The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has introduced a new funding opportunity to redefine how high-performance computing (HPC) systems are assessed and compared across Europe. With a budget of €4m under the Horizon Europe program, the initiative seeks to create reliable and forward-looking benchmarking practices that can adapt to the rapid evolution of computing technologies. The call is open for submissions until March 24, 2026, encouraging researchers, industry players, and technology organizations to collaborate on developing next-generation benchmarking frameworks for both traditional and emerging hybrid computing environments.
High-performance computing (HPC) involves the use of powerful computing systems capable of handling large amounts of data and complex calculations at high speeds. These systems are crucial for tasks that exceed the capabilities of standard computers, such as climate modeling, drug discovery, aerospace simulation, artificial intelligence training, and advanced materials research. As Europe continues to invest in exascale computing and AI-driven workloads, the importance of HPC continues to grow. Well-designed benchmarking practices ensure that the full potential of HPC is realized by helping users match systems with applications effectively and promoting innovation in energy-efficient and sustainable computing architectures.
The core focus of the funding call is to establish a unified, modular, and extensible benchmarking framework for HPC systems. EuroHPC JU aims to replace fragmented approaches with a comprehensive suite of benchmarks that can be widely adopted across Europe. Benchmarking is essential in the realm of high-performance computing, as it enables fair and consistent comparisons of hardware and software platforms. A standardized framework allows users to validate performance claims, make objective system comparisons, and make informed decisions based on real-world workloads rather than isolated metrics. Additionally, the initiative supports system operators in optimizing throughput and energy efficiency, key priorities as HPC systems move towards exascale performance.
