Call on Advanced Computing Projects (2nd edition)

According to the Regulations for Advanced Computing Projects, published under No. 772-A/2020 in Diário da República (Official Portuguese Law Gazette), the allocation of computing resources of the National Network for Advanced Computing (RNCA) is carried out following a competitive tendering procedure whose terms are published on the page of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I. P. (FCT).

The consolidation and strengthening of the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) are priorities of the science and technology policy made in Portugal. These priorities aim to contribute to the national and international competitiveness of science and technology, and its contribution to innovation and knowledge transfer, as well as to contribute to the achievement of global aspirations set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (ODSs). In this context, it is particularly important to promote and strengthen the skills of scientific and technological institutions through their participation in advanced computing projects.

It is with these objectives that FCT opens this Call for Advanced Computing Projects (CPCA) to technologically support advanced computing projects in all scientific domains.

FCT manages the National Network for Advanced Computing (RNCA) seeking to aggregate national advanced computing resources, promoting cooperation between the various centres involved and developing national and international partnerships with other entities.

RNCA was integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Interest by Order No. 4157/2019, from the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.

Keywords: RNCA, CPCA, Advanced Computing, High Performance Computing, HPC - High Performance Computing, SCC - Scientific Cloud Computing.

The following computational models are available to applicants:

• High Performance Computing (HPC).
• Scientific Cloud Computing.

The present call includes the following access types:

• A0 – Experimental Access
• A1 – Preparatory Access       
• A2 – Project Access       

Check Call Notice for further details - supporting documentation in the sidebar.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: The BOB:MACC platform is not available from January 2022. It will not be considered for types A2 - project access.

Further details on the Technical Sheet.

Applications are admitted individually or in co-promotion:

• to one or two computational models (HPC, SCC)
• to one or more platforms for the same project.
• in different access types (A0, A1, A2) - limited to ONE submission per IR and co-IR in A0/A1 (every 3 months) and ONE A2 submission.

Check further details on the Call Notice.

A0 Experimental access and A1 preparatory access:

Applications must be submitted, in the English language, from 19 July 2021 (12h) until 28 April 2022 (12h), on a separate form at:

A0/A1 Application Form

Every 8 weeks, the applications received until then will be aggregated in batches and subject to a summary technical validation (A0) or technical assessment (A1). The allocation on the platforms will be done until the respective quotas are reached: 5% for A0 and 25% for A1.

A2 Project Access:

Applications must be submitted, in the English language, from 19 July 2021 (12h) until 13 September 2021 (12h), here at myFCT:

>>> form access on the right side bar

@Call for Advanced Computing Projects (2nd edition)

At the end of the deadline, applications will be subject to technical and scientific evaluation and subsequent allocation on the platforms until the respective quota limit is reached: 70% for A2 access.

For help with the form filling please check Applications guide

Selection Criteria A0 Access type:

For A0 Access a summary technical validation will be carried out, simplifying criteria T1, T2 and T3; requests will be served on a first come first served basis until the quota defined for these accesses (5%) is exhausted.

Selection Criteria A1 Access type:

• T1: Technical suitability to RNCA resources (30%);
  • T2: Computational resources planning and reasonableness (50%);
  • T3: Work Plan (20%).

Selection Criteria for A2 Access type:

• • T1: Technical suitability to RNCA resources (10%).
  • T2: Computational resources planning and reasonableness (20%);
  • T3: Work Plan (10%);
  • S1: Scientific relevance which includes the proposed activity (20%);
  • S2: Justification of the computational activity to support the scientific project (25%);
  • S3: Scientific merit of the group and investigator in charge (5%);
  • S4: Experience and training in advanced computing (10%).

Further details on Call Notice and Evalution Guide.

Additional information and clarifications may be requested through the email address: rnca@fccn.pt indicating "FCT/CPCA/2021/01" in the subject line.