Post-exascale HPC (CSA)

The HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04 grant opportunity is part of Horizon Europe, specifically targeting the development of post-exascale high-performance computing (HPC). Emphasizing a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), it aims to bolster Europe's capabilities in converging HPC, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Eligible applicants include research institutes, universities, consortia, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in advanced computing or HPC.

The funding type is a grant, specifically categorized under the HORIZON-CSA model, with a total budget of €2.5 million designated for a single project. The application process is a single-stage open call, set to open on June 10, 2025, with a deadline on October 2, 2025.

The project focuses on creating a comprehensive roadmap for addressing research challenges in applications, algorithms, software, hardware, and systems within the post-exascale era. Key activities will involve analyzing these research challenges and formulating recommendations at the European level to enhance the competitive landscape, including the establishment of AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories.

Geographic eligibility is primarily for EU member states, along with European Economic Area (EEA) countries and associated nations. The success rate for funding in this category is expected to be competitive, with previous instances indicating a range of 10 to 39%.

The grant encourages collaboration with international initiatives to ensure alignment with global computing paradigms, and while co-funding isn't explicitly required, it is often encouraged in Horizon Europe projects. The project duration is suggested to be between 24 to 36 months, and while gender dimension integration is not mandatory, it is encouraged where applicable.

This grant represents a strategic effort to position Europe as a leader in the upcoming cohort of computational technologies, aligning with broader goals of fostering digital autonomy and industrial competitiveness.

The HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04 call is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the DIGITAL - CNECT (HORIZON-CL4-2025-03) call. It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of 10 June 2025 and a deadline of 02 October 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The topic is Post-exascale HPC (CSA).

The expected outcome of this CSA is the delivery of a high-quality roadmap addressing the post-exascale HPC/AI research challenges for applications, algorithms, software, hardware, and systems, with a strong emphasis on AI. It also aims to contribute to the development of a competitive European converged HPC/Quantum/AI ecosystem, including AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories, and to foster interaction and collaboration with similar international efforts, ensuring alignment with AI-driven computing paradigms worldwide.

The scope of this action involves guiding and preparing European HPC for the post-exascale era, characterized by the convergence of supercomputing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. It requires bringing together key scientific and industrial players in Europe, ensuring strong AI engagement, and liaising with relevant international post-exascale efforts such as the International Exascale Project (InPex). It also involves collaboration with EuroHPC Joint Undertaking advisory bodies like the Research and Innovation Advisory Group (RIAG) and the Infrastructure Advisory Group (INFRAG), as well as EuroHPC JU private partners like the European Technology Platform for High Performance Computing (ETP4HPC), the Big Data Value Association (BDVA), and the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC). The action should also connect with relevant EuroHPC main initiatives such as the DARE Framework Programme Agreement on RISC-V processors, HPC Centres of Excellence, AI Factories, and the hosting entities of European AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories, along with other relevant European projects and initiatives.

The action should analyze the research challenges of all relevant technologies in the post-exascale/AI era and produce and maintain a high-quality research roadmap with recommendations for research actions at the European level. The analysis should cover issues like hardware-supported mixed-precision, AI-driven HPC as a service, real-time HPC, next generation AI model training and inference, digital continuum, and the convergence of HPC/AI/Quantum/Cloud/Edge.

The Commission suggests a project duration of 24 to 36 months, but other durations are not precluded. Only one proposal will be selected for funding. The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content is not mandatory but is encouraged if relevant. Projects are expected to develop synergies with relevant projects funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

General conditions include:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions for funding participants from non-EU/non-Associated Countries are available in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions are subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks and are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE CSA).

Evaluation form templates, including the Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), will be used with necessary adaptations.

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the HE MGA.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview indicates several related topics under the same call, with varying budgets, action types (RIA, CSA, IA), and indicative numbers of grants. The opening date for these topics is planned for 10 June 2025, with a deadline of 02 October 2025.

There are 15 partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

A general FAQ and support are available, including the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and a Partner Search function.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call invites proposals for a Coordination and Support Action aimed at preparing Europe for the post-exascale era of computing, where supercomputing, quantum computing, and AI converge. The selected project will develop a roadmap for research and innovation in this area, fostering collaboration among key stakeholders and aligning European efforts with international initiatives. The call encourages projects to address the technological and societal challenges of this evolving landscape, with a focus on AI integration and the development of a competitive European ecosystem. The funding opportunity is designed to coordinate and support the strategic direction of European HPC in the face of emerging technologies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are key scientific and industrial players in Europe. The CSA action should be prepared, managed and coordinated by key stakeholders in the field. The action should bring together the key scientific and industrial players in Europe, ensuring strong AI engagement.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA). The type of MGA is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The action should bring together the key scientific and industrial players in Europe, ensuring strong AI engagement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on Europe, but also involves liaising with relevant international post-exascale efforts. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the digital sector, specifically high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing. It also includes related areas such as applications, algorithms, software, hardware, systems, AI Factories, and future AI Gigafactories.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity focuses on Europe, but also mentions non-EU/non-Associated Countries and international efforts.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on preparing for the post-exascale era, which includes research, development, and roadmapping activities. The action should analyse the research challenges of all relevant technologies in the post-exascale/AI era and produce and maintain a high-quality research roadmap with recommendations for research actions at the European level.

Funding Amount: The budget for the HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04 topic is EUR 2,500,000. The contributions range from EUR 1,800,000 to EUR 2,500,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money through a grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 1.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04, focuses on "Post-exascale HPC (CSA)." It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) designed to guide and prepare Europe for the post-exascale era of converging supercomputing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The primary goal is to develop a high-quality roadmap that addresses the research challenges in applications, algorithms, software, hardware, and systems, with a strong emphasis on AI.

The project aims to foster a competitive European ecosystem that includes AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories, while also ensuring interaction and collaboration with international efforts. Key activities include analysing research challenges and producing recommendations for research actions at the European level, covering topics such as hardware-supported mixed-precision, AI-driven HPC as a service, real-time HPC, next-generation AI model training and inference, digital continuum, and the convergence of HPC/AI/Quantum/Cloud/Edge.

The call is open to key scientific and industrial players in Europe, with a strong emphasis on AI engagement. It encourages synergies with projects funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP). The total budget for this topic is EUR 2,500,000, and only one proposal will be selected for funding. The planned opening date for submissions is 10 June 2025, with a deadline of 02 October 2025. The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.