D5.3.3: Report on the SHAPE Implementation

SHAPE (SME HPC Adoption Programme in Europe) is a programme defined by PRACE-3IP WP5. The mission of the SHAPE programme is to help SMEs to demonstrate a tangible Return on Investment (ROI) from assessing and adopting solutions supported by HPC, thus facilitating innovation and/or increased operational efficiency in their businesses. Within this programme, selected PRACE partners can provide expertise, training (e.g. through the PATC network) and resources (within regular PRACE Preparatory Calls) to SMEs in order to overcome the barriers to HPC adoption: lack of expertise, high entry cost and excessive risk of trying out new solutions. After a successful pilot phase, the SHAPE Programme is now operated as a permanent service by the PRACE aisbl with the support of adequate resources of the Project. During the PRACE-3IP extension period PRACE-3IP WP5 performed a follow-up action toward the SMEs involved in the SHAPE pilot, in order to monitor the benefits of participating in the pilot and evaluate possible ROI and business impact obtained by the SMEs by means of the HPC adoption. The follow up action pointed out that in almost all the cases the pilot has been of real value to the SMEs with tangible measures of the return on investment for the SHAPE work, as presented in this deliverable. Furthermore, the deliverable presents the work done by WP5 to assist the PRACE aisbl in launching and disseminating the official call of the SHAPE programme, after the conclusion of the pilot, including the support to the evaluation committee during the review process of the submitted applications. The call has been launched on November 10th 2014 and closes on January 15th 2015. At the closing of the call 12 Applications have been submitted: four from France, four from Italy and one each from Finland, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland