Supercomputing within reach of startups and SMEs: FCT launches the new InovIA program

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through its digital services unit FCCN, has launched the new InovIA – Vouchers for Innovation program, aimed at democratizing access to supercomputing and artificial intelligence. Startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to apply for free use of advanced computing resources to develop their innovation projects.

The presentation session for this program will take place on June 6, at 2:00 p.m., at AIHub – Alvalade, in Lisbon. Participation is free of charge, upon prior registration, and registration is still open.

InovIA consists of awarding free vouchers so that companies can test and develop pilot projects and receive specialized technical support in the use of two of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe: Deucalion (funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – measure RE-C05-i08 Ciência Mais Digital, contracted between FCT and Estrutura de Missão Recuperar Portugal) and MareNostrum 5. The program is open to national startups and SMEs, as well as public and private entities based in Portugal, through a simplified application process, open until December 31, 2026.

The InovIA program contributes to creating conditions for advanced computing to be a driver of growth for the Portuguese business ecosystem, allowing any company, regardless of its level of knowledge, to test, validate, and scale innovative solutions in the pre-commercial phase.

These vouchers are also an incentive for companies to access the new AI Factory, based in Barcelona, where Portugal participates alongside Spain, Turkey, and Romania.