As one of Europe’s leading facilities for high-performance computing, HLRS is a diverse community of scientists, engineers, and other professionals focused on discovering and developing new applications of powerful digital technologies and computer science methods.
The High-Performance Computing Centre Stuttgart (HLRS) was founded as Germany’s first federal high-performance computing (HPC) centre. It operates one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. It offers various HPC solutions and services for universities, research institutions, and industry. Furthermore, HLRS is a worldwide leader in engineering and global system sciences. Staff scientists at HLRS investigate emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, and Quantum Computing (QC) towards realising hybrid workflows and lowering the hurdle for non-experts using HPC technologies. In this context, HLRS is significantly involved in international and national research projects across the abovementioned research areas.
As part of this effort, HLRS coordinates the FFplus project, a European initiative designed to drive the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) by SMEs and start-ups across Europe.

DRIVING SME AND STARTUP INNOVATION THROUGH HPC AND GENERATIVE AI

FFplus aims to highlight and promote the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) by SMEs and start-ups across Europe. This will enable them to solve business challenges through computational methods and leverage supercomputing resources to develop generative AI solutions. More specifically, FFplus supports European SMEs and start-ups through six Open Calls during the project’s duration (2024-2028). These calls fund business experiments that help companies integrate HPC into their workflows for the first time and innovation studies for SMEs already engaged in generative AI but requiring large-scale computational resources to scale up (e.g., available and future EuroHPC JU supercomputers such as LUMI or HammerHAI). FFplus fosters industrial innovation and strengthens European competitiveness in AI and HPC by offering direct funding and technical support.
Building on previous Fortissimo projects, FFplus continues the mission of overcoming barriers to HPC adoption by SMEs. European companies will access state-of-the-art computing capabilities through this initiative, helping them innovate, optimize processes, and create cutting-edge AI-driven products and services.
HLRS, as the coordinator of FFplus, is seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team and contribute to this exciting initiative at the intersection of AI and HPC.

INNOVATION MANAGER — HPC AND GENERATIVE AI

We are looking for a motivated individual to coordinate the innovation studies within the FFplus project on behalf of HLRS. The selected candidate will set up meetings between relevant stakeholders, monitor and track the progress of the innovation studies, and act as the first contact point for SMEs and start-ups when questions arise. This role requires a strong understanding of AI, specifically generative AI algorithms and best practices, to effectively assess the needs of stakeholders and evaluate the experiments conducted. The ideal candidate will have the ability to facilitate collaboration, ensure timely progress, and support the adoption of HPC for AI-driven innovation in SMEs and start-ups.
Please note that this position does not involve software development or implementing individual technical solutions.
In this context, we are looking for a

• Engage with stakeholders to understand their business and technical needs in relation to generative AI and HPC and provide guidance accordingly.
• Coordinate and oversee the progress of innovation studies, ensuring milestones, success stories, and reports are met on time.
• Act as the primary point of contact for SMEs and start-ups participating in the innovation studies, addressing their questions and guiding them through the process (e.g., supporting them in applying for HPC resources at EuroHPC JU supercomputers).
• Organize and facilitate meetings between relevant stakeholders, including industry representatives, and researchers, to ensure alignment and progress in the studies.
• Track, document, and report on the outcomes of innovation studies, providing insights into their success and areas for improvement.
• Identify and resolve potential issues that may arise during the execution of innovation studies, working closely with project partners.
• Contribute to preparing reports, presentations, and publications that showcase the impact of FFplus innovation studies on SMEs and start-ups.
• Support the dissemination and promotion of best practices in generative AI and HPC adoption across European SMEs.