EXACT LAB SRL

Their core work

EXACT LAB is a Trieste-based technology SME that provides high-performance computing, data management, and network infrastructure solutions for scientific research facilities. They specialize in bridging exascale computing architectures with research infrastructure needs — particularly for spectroscopy, scattering, and imaging platforms used in soft matter and nanoscience. Their work spans both the hardware/network layer (interconnect architectures for exascale systems) and the data layer (FAIR data principles, interoperability), making them a technical enabler for large-scale European research infrastructures.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015-2019, EXACT LAB focused on foundational HPC infrastructure — exascale interconnects and storage — alongside spectroscopy and imaging support for soft matter research. From 2021 onward, their work shifted toward data governance and interoperability, with the NEP project emphasizing FAIR data principles and multi-disciplinary user access for nanoscience facilities. This evolution suggests they are moving up the stack from hardware/network infrastructure toward data management and open science services.

EXACT LAB is transitioning from pure HPC infrastructure work toward data interoperability and open science services for distributed research facilities — a direction aligned with Europe's growing emphasis on FAIR and EOSC.

How they like to work

EXACT LAB operates exclusively as a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. Despite their small size, they work within large consortia, having collaborated with 73 unique partners across 17 countries. This pattern suggests they serve as a trusted specialist contributor that large research infrastructure projects bring in for specific technical capabilities rather than project leadership.

With 73 consortium partners across 17 countries, EXACT LAB has built a broad European network disproportionate to their project count. Their partnerships span major research infrastructure consortia, connecting them to leading universities and facilities across the EU.

What sets them apart

EXACT LAB occupies a rare niche at the intersection of exascale computing and scientific research infrastructure — few SMEs can credibly contribute to both HPC network architecture and the data management needs of distributed experimental facilities. Their Trieste location places them near major research hubs (ICTP, Elettra Sincrotrone), and their dual expertise in hardware-level networking and FAIR data makes them a practical bridge between computing centers and research facilities that need to share and process large experimental datasets.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NEP
  Largest single funding (EUR 369,906) and longest project (2021-2027), representing their strategic pivot toward FAIR data and nanoscience infrastructure services.
• ExaNeSt
  Their earliest H2020 project and foundation of their exascale computing expertise — European-scale effort to design interconnect and storage for exascale systems.
• RED-SEA
  Continuation of their exascale network work into 2021-2024, confirming sustained HPC expertise alongside their newer data infrastructure focus.