Description: Development projects are mainly aimed at the development of software and algorithms. A development project can also be a research project with limited resource needs, a test or development project, or a project with specific goals, for example for data post-processing and visualization. Projects with special characteristics (e.g. data visualizations, interactive use in the field of bioinformatics, etc.) can apply for the allocation of appropriate specific resources. Applicants are asked to clearly state such needs in the application form.
Amount of allocated resources: It will be determined for one project for one year in each call separately.
Conditions for users: DP projects are granted access for a maximum of 9 months from the date of resource allocation. Computational resources are allocated according to SLING task scheduling standards, on certain systems a special system of resource utilization rules may be in use.
Beneficiaries, review procedure and allocation: the applicant can apply for RP projects at any time to a permanently open tender, project applications are evaluated by members of the field group of experts based on technical feasibility and reasonableness. Once approved by a panel of experts, administrators can grant access.
Renewal possibility: DP projects can be renewed once, by the applicant resubmitting the same project proposal, which is treated in the same way.
Project support: SLING provides high-level technical support to each DP project organized by a user support team. In specific cases, the applicant may request the support of experts at the time of application to solve specific problems or provide optimization required by the project. Such support must be requested and justified by the applicant in the project application.
Limitations: The applicant can only be in the role of research leader in two approved RP projects at the same time.
Project application: Project application is possible via the application form, the link to which is available with each current tender.
Instructions for project application
Project applications are subject to an assessment of technical suitability and feasibility as well as a scientific review, so applications must include the following components, which you attach as files to the application form:
- project proposal – it should not be longer than 2 A4 pages with pictures and references (you can download a blank template here). The proposal must contain the following elements:
- project name
- project goals
- description of algorithms and research methods
- development outline; algorithms and research method (including current state of software, benchmarking and scaling; algorithms and implementations (a clear description of algorithm development if needed), approach to programming and parallelization
- resource requirements, including information on infrastructure requirements – hardware type, processing capacity, memory, disk capacity, I/O and network requirements, dedicated hardware such as general purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs) or FPGAs , tools, compilers and debuggers
- needs for development and programming tools (compilers, libraries, debuggers, support, etc.)
- project duration and planned project steps
- previous experience of applicants in an environment for intensive computing (brief outline of previous work, general experience and mastery of intensive computer processing, applications and programming languages, as well as anticipated needs for support in the preparation of software, translation, installation, optimization, etc.)
- list of collaborators in the project (name, organization, username and identification data of existing users)
- CV of applicants,
- list of applicants’ publications,
- a list of references, including previous applications and letters of support,
- a statement that the applicant will comply with the rules on the use of resources, the rules of permissible use, the obligation to mention the capacity provider in all publications based on the use of capacities, and the obligation to notify the local administrator in the event of unexpected events (the blank template is available here).
- signed and confirmed document with which you agree to the terms of the GDPR – signed by all project members (blank template available here).
Please note that a project application that lacks any of the listed mandatory components may be rejected.
Extension and work report
In order to extend the project, development project managers must submit a progress report at least one month before the end of the project, on the basis of which the project extension can be approved. The project will be suspended if the report is not submitted on time.
- Development project managers (DP) must submit a progress report together with justification of resource needs at least one month before the end of the project.
- When renewing a project or applying for a project extension, user can request a maximum of 20% additional resources than were approved in the original resource allocation. A time extension is also possible for a maximum of 20% of the original allocation.
- Managers are also required to submit a project progress report every six months after the allocation of resources.
- Progress reports and requests for extensions must contain a list of project collaborators, the amount of scientific research hours of dedicated scientific work by researchers on the project, and any references and publications (published or in the process of peer review) as well as data on the achievement of goals and project steps in relation to the original project application (blank template is available here)
- After the completion of the project, the manager is obliged to submit a final report (a blank template is available here).
Requests for project extensions and all reports can be sent to support@sling.si.
