Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : Exo-Oceans (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : University of Cologne — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2116582.0 €

The existence of liquid water is one of the few preconditions for life as we know it. Therefore, the search and characterization of liquid water outside of Earth plays an essential role in the search for extraterrestrial life. Prominent candidates to host liquid water are moons in the outer solar system, which can maintain oceans under their icy surfaces. The currently most effective way to identify such subsurface oceans is through effects of their salinity and thus electrical conductivity. The conductivity modifies the magnetic field around these moons through a process referred to as electromagnetic induction. Spacecraft measurements of associated magnetic field perturbations provided evidence for oceans within Jupiter’s moon Europa and Ganymede. Current analysis tools however reached an impasse. No scientific techniques are available, which provide quantitative estimates and uncertainties of key ocean properties when the effects of the dense magnetized plasmas around the moons are included. Here we propose entirely new approaches, which overcome these issues. Our novel techniques will include a simultaneous treatment of the physics in all internal and external conductive layers and will for the first time use all available observations including auroral emission to go beyond considering magnetic fields only. EXO-OCEANS will systematically characterize the ocean properties on Europa and Ganymede including the ocean candidate Callisto. Characterizing the oceans on Ganymede, Europa and Callisto are at the heart of ESA’s Juice and NASA’s Europa Clipper missions. For Saturn’s moons Titan and Enceladus where currently existing techniques do not work, we will invent a new detection technique. In parallel we will use the Hubble Space Telescope to search and characterize aurora in extrasolar planetary systems to pave the way for ocean detections beyond the solar system.

Mots-clés : subsurface oceans,moons in the outer solar system,electromagnetic induction,moon magnetosphere interaction
Projet ERC : Observable Stability (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : Bar-Ilan University — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : BIU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 831487.99 €

The existing literature mainly focuses on two kinds of interactions: short-term interactions in which the behavior today does not influence the future, and long-term interactions with the same partner. In the former model, the only stable outcomes are Nash equilibria (which are typically non-efficient), while the latter model allows one to achieve efficient outcomes. Many interesting situations lie somewhere in between, typically when people engage in short-term interactions but future partners may obtain some information about the behavior today. For example, how do people behave when interacting in one-off purchases in an online site with a feedback mechanism (e.g., eBay)? In this project I will fill the large gap in the literature, by characterizing evolutionary stable outcomes when players have limited information about the partner’s past, and how this stable behavior depends on the richness and the structure of the observed information. This will shed new light on indirect reciprocity and its use to achieve efficiency in social dilemmas. The evolutionary stable outcomes capture the long run behavior in a dynamic process of cultural learning. Agents are randomly matched in each round to play a game with a new partner. Each agent may observe some information about the partner’s past behavior. New agents, who join the interactions, usually mimic one of the existing behaviors, with a larger tendency to choose more successful incumbents. Occasionally, few agents experiment with a new behavior. The research agenda includes several theoretical subprojects with various research questions, such as: (1) Would non-material preferences be stable? (2) What will be the influence of non-verifiable reports about past behavior? (3) Which of the (locally) stable outcomes would be selected? (4) What will happen in asymmetric interactions between professional sellers and non-experienced buyers? The final subproject experimentally tests the various predictions and key implications.

Mots-clés : evolutionary stability,indirect reciprocity
Projet ERC : DELPHI (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Tel Aviv University — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TAU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499375.0 €

The explosion of information around us has democratized knowledge and transformed its availability for people around the world. Still, since information is mediated through automated systems, access is bounded by their ability to understand language. Consider an economist asking “What fraction of the top-5 growing countries last year raised their co2 emission?”. While the required information is available, answering such complex questions automatically is not possible. Current question answering systems can answer simple questions in broad domains, or complex questions in narrow domains. However, broad and complex questions are beyond the reach of state-of-the-art. This is because systems are unable to decompose questions into their parts, and find the relevant information in multiple sources. Further, as answering such questions is hard for people, collecting large datasets to train such models is prohibitive. In this proposal I ask: Can computers answer broad and complex questions that require reasoning over multiple modalities? I argue that by synthesizing the advantages of symbolic and distributed representations the answer will be “yes”. My thesis is that symbolic representations are suitable for meaning composition, as they provide interpretability, coverage, and modularity. Complementarily, distributed representations (learned by neural nets) excel at capturing the fuzziness of language. I propose a framework where complex questions are symbolically decomposed into sub-questions, each is answered with a neural network, and the final answer is computed from all gathered information. This research tackles foundational questions in language understanding. What is the right representation for reasoning in language? Can models learn to perform complex actions in the face of paucity of data? Moreover, my research, if successful, will transform how we interact with machines, and define a role for them as research assistants in science, education, and our daily life.

Mots-clés : natural language understanding,question answering,machine learning
Projet ERC : MATTERDESIGN (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1456252.5 €

The extensive and growing library of layered crystals opens up the exciting possibility of exfoliating them into single atomic layers and stacking these atomic layers back together in new sequences to fabricate a new class of artificial van der Waals solids, with novel properties and functionalities. The principal objectives of this proposal are to study the fundamental physics and chemistry of novel materials, structures and devices synthesised by assembling different two-dimensional (2D) crystals and to exploit their unique properties for diverse applications. The applicant primarily aims to explore the new science and technology of extremely narrow 2D capillaries synthesised by assembling various precisely patterned 2D crystals. Molecular transport through nano-capillaries is highly important due to its applicability in filtration and separation technology and also because of the unusual fundamental behaviour arising at the molecular scale. In this proposal, the applicant plans to study the behaviour of molecules, atoms and ions confined in the ultra-narrow 2D channels and explore the use of these devices for nanofluidic applications. Furthermore, the potential of these 2D channels for the synthesis of artificial structures by encapsulating various materials inside the channels will be investigated. The applicant plans to use a variety of techniques, such as chemical exfoliation and mechanical exfoliation, together with already established layer-by-layer coating or multiple transfer techniques, to produce novel materials and devices. The applicant will also investigate the potential of these novel layered materials for the fabrication of novel superconductors by intercalating them with various elements. The urge in pursuing this project relies on the fact that many intercalated graphite and other layered compounds are superconducting. The above research directions should create a solid basis for a world-leading research group led by the applicant.

Mots-clés : two dimensional materials,layered materials,graphene,membranes,nanofluidics
Projet ERC : MATTERDESIGN (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Lancaster University — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 0.0 €

The extensive and growing library of layered crystals opens up the exciting possibility of exfoliating them into single atomic layers and stacking these atomic layers back together in new sequences to fabricate a new class of artificial van der Waals solids, with novel properties and functionalities. The principal objectives of this proposal are to study the fundamental physics and chemistry of novel materials, structures and devices synthesised by assembling different two-dimensional (2D) crystals and to exploit their unique properties for diverse applications. The applicant primarily aims to explore the new science and technology of extremely narrow 2D capillaries synthesised by assembling various precisely patterned 2D crystals. Molecular transport through nano-capillaries is highly important due to its applicability in filtration and separation technology and also because of the unusual fundamental behaviour arising at the molecular scale. In this proposal, the applicant plans to study the behaviour of molecules, atoms and ions confined in the ultra-narrow 2D channels and explore the use of these devices for nanofluidic applications. Furthermore, the potential of these 2D channels for the synthesis of artificial structures by encapsulating various materials inside the channels will be investigated. The applicant plans to use a variety of techniques, such as chemical exfoliation and mechanical exfoliation, together with already established layer-by-layer coating or multiple transfer techniques, to produce novel materials and devices. The applicant will also investigate the potential of these novel layered materials for the fabrication of novel superconductors by intercalating them with various elements. The urge in pursuing this project relies on the fact that many intercalated graphite and other layered compounds are superconducting. The above research directions should create a solid basis for a world-leading research group led by the applicant.

Mots-clés : two dimensional materials,layered materials,graphene,membranes,nanofluidics
Projet ERC : IMAGINE (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : Spanish National Research Council — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CSIC
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1495046.0 €

The fast-growing sample of thousands of extrasolar planets is unveiling an amazing variety of properties. It represents an opportunity to shed light on long-standing physics and astrobiology issues from a much wider sample than our Solar neighbours, especially for what concerns the still unclear internal structure, only grossly constrained by observable values of mass and/or radii. Planetary magnetism and its long-term evolution is currently understood only partially for the Earth, at a lesser extent for Jupiter and other Solar planets, and is still elusive in exoplanets. The project focuses on magnetic fields as a key factor in shaping habitability and as a messenger of the internal composition and dynamics. For terrestrial planets, long-lasting, strong enough magnetic fields are arguably a key factor to guarantee habitability, but we are not even sure about how the Earth’s magnetic field has survived for so long. Magnetism leaves other detectable imprints in giant planets. A quest for the first exoplanetary Jupiter-like magnetospheric emission in radio is on-going, but the search needs to be driven by a reliable prediction of the most likely emitters. Magnetic fields can delay the cooling via Ohmic dissipation and could explain the often observed inflated radii in hot Jupiters, but models are still incomplete. IMAGINE will simulate the long-term (Gyr) evolution of the exoplanetary magnetic fields, coupled with a cooling model, and will assess the relevant imprints on their observables for a broad range of distinctive features mass, composition, irradiation, rotation. Combining a novel formulation, emission models and advanced numerical techniques partially imported and adapted from the scenario of magnetized neutron stars, on which the PI is expert, IMAGINE will predict values of magnetic fields for different exoplanets, comparing the associated observable properties of gas giants and contributing to identify the best rocky worlds candidates to habitability.

Mots-clés : magnetic fields,cooling,habitability,hot jupiters,auroral radio emission
Projet ERC : CharFL (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : Institute of Science and Technology Austria — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ISTA
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1998280.0 €

The fitness landscape, the representation of how the genotype manifests at the phenotypic (fitness) levels, may be among the most useful concepts in biology with impact on diverse fields, including quantitative genetics, emergence of pathogen resistance, synthetic biology and protein engineering. While progress in characterizing fitness landscapes has been made, three directions of research in the field remain virtually unexplored: the nature of the genotype to phenotype of standing variation (variation found in a natural population), the shape of the fitness landscape encompassing many genotypes and the modelling of complex genetic interactions in protein sequences. The current proposal is designed to advance the study of fitness landscapes in these three directions using large-scale genomic experiments and experimental data from a model protein and theoretical work. The study of the fitness landscape of standing variation is aimed at the resolution of an outstanding question in quantitative genetics: the extent to which epistasis, non-additive genetic interactions, is shaping the phenotype. The second aim of characterizing the global fitness landscape will give us an understanding of how evolution proceeds along long evolutionary timescales, which can be directly applied to protein engineering and synthetic biology for the design of novel phenotypes. Finally, the third aim of modelling complex interactions will improve our ability to predict phenotypes from genotypes, such as the prediction of human disease mutations. In summary, the proposed study presents an opportunity to provide a unifying understanding of how phenotypes are shaped through genetic interactions. The consolidation of our empirical and theoretical work on different scales of the genotype to phenotype relationship will provide empirical data and novel context for several fields of biology.

Mots-clés : genotype to phenotype map,fitness landscape,epistasis
Projet ERC : SIRI (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Social World and Its Diversity
Entité participante : University of Sussex — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1423227.52 €

The focus of the SIRI project is on the desirability and feasibility of targeting research, and the idea of "serendipity" in research and innovation (SIRI). This is the notion that research leads to unexpected valuable outcomes and, since the outcomes of research are impossible to predict, research itself is difficult (perhaps even impossible) to manage or direct towards specific social ends. Research may be uncertain, but it is not random, and we know that industrial R&D managers fund research in areas where they expect returns and organise research to maximise its impact. With public policy, the scenario is slightly different, but there is limited evidence to draw on to support policy making. Thus, SIRI asks whether EU science can be better managed in ways that enhance the social and economic value of serendipity. The project will undertake a mix of fundamental basic research on the nature of serendipity and its measurement, its history and influence on research policy, together with applied policy-focused research on issues of direct relevance to government policy makers, medical charities and industrial R&D managers. It will deploy mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to generate large scale evidence as well detailed cases studies. It will then focus on developing theory and implications to inform future policy on research and innovation.

Mots-clés : serendipity,research policy,science and technology policy,biomedical innovation,case study,bibliometrics
Projet ERC : AXIAL.EC (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing
Entité participante : University of Lisbon — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1618750.0 €

The formation of a functional patterned vascular network is essential for development, tissue growth and organ physiology. Several human vascular disorders arise from the mis-patterning of blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and diabetic retinopathy. Although blood flow is recognised as a stimulus for vascular patterning, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate endothelial cell behaviour in response to flow and promote vascular patterning. Recently, we uncovered that endothelial cells migrate extensively in the immature vascular network, and that endothelial cells polarise against the blood flow direction. Here, we put forward the hypothesis that vascular patterning is dependent on the polarisation and migration of endothelial cells against the flow direction, in a continuous flux of cells going from low-shear stress to high-shear stress regions. We will establish new reporter mouse lines to observe and manipulate endothelial polarity in vivo in order to investigate how polarisation and coordination of endothelial cells movements are orchestrated to generate vascular patterning. We will manipulate cell polarity using mouse models to understand the importance of cell polarisation in vascular patterning. Also, using a unique zebrafish line allowing analysis of endothelial cell polarity, we will perform a screen to identify novel regulators of vascular patterning. Finally, we will explore the hypothesis that defective flow-dependent endothelial polarisation underlies arteriovenous malformations using two genetic models. This integrative approach, based on high-resolution imaging and unique experimental models, will provide a unifying model defining the cellular and molecular principles involved in vascular patterning. Given the physiological relevance of vascular patterning in health and disease, this research plan will set the basis for the development of novel clinical therapies targeting vascular disorders.

Mots-clés : angiogenesis,endothelial cells,vascular patterning,cell polarity
Projet ERC : NOC2D (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1922451.0 €

The formation of crystalline solids from liquid-phase precursor is a central idea in materials chemistry. Organic crystal structures can be found in a large number of products, including food, explosives, pigments and pharmaceuticals. Control of molecular assembly is therefore a fundamental problem for both research and industry and it involves substantial scientific and economic challenges. For example, polymorphism is crucial for drug manufacturers because the crystal structure, morphology and size, can all affect the stability, efficacy and production cost of the drug. Therefore, it is essential to achieve a deep understanding on the molecular processes happening at the early stage of crystallization. Although important results have been obtained, our understanding on how a crystal of organic molecules nucleates on a surface is still poor. To go beyond state-of-the art we need techniques able to probe rare nucleation events with nanoscale resolution and very high sensitivity, providing direct insights on the structure of the nuclei and their interaction with the environment. The aim of this proposal is to use 2D crystals to open new horizons in the understanding of nucleation of organic crystals by using a multi-disciplinary approach, which combines chemical engineering, material chemistry, graphene physics and sensors technology. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, will allow preparing advanced surface templates and to perform nucleation experiments that would be impossible or too difficult to achieve with other templates. In particular, graphene will be used both as surface template and as sensor to probe nucleation events in real time. We will combine electrical and optical readouts to investigate molecular interactions during nucleation with chemical recognition and nanoscale resolution. This will strongly improve our understanding of the basic phenomena which control heterogeneous nucleation from liquid-phase precursor.

Mots-clés : graphene,2d crystals,sensors