About the Fortissimo Project
The Fortissimo Project was funded by the European Commission within the I4MS initiative (ICT Innovation for Manufacturing Small & Medium Enterprises). It consisted of two phases: the first phase ran from July 2013 to December 2016; the second phase ran from November 2015 to December 2018. The project was coordinated by the University of Edinburgh and involved 23 core partners from different European countries.
THE AIM OF FORTISSIMO
The aim of Fortissimo was to strengthen the global competitiveness of European industry. Fortissimo has encouraged the use of advanced modelling, simulation and data analytics by European Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps involved in engineering and manufacturing. Such use delivers improved design processes, better products and services and improved competitiveness. For the European Union as a whole, this means increased employment and economic growth.
THE CHALLENGE
In the past, gaining access to the High Performance Computing (HPC) resources required for advanced modelling, simulation and data analytics has often presented significant technical and financial challenges to SMEs. Through the use of HPC resources available via a Cloudbased infrastructure, opportunities leading to business benefits can be identified and applied across the complete value chain saving companies time and money and improving their competitive position.
SME PARTICIPATION
Fortissimo was a collaborative project that enabled European SMEs and midcaps to be more competitive globally through the use of advanced modelling, simulation and data analytics services running on an HPC Cloud-based infrastructure. Fortissimo involved SMEs, midcaps, technical experts, independent software vendors (ISVs) and HPC centres. Ninety-two SMEs participated through “open calls” proposing experiments to demonstrate the benefits of HPC cloud-based advanced modelling, simulation and data analytics. During the 18-month duration of an experiment, the Fortissimo partners provided the participating SMEs with access to HPC-resources via a cloud-based infrastructure and supported them in the planning, implementation and realization of their experiments.
SUCCESS STORIES
The experiments from both phases of Fortissimo resulted in 79 success stories presenting case studies, demonstrating the use of Cloud-based HPC. These case studies were not only relevant to the business needs of end users, but also showed the benefits to all involved in the value chain from end users to the providers of HPC-infrastructure. This booklet presents all of the 79 success stories.
FORTISSIMO DATES AND FACTS
| Project name | Fortissimo - Factories of the Future Resources, Technology, Infrastructure and Services for Simulation and Modelling |
| Duration | 1st phase: July 1st 2013 - December 31th 2016 2nd phase: November 1st 2015 - October 31st 2018 |
| Total budget | 1st phase: 21,7 million € 2nd phase: 11,1 million € |
| EU contribution | 1st phase: 16,0 million € 2nd phase: 10,0 million € |
| Contract number | 1st phase: 609029 under the 7th Framework Programme 2nd phase: 680481 under the H2020 Framework Programme |
| No of partners | 1st phase: 122 in total (14 Core Partners and 108 Partners in Experiments) 2nd phase: 96 in total (12 core Partners and 84 Partners in Experiments) |
| Core partners | 1st phase: The University of Edinburgh (EPCC), Arctur, Bull, CESGA, CINECA, GENCI, Gompute, University of Stuttgart (HLRS), INRIA, Intel, Scapos, Sicos BW, SURFsara, Xlab. 2nd phase: The University of Edinburgh (EPCC), Arctur, Atos, CESGA, CINECA, Gompute, University of Stuttgart (HLRS), Intel, Scapos, Sicos BW, SURFsara, Xlab. |
| No of experiments | 1st phase: 53 in total, 43 resulted Success Stories 2nd phase: 39 in total, 36 resulted Success Stories |