Revolutionizing HPC Benchmarking: EuroHPC JU Launches €4m Funding Opportunity

The Importance of Benchmarking in European High-Performance Computing

The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has recently launched a significant funding call aimed at revolutionizing the benchmarking and evaluation practices of high-performance computing (HPC) systems across Europe. This initiative, supported by a €4m budget under the Horizon Europe programme, seeks to establish transparent and future-proof benchmarking practices that can keep up with the rapid advancements in computing technologies.

Open for submissions until 24 March 2026 at 17:00 CET, the funding call invites researchers, industry players, and technology organizations to contribute to the development of innovative benchmarking frameworks for both traditional and emerging hybrid computing environments.

The Significance of High-Performance Computing

High-performance computing involves the use of powerful systems capable of processing large volumes of data and executing complex calculations at incredibly high speeds. These systems are essential for tasks that go beyond the capabilities of standard computers, such as climate modeling, drug discovery, aerospace simulation, artificial intelligence training, and advanced materials research. With Europe’s substantial investments in exascale computing and AI-driven workloads, the potential of HPC continues to expand.

Effective benchmarking is crucial for fully realizing the potential of high-performance computing. It helps users match the right systems with the right applications and promotes innovation in energy-efficient and sustainable computing architectures.

Developing a Unified Benchmarking Standard for HPC Systems

The core objective 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 plays a critical role in high-performance computing by enabling fair and repeatable comparisons of hardware and software platforms.

A standardized benchmarking framework allows users to validate performance claims, compare systems objectively, and make informed decisions based on real-world workloads. It also supports system operators in optimizing throughput and energy efficiency, both of which are increasingly vital as HPC systems move towards exascale performance.

Focus Areas for Benchmarking Innovation

Focus Area One: Benchmarking Exascale and HPC-AI Systems

The first focus area targets exascale computing and the convergence of HPC with AI. Proposals in this area aim to define and standardize benchmarks that facilitate reproducible and replicable performance evaluations across diverse HPC systems. Key objectives include developing detailed performance metrics, particularly focusing on energy efficiency, and standardizing benchmarking inputs and outputs.

Applicants are required to design a structured workflow that covers the entire benchmarking lifecycle, from deployment to data collection and analysis.

Focus Area Two: Benchmarks for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing

The second focus area addresses benchmarking for the integration of quantum processors with traditional HPC systems. Proposals in this area should define hardware-agnostic benchmarks that measure throughput, latency, energy consumption, and the level of integration between HPC and quantum computing.

Applicants are expected to outline a strategic roadmap that anticipates technological advancements and supports diverse qubit modalities.

Enhancing Europe’s HPC Ecosystem

Through investing in advanced benchmarking frameworks, EuroHPC JU is strengthening Europe’s position in HPC systems while ensuring transparency, comparability, and sustainability. This funding call presents a significant opportunity to shape the measurement of performance not only in the present but also in the hybrid and quantum-enabled HPC environments of the future.