2), the European MSc programme for HPC (EUMaster4HPC) and the European skills platform (HPC SPECTRA). As the EuroHPC Academy will exercise authority over the modular HPC curriculum, learning objectives and qualification standard, the consortium will establish close cooperations and effective feedback loops. Specifically with higher education institutions cooperations are of outstanding importance to ensure alignment and compatibility of the modular CQF with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The CQF should allow training providers a maximum of freedom for the implementation according to the requirements of their target groups, while ensuring a common standard for the assessment of competences and the certification of qualifications.

Call Total Budget

€6 000 000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

Project budget (maximum grant amount): €6 000 000 per project for topic

After grant signature, you will normally receive a prefinancing to start working on the project (float of normally 50% of the maximum grant amount; exceptionally less or no prefinancing).

The prefinancing will be paid 30 days from entry into force/10 days before starting date/financial guarantee (if required)— whichever is the latest.

There will be one or more interim payments (with cost reporting through the use of resources report).

Thematic Categories

  • Education and training
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Central Government
  • Educational Institutions
  • Employers
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • State-owned Enterprises
  • Training Centres

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
    • non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)

Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by:

  • consortium of a minimum of 3 independent entities (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries
  • consortium members are expected contribute to the project with a share of at least 10% of the total declared personnel resources and the number of partners should not exceed eight.

Call Opening Date

07/11/2023

Call Closing Date

06/06/2024

National Contact Point(s)

Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Directorate of Research and Innovation
Eleana Gabriel
Telephone: +357 22 691918
Email: egabriel@dmrid.gov.cy

EU Contact Point

For help related to this call, please contact: info@eurohpc-ju.europa.eu