Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : ANCHOR (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : National University of Ireland — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : NUI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 25000.0 €

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a serious disease of the joints affecting nearly 10% of the population worldwide. The onset of OA has been associated with defects to articular cartilage that lines the bones of synovial joints. Current strategies to treat articular cartilage defects are ineffective and/or prohibitively expensive. The aim of ANCHOR is to develop and commercialise a new medicinal product for articular cartilage regeneration that recruits endogenous bone marrow derived stem cells into an extracellular matrix derived scaffold anchored to the subchondral bone by 3D printed polymeric supports. By recruiting endogenous cells into a supporting scaffold, ANCHOR will obviate the need for pre-seeding scaffolds with cells prior to implantation into cartilage defects, thereby dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of the repair procedure. It will also overcome the need for suturing of a scaffold into a cartilage defect, which is a very time consuming and technically challenging surgical procedure. Finally, the inherent chondro-inductivity of the cartilage ECM derived scaffolds developed by the applicant will maximise the potential for hyaline cartilage regeneration. The project will leverage the applicants extensive experience in ECM derived biomaterials and 3D printing to develop a new product with significant commercial potential. The impact of ANCHOR will be multi-faceted: it will transform how damaged joints are treated by orthopaedic surgeons, it will create economic value through the commercialization of IP, and most importantly it will improve patient experience and their long-term health and well-being.

Mots-clés : tissue engineering,articular cartilage,scaffold,extracellular matrix,3d printing
Projet ERC : BugDrug (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : University of Tübingen — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1494437.0 €

Our body is inhabited by an enormous number of microbes which are crucial for our health. The bacteria in our gut for example help us to digest food but can also make us sick in case of an infection. The overall composition and function of those communities are strongly shaped by the interactions of the microbes within them e.g. how the microbes influence each others growth. These interactions are especially important in the case of microbial infections. Since pathogens have to interact with the microbial communities that already inhabit the host, the native microbes can repel or support the pathogens and thus protect the host from diseases or even facilitate them. Although microbial assemblages are pivotal for our health we have currently no satisfying way to get a mechanistic understanding of them which would be crucial to specifically manipulate these communities e.g. for therapeutic interventions. The aim of this proposal is to develop a microscopy method that allows to obtain interaction networks within complex communities. Since bacteria can only share the same space if they tolerate each other but avoid each other in case of competition, interaction networks of complex communities can be derived from the spatial co-occurence of the bacteria that form them. With this technology I especially want to investigate how pathogens embed into the native gut microbial community of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. I want to understand how interactions between pathogens and native gut microbiota can protect a host from infections. Finally, I want to use this technology to identify bacteria in the native gut community that can outcompete pathogens and work as specific probiotic against microbial infections. This approach could revolutionize the usage of probiotics and offer completely new ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases, which are especially valuable in times where we see more and more pathogens become resistant against antibiotics.

Mots-clés : ecological system biology,gut microbiota,microbial interactions,pathogenesis
Projet ERC : DURARE (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Cultures and cultural production
Entité participante : Utrecht University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499375.0 €

Our cultural heritage comprises many art objects that are hundreds, some thousands of years old. How did they survive this long? While many factors determine if and how art can be preserved, one has fundamentally impacted its long-term survival: the desire to make and own artefacts that withstand the test of time. This project—DURARE—will undertake the first comprehensive study of the impact of the artisan and patron’s ambitions to craft, own and theorize durable objects on the long-term development of the visual and decorative arts. To achieve durability, artisans have worked stone and metal, created dyes and pigments thought never to fade, made surface coatings ensuring the protection of more brittle materials, and transformed soft clay into long-lasting ceramics. Patrons coveted physically stable objects; yet stability does not always ensure durability: culturally fragile gold can be melted and re-used. Beyond how the durable was made, DURARE will map the social practices influencing durability. We will also establish how, through artistic and social pursuits for durable art, humans acquired knowledge of the stability and behavior of materials over time, thus impacting knowledge traditions outside art history. Finally, we will elucidate the created practices and institutions facilitating durability, such as cultural heritage conservation and museums. Studying the history of durability in art requires hands-on experience with the materials and processes used to make and explore permanence. This project therefore uses an innovative methodology, combining historical research into art objects and textual sources with hands-on reconstructions of materials and techniques. DURARE will achieve a fundamental understanding of durability in art by charting: 1. Variations and concepts of durability in art and patronage; 2. The role of durability in the development of art and craftsmanship; 3. The impact of artistic expertise in durable materials on the history of knowledge.

Mots-clés : durability,craftsmanship,materials knowledge,cultural heritage,arts patronage
Projet ERC : NATVIS (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : Radboud University Nijmegen — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1978194.0 €

Our daily-life visual environments, such as city streets and living rooms, contain a multitude of objects. Out of this overwhelming amount of sensory information, our brains must efficiently select those objects that are relevant for current goals, such as cars when crossing a street. The visual system has developed and evolved to optimally perform tasks like these, as reflected in the remarkable efficiency of naturalistic object detection. Little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying this efficiency. NATVIS aims to fill this gap, presenting a comprehensive multi-method and hypothesis-driven approach to improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the efficient detection of objects in natural scenes. fMRI, MEG, and TMS will be used to study the neural basis of rapid attentional guidance based on scene context and episodic memory, resulting in a full characterization of when, where, and how context- and memory-based expectations interact with attentional templates in visual cortex and beyond. The powerful effects of scene context on object recognition will be studied by testing how context-disambiguated objects are represented in visual cortex, characterizing when context-based predictions bias object processing, and testing for causal interactions between scene- and object-selective pathways in visual cortex. NATVIS will study how the brain uses real-world regularities to support object grouping and reduce clutter in scenes, modelling the cortical representation and neural dynamics of multiple simultaneously presented objects as a function of positional regularity. Finally, advanced multivariate modelling of fMRI data will test the functional relevance and representational content of internally generated templates that are hypothesized to facilitate object detection in scenes. This program of research tackles the next frontier in the neuroscience of high-level vision and attention, embracing the complexity of naturalistic vision.

Mots-clés : selective attention,visual search,object perception,natural scenes,neuroimaging,fmri
Projet ERC : ALGSTRONGCRYPTO (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Dutch Research Council — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NWO
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2447439.0 €

Our field is cryptology. Our overarching objective is to advance significantly the frontiers in design and analysis of high-security cryptography for the future generation. Particularly, we wish to enhance the efficiency, functionality, and, last-but-not-least, fundamental understanding of cryptographic security against very powerful adversaries. Our approach here is to develop completely novel methods by deepening, strengthening and broadening the algebraic foundations of the field. Concretely, our lens builds on the arithmetic codex. This is a general, abstract cryptographic primitive whose basic theory we recently developed and whose asymptotic part, which relies on algebraic geometry, enjoys crucial applications in surprising foundational results on constant communication-rate two-party cryptography. A codex is a linear (error correcting) code that, when endowing its ambient vector space just with coordinate-wise multiplication, can be viewed as simulating, up to some degree, richer arithmetical structures such as finite fields (or products thereof), or generally, finite-dimensional algebras over finite fields. Besides this degree, coordinate-localities for which simulation holds and for which it does not at all are also captured. Our method is based on novel perspectives on codices which significantly widen their scope and strengthen their utility. Particularly, we bring symmetries, computational- and complexity theoretic aspects, and connections with algebraic number theory, -geometry, and -combinatorics into play in novel ways. Our applications range from public-key cryptography to secure multi-party computation. Our proposal is subdivided into 3 interconnected modules: (1) Algebraic- and Number Theoretical Cryptanalysis (2) Construction of Algebraic Crypto Primitives (3) Advanced Theory of Arithmetic Codices

Mots-clés : cryptology,public key cryptography,secure computation,algebraic methods
Projet ERC : BrainPlay (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : CO-PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

Our goal is to uncover the learning algorithms that subserve biological intelligence and to discover how they are implemented in the brain. We take for granted that biological intelligence results from neural information processing, that neural information processing is based on the transmission of action potentials through synapses, and that learning is realized through synaptic plasticity. We are inspired by two key observations: Firstly, we know that biological learning unfolds in ways different from mainstream machine learning that relies on learning from large labeled datasets. Second, we discovered that the engagement of the brain during play can result in unexpected and profound cognitive benefits. This proposal describes an untravelled route to the learning algorithms of the brain that runs through the no-man’s-land between synaptic physiology, systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, theoretical neuroscience and machine learning. Our approach focuses on the self-teaching abilities of the mammalian brain and covers and connects four major topics: (1) the objective functions that govern synaptic plasticity, (2) the teaching signals through which learning is steered, (3) behavioral mechanisms of self-teaching, in particular play behaviors, (4) the brain states that engage self-teaching behaviors, in particular the brain state of play. The BrainPlay grant will study self-teaching abilities from synapses to brains, from computational theory to action video games. As gaming has been shown to be highly beneficial for human brain function, we are intrigued by how little we know about what is going on in playing brains and how the brain state of play shapes learning. Engaging the latest theoretical and technological breakthroughs, BrainPlay will reach far beyond mainstream neuroscience and embrace and elucidate playfulness and self-teaching as important components of the brain's learning algorithms.

Mots-clés : play,supervised learning,unsupervised learning,synaptic plasticity
Projet ERC : GAP60PTP (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Chalmers University of Technology — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 43556.0 €

Our idea is to enable the next generation of mobile network infrastructure for high speed data communication through the use of a new technology platform called gap waveguides. The demand for mobile data is growing rapidly and operators see their costs for mobile infrastructure rising. To meet the demand, and at the same time manage costs, the industry is looking at an increased adoption of smaller, more cost-efficient mobile base stations (small cells) closer to the end-user. These are expected to be connected wirelessly through high bandwidth point-to-point (PTP) solutions operating at 60 GHz and above. To be used at scale, these PTP solutions must fit into the city landscape, be cost-efficient, and easy to install. However, current radio frequency (RF) technology at 60 GHz leads to bulky and expensive products with poor performance as losses increase dramatically with frequency. Gap waveguides is a newly invented technology platform for constructing microwave circuits, which has been shown to have inherently low losses. Our concept is to apply the gap waveguide technology to RF front-ends in PTP solutions. The objective with the proof-of-concept study is to understand the market need for an integrated 60 GHz RF front-end in more detail, and evaluate potential mass production methods to verify the concept’s commercial viability. The study will be performed in four phases: (1) A pre-study capturing the current research status and detailing the project plan; (2) A market verification including market, customer competitive analyses; (3) A mass production method evaluation to identify and evaluate potential methods for machining and assembly of gap waveguide based components; and (4) A definition of the way forward summarizing key findings, conclusions, drafting of plans for market entry and production development. A team consisting of the Principle investigator, a project manager, a business analyst and an external technology expert will perform the study.

Mots-clés : telecommunication,wireless technology,60 ghz,point to point,small cells,technology platform,rf front end,microwave electronics
Projet ERC : GreekSchools (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Cultures and cultural production
Entité participante : University of Pisa — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UniPi
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1356250.0 €

Our knowledge about Greek philosophical schools is mostly second-hand and based on Diogenes Laërtius’ 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers' (3rd century AD) and Philodemus of Gadara’s 'Arrangement of the Philosophers' (75-50 BC) – hereinafter 'Syntaxis' –, an extensive treatise in several books which represents the earliest ‘history of philosophy’ to have reached us directly from antiquity. From this work exclusively preserved by the Herculaneum papyri we may derive a virtually systematic account of the history of Greek philosophical schools, which is in many respects unique and much closer to the facts than Diogenes’ is. Unfortunately, the original manuscripts which transmit it are in a poor state and the currently available editions of them have largely been made obsolete by the latest technological progress. By relying on the most advanced technologies available today, the project aims to provide a new innovative critical edition of the whole treatise and its different sections, with extensive introductions and commentaries. In particular, we shall apply Shortwave-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging, TeraHertz Imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography, X-Ray Fluorescence Mapping, 3D Microscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry to both opisthograph and multi-layered papyri belonging to Philodemus’ 'Syntaxis', as well as to other papyri, in order to (a) read the text hidden on the verso, (b) detect, classify and replace overlapping layers, and (c) read the text concealed inside the latter. We shall combine these state-of-the-art methods with new, sounder philological approaches in order to produce a more reliable and substantially improved critical text of Philodemus’ treatise and its various sections through an innovative editorial system. Finally, we shall produce an open-access electronic edition of it through a pioneering open-source scholarly Web platform, engaging the scientific community in an on-going and on-line collaborative review of our critical edition.

Mots-clés : greek papyrology,ancient philosophy,textual criticism,shortwave infrared hyperspectral imaging,terahertz imaging,optical coherence tomography,x ray fluorescence mapping,3d microscopy,nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry,computational philology,digital scholarly editing,machine learning for text
Projet ERC : MIMATOM (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Utrecht University — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1785000.0 €

Our knowledge on the past behavior of the Earth’s magnetic field critically depends on our ability to obtain and interpret magnetic signals from geological materials such as lavas. These materials contain mixtures of different magnetic minerals, some of which are good recorders of the Earth’s magnetic field, others are not. Even the presence of a small amount of minerals with adverse magnetic properties obscures the signal of good recorders, resulting in >80% of measurements of the past Earth’s magnetic field strength being flawed. Understanding the Earth’s magnetic field is pivotal for predicting the future of its shielding capacity against the Sun’s electromagnetically charged particles, which globally weakened by >20% over the last millennium. With MIMATOM, I aim to establish an entirely new way to obtain paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic information from geological materials. I will go beyond measuring magnetizations of bulk samples by determining the magnetic moments of individual minerals embedded in these samples in a non-destructive way. Starting from my recent proof-of-concept of Micro-Magnetic Tomography (MMT), I will develop a radically new technique to assess magnetizations of individual minerals inside geological materials. This will enable understanding which minerals are reliable recorders of the Earth’s magnetic field by characterizing their magnetic behavior as function of their grain size, shape, and chemistry. Then I will use MMT to obtain paleomagnetic information from selections of minerals that I identified as good recorders and unlock information on the past state of the Earth’s magnetic field from even the most challenging and magnetically complex geological materials, such as lavas. My revolutionary new technique will open archives of the past behavior of the Earth’s magnetic field that currently are inaccessible. Moreover, it will pave the way for radically new venues in paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic research, at mineral level.

Mots-clés : rock magnetism,mineral magnetism,paleointensity,earth s magnetic field,lavas
Projet ERC : BIO-CC (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Aalto University — Pays : Finlande — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Our modern societies are built on the mobility of the individual. Travelling to and from work, trips for leisure and shopping, or journeys to holiday destinations are integral part of our lives. The most popular means of transportation today is the private car. In 2016, the global car production has surpassed the 70 million mark for the first time. Irrespective of whether and when the mobility of our society will shift to electric vehicles, solutions are needed to increase the fuel and energy efficiency of transportation to mitigate effects of climate change and account for the continuous depletion of fossil fuels. One key strategy is to reduce the weight of the vehicle by replacing metal components through lightweight carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRC) elements which offer significant weight reduction while maintaining the strength and safety properties. Carbon fibers are still predominantly produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor filaments and remain an expensive commodity, which has impeded is widespread use in the automotive sector. The ERC StG project” Unlocking the Entire Wood Matrix for the Next Generation of Carbon Fibers (WoCaFi)” allowed to develop the foundation to turn wood in its entirety into high-quality continuous filaments, which can be converted into low-cost bio-based carbon fibers. With the technology at hand, mild pre-treatment is sufficient to render the wood matrix soluble and spinnable, and converted the entire lignocellulosic scaffold into filaments. This will lower the raw material expenses significantly, which is directly translated to the costs of the precursor filament. Further savings are anticipated in the pyrolysis step. Reducing the energy-input in the carbonization protocol would reduce the costs even further. BIO-CC aims at assessing the technical feasibility and scalability of this process and to evaluate the market potential of this wood-based carbon fibers.

Mots-clés : wood based carbon fibers,ligno cellulosic hybrid filaments,biobased low cost carbon fibers