The Development Projects allocation at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) supports researchers working on the development, optimisation, and scaling of codes, algorithms and software using high-performance computing (HPC) resources, specifically on the ‘Alps’ supercomputer.
These projects are intended for methodological and technical development work rather than production science:
- They provide larger compute allocations than Small Projects, tailored to the needs of software and algorithm development on the ‘Alps’ system.
- Allocations are granted for up to one year, with the aim of preparing codes and workflows for future large-scale production runs.
- There is no fixed deadline; proposals can be submitted on a rolling basis while the call is open.
Development Projects focus on:
- Code development, porting, and optimisation for HPC architectures.
- Algorithmic innovation and performance tuning to enable efficient use of large-scale supercomputing resources.
Proposals are technically evaluated for feasibility, scalability, and efficient use of resources, rather than undergoing full scientific peer review.
Who Can Apply?
Development Projects are intended for researchers who require dedicated supercomputing resources to advance or prepare HPC-enabled software and methods.
- Principal Investigators (PIs) affiliated with a Swiss academic institution, including postdocs and faculty, can apply.
- PhD students cannot apply independently and must submit proposals with their supervisor listed as the PI.
- Researchers already holding major CSCS allocations may apply, provided the Development Project is clearly distinct and focused on code or method development.
Note: Each PI or research group may submit one Development Project proposal per year.