Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : BIODENIM (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université nouvelle de Lisbonne — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UNL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The environmental and societal impact of fabric dyeing is a critical concern, with the textile industry ranking among the most chemically intensive and the second-largest polluter of clean water globally. Traditional dyeing methods consume large amounts of water and energy, release toxic chemicals, and contribute significantly to environmental degradation. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable dyeing innovations that reduce chemical usage and conserve water. In this ERC PoC, we aim to develop and implement a novel eco-friendly textile dyeing method that combines the design of genetically engineered colored proteins with a non-toxic, zero-waste innovative application methodology, eliminating toxic waste and pollution and significantly reducing water consumption. In this project, we aim to rationally design and express heat-resistant blue chromoproteins (i.e., aeBlue) from the coral Aquinia equina in a bacterial chassis (Escherichia coli). Then, we will demonstrate that they can be bound covalently to cotton fibers to dye the fibers similar to DENIM, using sugar cross-linkers with temperatures above 40 ºC. This biologically inspired protein-based dyeing approach for textiles can be further explored using other chromoproteins found in other organisms, offering a palette of natural colors and opening new avenues for a future sustainable alternative for fabric dyeing. This PoC builds on the findings of the ERC-CoG-funded project BIOMATFAB, which explored sugar uptake and transport in cotton fibers. In collaboration with European textile industry stakeholders, this PoC aims to explore and demonstrate the commercial feasibility of our dyeing methodology. We will aim to understand consumer needs, market segments, and competition to define a robust business model that ensures the long-term sustainability of our commercialization efforts. Our innovative project represents a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of the European textile industry.
Projet ERC : SNAIL (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université nouvelle de Lisbonne — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UNL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

An antibubble is a droplet of liquid with a shell surrounded by a thin film of gas. Antibubbles have many potential applications, e.g. drug delivery with application in a clinical setting and the food industry. The major challenge is to develop antibubbles with a long life time; essential for industry usage. The gas shell can be stabilized using hydrophobic nanoparticles to create a particle shell surrounding the air. The use of particles, instead of surfactants, to stabilize dispersed systems is an attractive sustainable solution for the food industry. Our demonstration of the ionic liquid-catalyzed purification of the polyester suberin - from plant materials in the form of hydrophobic nanoparticles led us to investigate their potential application for the generation of high performance antibubbles.

Mots-clés : plant polyesters suberin hydrophobic nanoparticles pickering antibubbles food grade ingredients
Projet ERC : EXCELL (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université nouvelle de Lisbonne — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UNL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to increase, so does the number of batteries reaching the end-of-life that are used to power them being expected that by 2030 it will reach 2 million tons worldwide. On top of this the complexity of battery production results in very high scrap rates (about 10%-30%), especially during production ramp-up, while the scarcity of raw materials in Europe are intensifying EU regulations to localize supply chains and safeguard critical raw materials. It is evident that there is strong need to increase sustainability in the batteries value chain and contributions may come from improving both their lifetime and recyclability of the cell components. In EXCELL it is proposed to prove a new concept for batteries separators based on a 100% natural cellulose nanocomposite with tuneable mesopores obtained by a mixture of nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals. Additionally, these new separators will be suitable for the incorporation of sensing elements that will enable the new generation of smart battery cells. EXCELL will follow the outputs of NEWFUN-StG where it was demonstrated that cellulose based ionic conductive materials are possible to be recycled and reused while maintaining the electrochemical performance. The PI’s team has also demonstrated that cellulose nanocrystals are able to create mesoporous ionic conductive channels that can be tunned to specific alkali ions but proper functionalization of the crystals’ surface. EXCELL will now demonstrate the synergic effect of combining both to form hierarchical mesoporous membranes exhibiting a unique set of characteristics that can meet those ones expected for an “ideal” separator. EXCELL will follow an approach of validating the new separator concept and then implement a IPR consolidation and a business case to attract the attention of battery market stakeholders on new opportunities for cell components based on abundant natural resources that are recyclable/biodegradable.
Projet ERC : OncoFlag (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université polytechnique de Valence — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncology by leveraging the immune system to combat tumors. However, many cancers evade immune detection through mechanisms like the absence of recognizable antigens (Ags), limiting current therapeutic efficacy. To address this, we present OncoFlag, an innovative platform employing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding a protein of a target virus. This approach transforms tumor cells into visible targets for the immune system by inducing viral Ag expression on their surface, resulting in a revival of the immune recognition (communication) and triggering a potent anti-tumor response. Building on the results of the ERC-advanced EDISON project, which explores micro/nanoparticles as mediators for immune-cancer cell communication, we have preliminary validated this strategy in a melanoma model. Our results demonstrated significant tumor growth reduction and robust immune activation, driven by cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration into Ag-expressing tumors. OncoFlag Proof-of-Concept project aims to explore the viability of this platform by evaluating the universality of the therapy in diverse tumor models, as well as its versatility and translational potential. By validating the efficacy of the platform in multiple tumor types and patient-derived systems (e.g., co-cultures with primary immune cells, PBMCs), we aim to establish a novel, universal strategy that can be applied across a wide range of cancers. These studies will provide critical insights into the platform’s ability to overcome current limitations in cancer immunotherapy. By demonstrating the universality and versatility of OncoFlag, we aim to de-risk the technology, attract further investment, and accelerate its path to commercialization. OncoFlag represents a transformative step towards personalized and effective cancer treatments, aligning with the growing demand for precision medicine and improved patient outcomes.
Projet ERC : SysDyNetTool (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de technologie d'Eindhoven — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Increasing demands on the safe and efficient operation of engineering systems require the ability to model, monitor, optimize and control complex dynamic systems that are spatially interconnected as networks of dynamic subsystems. Examples can be found e.g., in distributed (smart) power systems, industrial production processes, transportation networks, biomedical systems, etcetera. Operational decisions are being made on the basis of models and data, while keeping the network models up-to-date over time is key for the ability to guarantee safe, efficient and robust operation. While sensor data is playing an increasing role as a basis for modeling, diagnostics, decision making and predictive maintenance, there are currently no standard software tools available for data analytics and machine learning where effective use is made of the physical interconnection structure of the constituting subsystems. The results of the ERC Advanced Research project “Data-driven modeling in dynamic networks” (2016-2022) will be translated into an effective general purpose GUI supported MATLAB-based toolbox for data analytics, including data-driven dynamic modelling and diagnostics, for the situation of spatially interconnected linear dynamic systems. The scientific methods and algorithms will be turned into into effective workflows to be used by engineers, researchers and students for applications in a variety of engineering domains. A professional software architecture and first steps of an implementation have already been realized. The project will be guided by stakeholders from industry, among which MathWorks Inc, ASML and ABB, who will also be involved in the development of use cases. Parallel to this project, the research into effective methods will continue, allowing to overcome shortcomings in the current tools that might appear. A further plan for exploitation of the toolbox will be made by the end of the project, and will be dependent on the proof-of-concept evaluation.

Mots-clés : software,matlab,dynamic networks,system identification,data driven modeling,machine learning,systems theory,diagnostics
Projet ERC : POLYBRAINT (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Príncipe Felipe Research Center — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CIPF
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Nearly one in six of the world's population suffered from neurological disorders, this number is expected to keep growing. Many of those central nervous system (CNS) disorders do not have still an approved therapy, mainly due to one of the most challenging barriers, the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Only 2% of small-molecule drugs and ~0% of biologic drugs can reach the brain, thus stunting the development of treatment options. In POLYBRAINT we will explore the technical and commercial feasibility of an intranasal drug delivery platform (derived from ERC consolidator MyNano) to deliver biological agents to the brain for the treatment of CNS pathologies. After an adequate functionalization, our intranasally (i.n.) administered nanocarrier can reach the brain and diffuse through to specific areas of interest (i.e. hippocampus, olfactory bulb...). POLYBRAINT aims to confirm the transport, delivery, and controlled release of a functional biological agent, establish an intellectual property strategy, and assess the future commercialization feasibility of our innovative platform. Our i.n. platform has unique properties capable to overcome the main limitations of existing approaches and can revolutionize what has been achieved so far in the field, including greater versatility, higher loading capacity and controlled-sustained drug release after rationally design bioresponsive conjugation strategies among others. Additionally, our nanocarrier can be scaled at the industrial level and thus overcome a significant bottleneck of current nanocarrier-based therapeutics. Our platform offers a highly attractive business case, as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies heavily invest in nanomedicine due to the need for novel drug delivery strategies that can cross challenging biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier.
Projet ERC : PassIon (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Wageningen University & Research — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : WUR
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The growing global concern surrounding water scarcity spurs societal impact by ensuring accessible and affordable freshwater resources. Furthermore, the increasing demand for high-value, non-renewable resources like phosphate and lithium, often found in waster or process water streams, coupled with their dwindling availability, requires robust strategies to establish secure supply chains.  Electrochemical deionization (ECD) stands out as a promising solution due to its ability to fine-tune selectivity for specific ions. Over the past two decades, ECD has made remarkable progress, driven by factors like membrane use, surface functionalization, innovative cell designs, diverse electrochemical modes, and a deeper grasp of theory and application. Novel electrode materials, particularly intercalation materials, as developed and studied in the ERC Consolidator project E-Motion, have enhanced ion-selectivity in ECD.  In PassIon the up-scaling and electrode stability that follow from our scientific results obtained so far – and our filed patent – will be validated. This will not only boost the desalination performance of ECD processes at larger scale, but also enable employment of such processes for resource recovery in an effective and sustainable way. Two work packages have been defined, one on the technical aspects and one on commercial activities. The team will regularly meet with the strategic advisory board to be installed and engage with potential end-users and sponsors, mainly via the vast networks of Wetsus and our industrial mentor.  A risk analysis has been made and risk-mitigation measures are in place to boost the breakthrough innovation of combing desalination with salt recovery. PassIon is set to achieve Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4 to 5 through validation, culminating in the delivery of a market consultation report and initial commercialization plans. These critical steps are essential in laying the groundwork for the development of a demonstrator.
Projet ERC : SPORELESS (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Centre de recherche de Biologie de Szeged — Pays : Hongrie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : BRC
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In our previous ERC project we identified a broad panel of fungal genes that are associated with spore formation, one of the largest problems in industry-scale crop mushroom production. The mushroom market intensely seeks sporeless strains, however, existing ones are used by a small fraction of growers, because, in addition to sporelessness, they show unwanted morphological defects, which reduce crop quality. In preliminary experiments, we demonstrated that CRISPR-based targeting of novel genes we identified can generate sporeless strains in two model mushroom species, without unwanted side effects. In this project, we set out to demonstrate the utility of this gene panel in converting industrial oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp) strains into sporeless varieties, without the genomic incorporation of exogenous DNA. This will give us a simple and low cost lab-to-farm pipeline for developing novel industrial mushroom strains using a technology that is widely accepted as non-GMO in several regions worldwide. We plan to commercialize such strains through our existing and novel industrial partners in the US, Australia, Japan and potentially several more countries. Overall, this project might provide a lasting solution to a major problem in a well-defined field of biotechnology, that can be used in the ever growing number of countries where marker-free genetic engineering is accepted.
Projet ERC : IMMOSTORE (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : École polytechnique de Poznań — Pays : Pologne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

This project focuses on the electric energy storage and offers research on novel type of hybrid electrochemical capacitor (HEC) that stores the energy quickly (due to high power), efficiently (due to reversible interactions inside) and demonstrates the satisfactory performance over thousands of charging/discharging cycles. Innovative concept of redox-active electrolyte as a component that allows for full insertion of the negative electrode will be researched. A comprehensive study, including several operando techniques will be provided, with elaboration on the mechanisms that govern the performance fade. Finally, the device of high energy density (~50 Wh/kg) and power (over 1 kW/kg), retained over at least 1 000 of cycles is aimed to be delivered.

Mots-clés : energy storage,electrochemical capacitors,metal ion capacitors,novel energy storage concepts
Projet ERC : MACROMUNO (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université d'Aarhus — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Several major unmet medical needs, such as autoimmune disorders and neuroinflammatory conditions, are characterized by aberrant Type-1 interferon production, suggesting that new drugs that specifically target this central inflammatory signalling axis could provide significant value for patients and for society. In this project, we will develop the foundation for future commercial exploitation of a class of novel macrocyclic immunosuppressants which has been shown to possess unprecedented broad inhibitory activities against several innate immunological pathways that converge on the transcription factor IRF3 linked to interferon production. Based on diverse preliminary data that span both cellular biology and chemical synthesis strategies, the planned work is aimed at securing a strong IP-position by providing novel structure-activity relation data on relevant cellular activities linked to IRF3-activity. The project will proceed to identify potential compound leads with favourable pharmacokinetic properties to be pushed forward for future in vivo experiments. The primary focus will be on ability to permeate the blood-brain-barrier (to address major neuroinflammatory conditions) and on achieving good plasma stability. Alongside the concrete experimental tasks and strengthening of the IP-position, a broader business plan and associated funding strategy will be prepared. This involves engagement of key future stakeholders and establishment of an advisory board. Overall, the planned activities serve to make the project ready for a pre-seed investment or acceptance into an biotech-accelerator program following completion of the ERC-PoC project.
Projet ERC : OptiVision (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université d'Aarhus — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The human visual pathway carries high volumes of information from the retina to distant regions of visual cortex. The speed of this information transfer, retinocortical conduction time, has been proposed as a diagnostic measure of neurodegeneration. This conduction time has typically been estimated based on relatively slow evoked responses, although we now know that high-frequency activity in both the retina and visual cortex precede slower evoked responses by several tens of milliseconds. In addition, the difference in timing between the onset of high-frequency activity in the retina and cortex is more in line with the expected conduction velocities of the heavily myelinated visual pathway.  This project proposes to develop and validate a new sensor technology, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), to measure this high-frequency retinocortical conduction time, with a view towards establishing a diagnostic suitable for patients in the neurology and eye clinics to assess disease progression. Impacts to myelination, circulation, and neural connectivity are all expected to reduce the conduction speed of the visual pathway, even before visual symptoms become apparent. The proposed high-frequency conduction time technique should provide a more accurate and sensitive measure to detect these impacts, with high potential for translation into a clinical diagnostic method. We will furthermore streamline the measurement procedure to increase the comfort, duration, and feasibility for potential patient groups.
Projet ERC : PAWJAM (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université d'Aarhus — Pays : Danemark — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The JavaScript programming language together with the Node.js framework constitute the foundation of modern web-based software. An essential part of this platform is the npm registry that contains millions of freely available third-party software libraries that provide common functionality. This massive reuse of libraries is essential to the productivity of software developers, however, the dependence on other people's libraries opens the door to security vulnerabilities that may have severe consequences to the applications and end users. When new vulnerabilities are discovered, it is thus crucial that the programmers are informed. Existing tools only tell whether a program depends on libraries with vulnerabilities, but without precise information about how the vulnerable library code is being used, which causes an overwhelming amount of false positives and makes it extremely difficult for the programmers to investigate the possible consequences of the vulnerabilities.  The ERC project PAW has delivered a range of novel program analysis techniques, most notably one that has the potential to alleviate this problem: The analysis tool JAM is capable of automatically analyzing a given JavaScript program and tell exactly which parts of the libraries are being used and where they are used, thereby enabling the programmers to make fast and correct decisions about how their programs are exposed to vulnerabilities and how to update their programs accordingly to prevent security incidents. The proposed project, PAWJAM, aims to explore the commercial and innovative aspects of this program analysis tool, by further developing the prototype implementation into a commercial product, performing more extensive evaluations of its effectiveness, and engaging with potential users and industry partners.