Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
Concurso de Projetos de Computação Avançada – 6.ª Ed. – A0/A1 – Lote C (Advanced Computing Projects – 6th Ed. – A0/A1 – Round C)
Round E (Fast Track): 15/05/2026 17h – 15/09/2026 17h. Round C (current as of today) closed 15/03/2026; Round D: 15/03/2026–15/05/2026. Round E is the next open window.
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The FCT Advanced Computing Projects call (6th Edition) allocates national HPC, AI, and scientific cloud computing resources for Portuguese research and innovation actors. A0 grants provide six months of experimental access (up to 50,000 CPU core-hours or 500 GPU-hours); A1 grants offer three to twelve months of development access (up to 100,000 CPU core-hours or 5,000 GPU-hours). Applications are validated for technical suitability only and allocated on a first-come first-served basis; researchers may apply via Fast Track (scientific pre-evaluation waived) or Integral Track (external scientific review).
Details
| Funder | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) |
| Deadline | 15 September 2026 |
| Duration | 3–12 months (A1); 6 months (A0) |
| Consortium | No |
| Application | Single stage; A0/A1 applications validated for technical suitability only (accepted/not accepted), allocated on first-come first-served basis per round. Fast Track (prior scientific evaluation in last 3 years) and Integral Track (external scientific panels) available. |
| Frequency | Continuous |
| Eligible countries | PT |
Eligibility & scope
Allocates national HPC, AI, and Scientific Cloud Computing resources (Deucalion, Cirrus+Stratus, MareNostrum 5). A0: experimental access (6 months, up to 50,000 CPU core.hours / 500 GPU.hours); A1: development access (3–12 months, up to 100,000 CPU core.hours / 5,000 GPU.hours). Eligible: Portuguese R&D institutions, collaborative labs, tech-interface centres, digital innovation hubs, non-profits, and companies/individuals active in Portugal. Applications must be submitted in English via myFCT platform.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers and research teams based at Portuguese academic or research institutions
- •Companies, non-profits, and digital innovation hubs active in R&D within Portugal
- •Projects requiring significant CPU or GPU computing cycles for HPC, AI, or scientific simulation
- •Teams with a clearly defined technical use case and ability to submit applications in English via myFCT
Key Dates
- •Round E (Fast Track): 15 May 2026 to 15 September 2026 (current window)
- •Single-stage evaluation; allocation on first-come first-served basis within round
- •A0 access: 6 months; A1 access: 3-12 months
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Use Fast Track if your project received scientific evaluation in the last three years (waived scientific review, faster allocation).
- ✓Technical validation is gating; proposals must clearly specify CPU/GPU requirements and resource justification to pass suitability checks.
- ✓First-come first-served within each round: submit as early as possible within the Round E window (15 May onwards) to improve allocation odds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much computing time can I get in an A0 or A1 grant?
A0 grants provide up to 50,000 CPU core-hours or 500 GPU-hours over 6 months. A1 grants provide up to 100,000 CPU core-hours or 5,000 GPU-hours over 3-12 months.
Who is eligible to apply for the FCT Advanced Computing Projects call?
Portuguese R&D institutions, collaborative labs, tech-interface centres, digital innovation hubs, non-profits, companies, and individuals active in Portugal are eligible.
What is the difference between Fast Track and Integral Track?
Fast Track bypasses scientific review if your project was evaluated in the last three years; Integral Track involves external scientific panels for detailed assessment.
When is the next deadline for this call?
Round E (Fast Track) runs from 15 May 2026 to 15 September 2026; the call is continuous with rolling rounds.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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