Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : DormantMicrobes (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Entité participante : University of Vienna — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Univie
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499356.25 €

Soils are considered the last scientific frontiers that harbor one of the most diverse microbial communities on Earth. It is hypothesized that this diversity allows for redundancy in microbial key processes, thereby ensuring ecosystem stability. Much of this functional redundancy is embodied in non-active, dormant microorganisms that represent the ‘microbial seed bank’, which is characterized by a high number of low abundant taxa. Based on the recent theory of a ‘dynamic rank-abundance curve’, it is hypothesized that the rare dormant organisms can be recruited to participate in a given function upon resuscitation with environmental cue(s). In this project I will test this hypothesis on a level that matters for ecosystem processes – the functional level – by an innovative approach combining stable isotope probing (SIP) and sequencing with process-level and single-cell activity analysis. By testing 4 hypotheses, we will (1) reveal environmental cues that resuscitate dormant microorganisms involved in major soil functions and identify the activated microorganisms. The activity of the resuscitated communities will be analyzed at the process level, as well as at the single-cell by NanoSIMS, thereby allowing us to elucidate the impact of dormancy/resuscitation dynamics on targeted processes at the population and ecosystem level. (2) We will investigate the genetics of microbial dormancy-resuscitation strategies in a natural model environment for dormancy, an arid ecosystem, by metatranscriptome analysis of critical dormancy-resuscitation steps. (3) We will retrieve genomic information of primarily rare, but after resuscitation active, microorganisms involved in important soil processes, as they presumably contain so far unknown genomic potential. In summary, this project will generate essential knowledge on the stability of microbial key processes and on the diversity, the function and the genetics of the dormant majority in terrestrial ecosystems.

Mots-clés : soil microbial ecology,dormancy,microbial seed bank,stable isotope probing,nanosims
Projet ERC : ULTRA-SOFC (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : CERCA Institution — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CERCA;I-CERCA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1841387.0 €

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are one of the most efficient and fuel flexible power generators. However, a great limitation on their applicability arises from temperature restrictions. Operation approaching room temperature (RT) is forbidden by the limited performance of known electrolytes and cathodes while typical high temperatures (HT) avoid their implementation in portable applications where quick start ups with low energy consumption are required. The ULTRASOFC project aims breaking these historical limits by taking advantage of the tremendous opportunities arising from novel fields in the domain of the nanoscale (nanoionics or nano photochemistry) and recent advances in the marriage between micro and nanotechnologies. From the required interdisciplinary approach, the ULTRASOFC project addresses materials challenges to (i) reduce the operation to RT and (ii) technological gaps to develop ultra-low-thermal mass structures able to reach high T with extremely low consumption and immediate start up. A unique μSOFC technology fully integrated in ultrathin silicon will be developed to allow operation with hydrogen at room temperature and based on hydrocarbons at high temperature. Stacking these μSOFCs will bring a new family of ultrathin power sources able to provide 100 mW at RT and 5W at high T in a size of a one-cent coin. A stand-alone device fuelled with methane at HT will be fabricated in the size of a dice. Apart from breaking the state-of-the-art of power portable generation, the ULTRASOFC project will cover the gap of knowledge existing for the migration of high T electrochemical devices to room temperature and MEMS to high T. Therefore, one should expect that ULTRASOFC will open up new horizons and opportunities for research in adjacent fields like electrochemical transducers or chemical sensors. Furthermore, new technological perspectives of integration of unconventional materials will allow exploring unknown devices and practical applications.

Mots-clés : microsofc,nanoionics,nano photochemistry,micro power generation,low t electrochemical,devices
Projet ERC : SynCatMatch (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical 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 : 2470519.0 €

Solid catalysts are key components of many industrial processes, offering advantages such as reuse and ease recovery. This research programme aims to develop a new concept and methodology for the synthesis of zeolite catalysts. Zeolites are solid, porous catalysts that have wide ranging industrial applications for gas adsorption, separation and catalysis. While a relatively large number of zeolites have been synthesised, zeolite selection as catalyst for a particular reaction still retains a large element of trial and error. Our objective is to design a zeolite synthesis methodology that creates pores and cavities in the resulting zeolite that approach a “molecular recognition” pattern to catalyze the desired reaction. The approach focuses on the study of the reactions transition states since it is accepted that the most efficient catalysts are those that lower the transition state energy in the reaction, boosting the catalytic activity and efficiency. We will study the transition state of the desired reaction and design and synthesise transition state mimics to be used as Organic Structure Directing Agents for the synthesis of zeolites. By maximizing the host-guest interactions between zeolite and transition state, the efficiency of the catalyst will be increased. We aim to obtain tailor made catalysts for a chosen spectrum of reactions that also have clear industrial applications. Synthesis of highly efficient catalysts for particular industrially relevant applications will lead to lower energy consumption, fewer by-products and lower consumption of reactants. In summary, this will result in more sustainable processes. In many industrial applications a 1% increase in selectivity can represent more than 3000Tm/year additional manufacturing in a single unit.

Mots-clés : molecular imprinting
Projet ERC : FASTER (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ETH Zurich
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2173375.0 €

Solid-state NMR has recently made a significant impact on structural biology by providing atomic-resolution structures of several, previously uncharacterized proteins. A particularly relevant example is the Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide linked to Alzheimer’s disease where we determined the atomic-resolution structure of Aβ(1-42) and of the Osaka mutant of Aβ(1-40). A spectral resolution revolution is now in reach that will enable solid-state NMR to address new frontiers in structural biology. The applications mentioned above are based on 13C-detected spectroscopy. Proton-detected experiments, although clearly more sensitive thanks to the high gyromagnetic ratio of 1H, have found few applications so far, due to the poor resolution of 1H spectra caused by the 1H-1H dipolar interaction. The proton resolution can be enhanced by employing faster rotation of the sample, i.e. higher MAS (magic-angle spinning) frequencies. Presently accessible MAS frequencies are already faster than the ones of any other man-made object. A significant improvement is still attainable in our view. Increasing the MAS frequency to 200-250 kHz will improve the spectral quality to favorably compare with solution NMR for larger proteins, including fully protonated systems. In addition, the amount of sample required is reduced by almost two orders of magnitude, to approx. 100 μg, compared to the about 10 mg needed in 13C-detected experiments. This removes an important bottleneck in sample-preparation. The resolution and sensitivity gain will allow the structural characterization of e.g. disease-relevant amyloids or membrane proteins with higher precision. Moreover, this approach will enable the investigation of complex systems, which presently elude structural characterization. The resolution revolution brought about by fast spinning shall thus represent a breakthrough since it will open new horizons for solving urgent biological and medical questions.

Mots-clés : solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Projet ERC : OptiPore (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Entité participante : Technion – Israel Institute of Technology — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Solid-state nanopores (ssNPs) are an emerging class of single-molecule devices, which have proven useful in a broad range of applications, from sensing COVID-19 RNAs to proteins biomarkers. To date, ssNP fabrication costs, throughput and instrumentation have remained the bottlenecks towards broad adoption of ssNP sensing in biomedical research labs and in industry. To address this need, we will apply our optical method for the creation of nanoscale apertures in thin films. OptiPore aims are to design, construct, test, disseminate and commercialize an autonomous high-throughput laser-based drilling apparatus, drastically reducing ssNP current costs and thereby opening vast opportunities for accessible ssNP sensing applications. OptiPore is both innovative and distinctive in aiming to reduce to practice an affordable technology for high-throughput and low-cost NP fabrication. The laser-based NP drilling technology we have developed is an emerging technique that is highly distinctive from other ssNP fabrication methods available. OptiPore will remove a major technical roadblock in the commercialization path of ssNPs in biomedical applications, hence addressing an economical and societal need. Commercialization of our technology will proceed in three parallel paths aiming to bring affordable, high quality, ssNPs biosensors to the broadest possible industrial usages.

Mots-clés : solid state nanopores,single molecule sensing,precision diagnostics,covid 19,sars cov 2
Projet ERC : HEINSOL (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Institute of Photonic Sciences — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ICFO;ICFO-CERCA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2486865.0 €

Solution processed inorganic nanocrystal (NC) materials have received enormous attention as an emerging technology to address the TW challenge in solar cells. These nanomaterials offer a unique opportunity for low-cost high efficiency all-inorganic solar cells. Despite the great efforts though, only a limited number of colloidal NC compounds has been successfully employed, which either rely on costly and scarce elements or toxic materials. HEINSOL´s mission is to develop the first highly efficient, robust solution processed solar cell platform based on environmentally friendly, Earth abundant materials. To achieve this, HEINSOL undertakes a hierarchical approach to tailor the opto-electronic properties of inorganic NCs, starting from the control of composition and their properties at the atomic level and following up with further tailoring their optoelectronic properties via interactions at the supra-nanocrystalline level. HEINSOL, at the atomic level, will develop novel doping schemes for colloidal NCs to tailor their electronic character as well as passivation schemes to reduce the density of unfavourable trap states. At the supra-nanocrystalline level, HEINSOL will explore novel nano-heterojunctions that cater for efficient charge separation and suppressed recombination, elements of paramount importance in high performance solar cells. The microscopic properties of the NCs will be correlated with the macroscopic properties of the NC composites in operating devices, a methodology that will provide new insights on the underlying mechanisms at the nanoscale that govern the properties of those devices. The final goal is to introduce a new architectural platform for solution processed solar cells that will truly expand the material availability for the Photovoltaic Industry.

Mots-clés : solar cells,colloidal nanocrystal,heterojunctions,physics of solar cells,solution processed thin films
Projet ERC : ARTTOUCH (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1223638.75 €

Somatosensation encompass a wide range of processes, from feeling touch to temperature, as well as experiencing pleasure and pain. When afferent inputs are degraded or removed, such as in neuropathies or amputation, exploring the world becomes extremely difficult. Chronic pain is a major health issue that greatly diminishes quality of life and is one of the most disabling and costly conditions in Europe. The loss of a body part is common due to accidents, tumours, or peripheral diseases, and it has instantaneous effects on somatosensory functioning. Treating such disorders entails detailed knowledge about how somatosensory signals are encoded. Understanding these processes will enable the restoration of healthy function, such as providing real-time, naturalistic feedback in prostheses. To date, no prosthesis currently provides long-term sensory feedback, yet accomplishing this will lead to great quality of life improvements. The present proposal aims to uncover how basic tactile processes are encoded and represented centrally, as well as how more complex somatosensation is generated (e.g. wetness, pleasantness). Novel investigations will be conducted in humans to probe these mechanisms, including peripheral in vivo recording (microneurography) and neural stimulation, combined with advanced brain imaging and behavioural experiments. Preliminary work has shown the feasibility of the approach, where it is possible to visualise the activation of single mechanoreceptive afferents in the human brain. The multi-disciplinary approach unites detailed, high-resolution, functional investigations with actual sensations generated. The results will elucidate how basic and complex somatosensory processes are encoded, providing insights into the recovery of such signals. The knowledge gained aims to provide pain-free, efficient diagnostic capabilities for detecting and quantifying a range of somatosensory disorders, as well as identifying new potential therapeutic targets.

Mots-clés : touch,prosthetics,amputees,microneurography,peripheral nerve stimulation,humans,recovering sensation
Projet ERC : REFINV (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Mathematics
Entité participante : University of Vienna — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Univie
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1996023.0 €

Some invariants appearing in low-dimensional topology and algebraic geometry admit a so-called refinement: a much stronger, but more complicated invariant. For instance, in low-dimensional topology we study the Poincare polynomial of the triply-graded Khovanov-Rozansky homology of a knot, which is a refined version of the HOMFLY-PT polynomial. The usual Poincare polynomial and the E-polynomial of a character variety are refined by the full mixed Hodge polynomial. On the cohomology of a moduli space of Higgs bundles, we need an extra filtration, the so-called perverse filtration, to define the refinement. Where classical invariants produce polynomials in one variable q, and often have expressions involving Schur polynomials, refined invariants produce polynomials in two variables q and t, and often have expressions involving Macdonald polynomials. The connection conjectures and the P=W conjecture relate refined invariants appearing in the three contexts above. We propose to develop a comprehensive theory connecting these notions, and as main applications, to solve the P=W conjecture for character varieties, the Gorsky-Negut-Rasmussen conjectures relating knot invariants and sheaves on the Hilbert scheme, Cherednik's conjectures computing homologies of algebraic links via DAHA, the Hausel-Letellier-Rodriguez-Villegas conjectures computing mixed Hodge polynomials of character varieties, nabla positivity, and the Stanley-Stembridge positivity conjectures. To achieve our goal, we will build on methods developed in our previous work on the solution of the shuffle conjectures, the computations of homology of torus knots and Poincare polynomials of character varieties, and the proof of the curious hard Lefschetz conjecture. These methods include combinatorics of Dyck paths, symmetric functions and Macdonald theory, the A(q,t) algebra, cell decompositions of character varieties, natural actions on cohomology and K-theory, counting geometric objects over finite fields.

Mots-clés : moduli of vector bundles,character varieties,invariants of knots and 3 manifolds,symmetric functions,macdonald polynomials,hilbert schemes,enumerative geometry,mixed hodge theory
Projet ERC : FUTURE-NHP (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : University of Freiburg — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 57500.0 €

Some of the greatest today’s challenges in understanding human brain functions and dysfunctions are being tackled by using Non-Human Primates (NHPs), a unique and still unreplaceable model in neurophysiology because of their remarkable anatomo-functional, cognitive and behavioural similarities to humans. Tethered neural recordings have been, so far, the virtually unique methodology available for these studies. Nonetheless, this approach 1) limits the range of behaviours and functions that can be investigated, 2) reduces the ecological validity of the results and 3) increases the public ethical concerns about the use of NHP, challenging the future of this still fundamental branch of science. This project (FUTURE-NHP) capitalizes on the preliminary findings of the ERCstg grant WIRELESS, in which we are developing a new approach to brain studies in freely-moving NHP with wireless technologies and video behavioural monitoring. The aim of FUTURE-NHP is the fabrication and pre-commercial testing of a new, 3D printed cranial device, allowing to easily and flexibly perform semi-chronic neural recordings from a fully customizable and interchangeable sets of multielectrode probes. With our partner SME we will perform, in parallel, a detailed evaluation of commercial opportunities for the developed device in a global (not just EU) perspective using clear IPR constructions and strategies. Furthermore, we will implement a software platform allowing end- users to design customized layouts of the device for custom-specific applications. The device will be optimized for (but not limited to) wireless recording experiments and will be made compatible with different types of probes and recording systems. By extending the range of affordable neuroscientific questions to unconstrained behaviors, FUTURE-NHP will improve the ecological validity of neurophysiological data and their translational value for humans, and contribute to make more ethically acceptable NHP fundamental research.

Mots-clés : primate neurophysiology,neural recording devices,silicon probes,neuroengineering
Projet ERC : EVERYSOUND (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Tampere University — Pays : Finlande — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1500000.0 €

Sounds carry a large amount of information about our everyday environment and physical events that take place in it. For example, when a car is passing by, one can perceive the approximate size and speed of the car. Sound can easily and unobtrusively be captured e.g. by mobile phones and transmitted further – for example, tens of hours of audio is uploaded to the internet every minute e.g. in the form of YouTube videos. However, today's technology is not able to recognize individual sound sources in realistic soundscapes, where multiple sounds are present, often simultaneously, and distorted by the environment. The ground-breaking objective of EVERYSOUND is to develop computational methods which will automatically provide high-level descriptions of environmental sounds in realistic everyday soundscapes such as street, park, home, etc. This requires developing several novel methods, including joint source separation and robust pattern classification algorithms to reliably recognize multiple overlapping sounds, and a hierarchical multilayer taxonomy to accurately categorize everyday sounds. The methods are based on the applicant's internationally recognized and awarded expertise on source separation and robust pattern recognition in speech and music processing, which will allow now tackling the new and challenging research area of everyday sound recognition. The results of EVERYSOUND will enable searching for multimedia based on its audio content, which is not possible with today's technology. It will allow mobile devices, robots, and intelligent monitoring systems to recognize activities in their environments using acoustic information. Producing automatically descriptions of vast quantities of audio will give new tools for geographical, social, cultural, and biological studies to analyze sounds related to human, animal, and natural activity in urban and rural areas, as well as multimedia in social networks.