Blog Posts
The NCC Ireland SME Accelerator Programme in EuroCC3
By Buket Benek Gursoy, ICHEC | 9 October 2026
In this interview, we speak with Peter Woods, Business Development & Public Sector Manager at ICHEC (Irish Centre for High-End Computing), who has led the NCC Ireland SME Accelerator Programme since the start of the EuroCC project. Peter shares insights into how the programme has evolved over time, highlights recent successes with Irish SMEs, and discusses the new opportunities available as we enter EuroCC3.
Peter, what is the NCC Ireland SME Accelerator Programme, and what does it aim to achieve?
The NCC Ireland SME Accelerator Programme is now in its third iteration and continues to help Irish SMEs explore how high-performance computing (HPC) and advanced computing technologies can benefit their businesses. Delivered by ICHEC as part of EuroCC, the programme gives SMEs the opportunity to work directly with our technical experts to tackle a specific business challenge or explore a new opportunity. The aim is to make these technologies more accessible to smaller companies that might not otherwise have the expertise or resources to explore them.
We provide the technical support, mentoring and access to computing infrastructure, allowing companies to focus on developing practical solutions that can improve efficiency, drive innovation and ultimately strengthen their competitiveness.
Could you explain how it has evolved over time, and where we are now in EuroCC3?
When we first launched the SME Accelerator Programme, one of our biggest challenges was raising awareness of HPC and helping companies understand how it could benefit their business. A lot of our early conversations were about explaining the technology and demonstrating what was possible.
That has changed considerably over the three iterations of the programme. Companies are now much more familiar with HPC and AI, and we're seeing SMEs coming to us with a clearer understanding of the technologies and, more importantly, specific business challenges they want to address.
As we move into EuroCC3, the programme has evolved to reflect this. We're spending less time explaining what the technology can do and more time working directly with companies to put it into practice. The focus is very much on delivering practical solutions that can make a real difference to their businesses.
What kind of support does the programme provide to Irish SMEs? Could you share some examples of how ICHEC helped companies adopt HPC?
The programme is very much about providing practical, hands-on support. We work closely with each company to understand their business challenge and identify where HPC can make a difference. From there, we provide access to our technical experts, one-to-one mentoring, tailored training and supercomputing resources to help develop and test a solution.
We've worked with some really interesting Irish companies across a wide range of sectors. For example, Ubotica Technologies working in computer vision and machine learning, for earth observation, Nuritas uses HPC to discover bioactive peptides with potential health benefits, while Evercam use HPC to increase the clarity of their deve camera-based solutions for the construction industry. We've also supported companies such as Telenostic in animal infection testing and Fathom in exploring machine learning and large-scale data processing.
These examples highlight the variety of businesses that can benefit from HPC. You don't need to be a traditional technology company to get involved. What matters is having a business challenge where advanced computing could help deliver a better, faster or more innovative solution.
What have been some of the programme's biggest successes or highlights so far?
One of the biggest successes of the programme has been seeing Irish SMEs take HPC technology and use it to solve real business challenges, often opening up opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have been able to explore.
A great example is our work with Prior PLM Medical, an Irish company working in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors. Through NCC Ireland, we helped them access the EuroHPC supercomputer MeluXina, allowing them to simulate and compare dozens of different dry powder inhaler designs.
Traditionally, this type of development would involve expensive and time-consuming physical prototypes and laboratory testing. By using HPC, Prior PLM can now explore design alternatives much faster, gain a deeper understanding of product performance and make more informed decisions earlier in the development process.
What's particularly encouraging is that this has also opened up new business opportunities for Prior PLM, allowing them to engage with pharmaceutical clients at a much earlier stage of product development.
For me, that's exactly what the SME Accelerator is about. It's not just about giving companies access to powerful computers; it's about helping them use that technology to innovate, become more competitive and create new business opportunities.
How have participating SMEs responded to the programme?
The response from participating SMEs has been very encouraging. One of the things we've found is that once companies start working with our technical teams and see what HPC can actually do for their business, they begin to recognise opportunities they may not have considered before.
What's particularly positive is that companies are seeing benefits beyond the original technical challenge. As we've seen with Prior PLM Medical, the programme can help SMEs improve their development processes, explore new ideas and even open doors to new customers and markets.
For us, that's one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme. We're not just helping companies complete a technical project; we're helping them build the knowledge and confidence to continue using these technologies as their businesses grow.
As we enter EuroCC3, are there any new areas of focus or opportunities for Irish SMEs?
As we move into EuroCC3, we're seeing some exciting opportunities for Irish SMEs, particularly as awareness of HPC and AI continues to grow.
One of the key developments is that we now have two complementary programmes available through ICHEC. The SME Accelerator continues to focus on HPC projects, helping companies tackle computationally demanding challenges such as advanced simulation, modelling and code optimisation. Meanwhile, the newly established AI Antenna provides dedicated support for companies looking to explore and adopt artificial intelligence.
What's particularly exciting is that these two programmes can work together. For SMEs whose projects involve both HPC and AI, we can bring together the expertise and resources of both programmes to provide a more comprehensive solution.
Ultimately, it's about making sure companies can access the right expertise and support for their particular challenge, whether that's through the SME Accelerator, the AI Antenna or a combination of both.
Where can people find out more about the SME Accelerator Programme or get in touch if they're interested in participating?
To find out more about the SME Accelerator Programme or express interest in participating, you can visit the EuroCC Ireland web page. You can also find NCC Ireland Service Offerings listed on the HPC Service Hub and HPC Europa Portal which provide further information on the support available to SMEs.
You can stay connected with the latest updates and news by following the official EuroCC Ireland LinkedIn page.
If you would like to get in touch directly, you can email the project team at eurocc_ireland@ichec.ie. Alternatively, you can reach out directly to me at peter.woods@ichec.ie.
About Peter Woods
Peter Woods is a Research and Development Liaison at the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC), University of Galway, specialising in industry engagement and the adoption of advanced computing technologies.
Peter has led the EuroCC SME Accelerator Programme since its inception, overseeing its development through three iterations and working with over 20 Irish companies to explore and adopt high-performance computing (HPC) solutions.
He also leads business development for Ireland’s AI Antenna, connecting businesses with specialist AI expertise and resources. His work focuses on building industry partnerships, identifying innovation opportunities and helping Irish companies translate advanced technologies into practical business solutions.