Supercomputers can perform a very high number of calculations per second, tens of thousands of times faster than a normal computer. Supercomputers are incorporated in the design of most of the technologies we use in our everyday life including weather forecasting, climate research, car safety equipment, drug development to eradicate diseases and cancer treatments.

Supercomputers are vital to protect our data against cyber-attacks and to enable European citizens to benefit from better healthcare services, healthier and more environmentally-friendly products. Both small and big companies use supercomputers to collect and analyse data. Supercomputers help firms grow their business, rationalise processes, increase their output, improve their services and increase profits. Thriving companies mean more growth and jobs for European citizens. European industries use 30% of the world’s supercomputing capacity, of which Europe produces only 5%. There is a high demand for European supercomputers to support the digitalisation needs of Europe’s economy.

Supercomputers are one of the areas of focus of the European Processor Initiative (EPI), a consortium of 27 members from the industry, automotive and research sectors across Europe. EPI aims to develop the first “made in Europe” supercomputer high performance microprocessor. Within the consortium, SiPearl is the industrial vehicle to design and implement a roadmap for a new family of low-power European processors for extreme scale computing, high-performance Big Data and a range of emerging applications. Given the strategic importance of supercomputing, the European Commission has already provided EPI with a €80 million grant for the first phase. This project is a key element of the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking.

The Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), a French public government-funded research organisation, requested the Advisory Hub and InnovFin Advisory to help EPI develop a business plan and a roadmap for the equity raising process.

The Advisory Hub and InnovFin Advisory helped create a solid business pitch and better present the data on the European Union, the consortium and the market. The Hub’s and InnovFin Advisory’s experts worked closely with EPI to prepare a well-structured business plan and a coherent story line for potential investors, a detailed roadmap for the fundraising covering a target list of potential investors and key priorities and milestones to make the project financeable. The Hub and InnovFin Advisory helped CEA prepare a stronger case and reach out to potential investors from both the public and private sector. This support is contributing to the project’s implementation in a more sustainable manner and to making Europe a leader in extreme scale computing.