The Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT) is launching InovIA - Vouchers for Innovation, a new advanced computing program that aims to democratize access to state-of-the-art supercomputers, such as Deucalion and MareNostrum 5, for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Aware that the adoption of technologies such as supercomputing and artificial intelligence can be decisive for the success of innovative projects, the FCT aims to eliminate the main obstacles faced by companies, namely the lack of technical knowledge and the high costs of advanced computing infrastructures.
O InoVIA program was created to eliminate these barriers and provide free and easy access to advanced computing resources, making it possible for startups and SMEs to have an environment for experimenting and testing high-performance solutions, without the initial costs normally associated with investing in this technology.
The aim is to ensure that companies are able to fully exploit the potential of these resources, optimizing processes, developing new products and improving competitiveness in the market.
The application submission period is permanently open until December 31, 2026.
This program represents an important step in strengthening the link between science, technology and the national business fabric, consolidating the national strategy of digital transition and knowledge-based innovation.
Who can apply and how?
The program is open to national startups and SMEs, as well as public and private entities based in Portugal. The projects must have a clear focus on innovation, be in the pre-commercial phase and be intended exclusively for non-profit purposes.
The application process will be quick and uncomplicated, allowing companies to start taking advantage of these resources and accelerating their technological projects in just a few weeks.
The application takes four simple steps:
- Registration - fill in the online form (available in Portuguese and English);
- Assessment - administrative and technical check within 5 working days;
- Approval - issuing the voucher and signing the terms of acceptance;
- Access - create an account on Deucalion or MareNostrum 5.
Each initialvoucher grants 50,000 CPU core hours, 1,000 GPU hours and 1 TB of storage, with a duration of 6 months. It is also possible to request additional resources, subject to further evaluation. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and the applicant must be available to start the project within three months of approval.
Like the already popular FCT Advanced Computing Project Competitions, this program is managed by the Advanced Computing team at FCCNFCT's digital services unit.
For more information, see the competition page or send an email to: computacao-avancada@fccn.pt.
