CastPrint acquires funding FF4EuroHPC

A consortium created by the start-up “CastPrint”, the Riga Technical University (RTU) HPC Centre and the University of Latvia (UL) Numeric Modeling Institute attracts funds/resources from the research and Innovation Support program “Apvārsnis 2020” in order to improve the quality of personalized medical auxiliary equipment produced by the company using supercomputer calculations and to reduce production time.

“CastPrint” works in the creation of individually designed 3D-printed fixators for the treatment of various types of fractures. The UL Institute of Numerical Modeling will develop numerical models of fixers and topological optimization algorithms for the needs of the company, as well as organize an assessment of the durability of the new product. However, the RTU HPC centre is linked to the project as the largest supercomputer resource provider in Latvia with knowledge of the necessary technical and software provision for the successful execution of the project. “CastPrint” will have to ensure that the models of fixators created with the help of the supercomputer, as well as the printed material itself, meet the requirements of patient, medic, and manufacturing quality requirements.

“In order to be able to compete in the global market, the inclusion of HPC in the processes of a high-tech enterprise is inevitable. I hope that we will see more and more good examples of the introduction of technologies corresponding to «Industry 4.0» in Latvian companies, especially since now supercomputers in Latvia can be used by anyone who has interest,” emphasizes Jānis Virbulis, head of the Semiconductor Technology Laboratory at the UL Institute of Numerical Modeling. He also adds that companies that are interested in introducing these technologies into their process, but lack the knowledge, will be assisted by the Latvian HPC Competence Centre

«Latvians have the saying “The end of the bag is open!/Maisam gals vaļā!” and that’s what I would like to say about this first success in the FF4EUROHPC project competition. » says EuroCC project manager of Latvia, RTU lead researcher, Ilmārs Slaidiņs. “Already in January 2021 there was the first project competition, when we had just started the EuroCC project, but there were already three candidates from Latvia for the second contest in September. We hope that there will be more applications from Latvia for the next competition.”

The consortium formed by the start-up company and universities won the  “Apvārsnis 2020” programme FF4EUROHPC competition, with €140 thousand for the realization of the project. The implementation of the project will be started on March 1st and will last for 15 months.

The FF4EUROHPC programme facilitates access to high performance computing technologies for European small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby increasing the innovation potential of the European industry. A project ideas contest is organized each year, selecting “experiments” to demonstrate the ability of the supercomputers, or HPC, to provide innovative products and to add value to the development of national and European industry. More information – https://www.ff4eurohpc.eu/

The RTU HPC Centre, in cooperation with the UL Institute of Numeric Modeling, in an ambitious European Union project, is developing the HPC Competency Centre, a single support structure to promote the use of HPC capabilities in higher education, research, public administration, all types of business, including industry. More information – https://eurocc-latvia.lv/