The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through its digital services unit FCCN, has launched InovIA – Innovation Vouchers, a new programme designed to democratise access to advanced computing and artificial intelligence resources. The initiative offers startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other entities based in Portugal the opportunity to use supercomputers such as Deucalion and MareNostrum 5, two of the most powerful in Europe, free of charge.

InovIA aims to remove key barriers to high-performance computing (HPC) adoption – particularly high infrastructure costs and lack of technical expertise – allowing pre-commercial projects to be tested and developed in a high-performance environment. Each voucher grants 50,000 CPU core.hours, 1,000 GPU.hours and 1 TB of storage for a duration of six months, with the possibility of requesting additional resources.

Applications are open until 31 December 2026, and the process is fast and straightforward: online registration, technical evaluation, voucher issuance, and account creation on the appropriate supercomputing platform. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to startups and SMEs. Approved projects must begin within three months of receiving the voucher.

In addition to technical support, InovIA strengthens the connection between the scientific community and the Portuguese business ecosystem, positioning HPC and AI as key drivers of innovation and competitiveness. The programme also aligns with the national digital transition strategy and prepares companies for integration into the future European AI Factory, a joint initiative involving Portugal, Spain, Romania, and Turkey.

For more information and to apply, visit the FCT website or contact the team at computacao-avancada@fccn.pt.