Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : LIQUORICE (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Gand — Pays : Belgique — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UGent
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

In LIQUORICE we will build an operational proof-of-concept of a general-purpose programmable photonic processor. This processor is intended to provide the photonics community with a flexible rapid prototyping technology, similar in use as an electronic FPGA, to stimulate new innovation and accelerate the adoption of photonic chip technology in diverse applications, beyond the traditional photonics markets of telecom and datacom. In particular, we want to test this new photonic chip for use in programmable photonic test & measurement equipment. This is an application space where the chip’s flexibility is exceptionally useful, and which we have identified as an accessible beachhead market. Generic programmable circuits consist of a large mesh of optical waveguides connected together by electrically controlled phase shifters and tunable couplers. The LiqUORICE proof of concept will address a key challenge with these large-scale circuits: the difficulty of addressing thousands of electro-optic actuators. We approach this problem by using a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) microdisplay backplane on which we bond our photonic waveguide circuits. The LCOS driver can address the liquid crystal underneath the waveguides in a granular way, controlling the flow of light on the chip. This will also give us a direct software interface (as a display) through which we can configure the chip for optical routing and wavelength filtering. These basic functions will then be used to implement common optical measurement routines such as an optical spectrum analyzer, or an autocorrelator, and tested in the lab. As part of LiqUORICE, we will further look into the exploitation potential of the technology. Specifically, we will evaluate the viability of a spin-off company, with the long-term ambition to become a viable alternative to custom photonic chips for emerging photonics markets.
Projet ERC : SOMATOSENSE (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
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 : 150000.0 €

The SOMATOSENSE project aims to provide accurate, automated, and innovative tools to probe the human somatosensory afferent system and diagnose problems. Somatosensory information from the skin provides us with a continuous stream of information, to allow us to interact efficiently with the world and to ground us in our bodies. In somatosensory disorders, there can be issues with one or more types of sensory afferent that can cause debilitating effects, including pain. Currently, somatosensory clinical tests are often applied manually, can be painful, and may not be specific enough to make rapid diagnoses. This is a major and prevalent issue, where there are hundreds of millions of people across the world who suffer with somatosensory disorders, such as diabetic neuropathy, which can have complex origins. SOMATOSENSE aims to create efficient, non-painful tests of somatosensation that would be highly beneficial to the clinic and for fundamental research. This investigation is grounded in our in-depth knowledge and skills in somatosensory research and technology development. In two work packages (WPs), we will explore novel tests of somatosensory function, focusing on touch and including temperature mechanisms. In WP1, we will make four small, new devices that are easy-to-use, yet will accurately test different aspects of touch (e.g. the perception of brief touch, moving touch, airflow, and wetness). These will provide complex insights into somatosensory function and integration, which cannot easily be tested with existing technology. In WP2, we will develop a clinical microneurography system, where multiple direct axonal recordings can be gained from human peripheral nerves to provide exquisite insights into neuronal function in patients. These new devices will lead the way to individualized, efficient diagnoses of somatosensory disorders, thus addressing widespread social and economic issues.
Projet ERC : PEROSHADE (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Day one societa a responsabilita limitata — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : DAY ONE
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 40000.0 €

One of the key measures being undertaken by the EU to tackle climate change and reduce CO2 emissions is to massively increase the amount of energy produced from renewable sources, particularly solar energy. In this context, perovskite solar cells represent a low- cost technological solution of great interest because they open to new possible photovoltaic (PV) applications. However, the most effective PV perovskites contain more than 10% by weight of lead, which oversteps the limits adopted in most countries to regulate the use of heavy metals in electronics. Within the ERC FREENERGY project framework, we have demonstrated tin as a non-toxic, valid replacement for lead. We want to explore the possibility of exploiting the ERC results to integrate perovskite on fabrics to make photovoltaic shading systems such as awnings and canopies. PV shading systems offer a twofold advantage: they generate energy and protect from the sun, thus mitigating the need for cooling systems. PV awnings can exploit spaces not currently used for this purpose, such as windows, balconies and patios, thus allowing energy harvesting while minimising land requirements and visual impact. By harnessing solar energy on-site, these structures can directly power lighting, heating, cooling and other electrical systems, reducing the reliance on external electricity grids. In addition, the successful implementation of PV modules onto textiles can enable the development of various new products (e.g. photovoltaic camping tents), thus paving the way for additional business opportunities.
Projet ERC : ENSURE (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Day one societa a responsabilita limitata — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : DAY ONE
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 35000.0 €

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract with 573,000 new cases and 213,000 deaths in 2020 worldwide and affecting more men than women in a 4:1 ratio. Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers, which is mainly attributed to the intensive follow-up procedures of patients after diagnostics and surgery. Follow-up is made recurring to extremely invasive and low-patient compliant tests. ENSURE aims to validate the technological and business feasibility of the electronic nose technology developed in the ERC Starting Grant SCENT by establishing the proof-of-concept for the non-invasive follow-up of bladder cancer patients. To accomplish this, we will approach the project from both Technical and Business perspectives, with a perfect synergy between the research and business teams, and a close contact with clinical collaborators and stakeholders.
Projet ERC : VISION (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
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 : 150000.0 €

The last two years, profoundly marked by the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, have demonstrated the difficulties to answer adequately to the emergence of novel pathogenic viruses. Today, no broad-spectrum antiviral exists similar to antibiotics targeting bacteria. Repositioning of existing molecules had limited success despite intense initial hopes. Vaccines have played a major role in fighting the pandemic and limiting the impact of the virus, however it remains insufficient to end the pandemic, due to many factors including their worldwide uneven accessibility, their intrinsic efficiency towards different variants and the complex socio-political context related to mass vaccination. There is therefore an urgent need of novel approaches to design molecules targeting viruses and in particular SARS-CoV-2. To answer this challenge, we propose a novel strategy derived from fundamental research on small interfering RNA (siRNA). This project derives from the ERC Starting Grant PARAMIR, in which novel structural biology approaches are proposed to understand the mechanism of recognition of a similar class of RNA involved in numerous diseases, especially cancer. Our approach combines the latest advances in SARS-CoV-2 virology and structural biology to propose efficient and specific molecules active towards a broad range of SARS-CoV-2 current and future variants. If successful the project will lead to a class of siRNA, with optimized specificity and stability, validated in vitro and ex-vivo in a reconstituted human airway epithelial model, and ready for testing towards pre-clinical and clinical stage. Finally, the strategy proposed here will be on a longer term applicable to multiple other pathogenic viruses.
Projet ERC : SludgeCam (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Day one societa a responsabilita limitata — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : DAY ONE
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 30000.0 €

The EU produces more than 45000 tons of waste-water sludge per day as byproduct of municipal and industrial water purification activities. This enormous amount can become a gold mine for materials recovery, or an environmental burden, depending on how well waste-treatment plants can remove water from these sludges. Today sludge treatment processes are based on unoptimized methods, which rely on operator experience and low-tech equipment, and are not able to deal with the fast-changing sludge type evolution, resulting in loss of time, energy and money, as well as a negative environmental impact.  The SludgeCam project will deliver an innovative smart camera centrifuge, having advanced software, hardware and sensing features, which will enable plant operators to consciously adapt treatment process parameters, select flocculant polymers and set standards for different sludge types, based on solid, reproducible data, so that more environmentally-friendly water treatment operations and drastically reduced energy consumption for sludge incineration will be achieved.
Projet ERC : Core (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Day one societa a responsabilita limitata — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : DAY ONE
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 30000.0 €

The EU's manufacturing sector is facing a crucial challenge to achieve ambitious sustainability goals in the transition towards a circular economy. While repair and remanufacturing are key solutions to this issue, current techniques fall short due to limitations in handling complex (geometry and material-wise) parts, heat damage and a lack of automation. This results in a staggering amount of waste – over 167 million tons generated annually by the EU manufacturing industry alone. CoRe offers a solution based on Cold Spray (CS), a solid state (no melting) deposition technique, with significant potential to revolutionize the repair sector. Currently, the widespread establishment of CS in the repair realm is hindered by the limited geometrical accuracy and the lack of automation in deposit shape control. CoRe will pair the physics-based analytical concept developed within the originating ERC project, with computational models, ad-hoc experiments and artificial intelligence to develop a disruptively robust, unprecedentedly accurate and computationally efficient CS repair planning tool. This fully automated tool will be made interoperable with commercial robots to readily offer customized nozzle trajectory to minimize post-processing, material waste and lead time in repair. The accomplishment of CoRe objectives will set out a unique synergy between CS performance metrics (material flexibility, high deposition efficiency, unlimited build volume) and automation with geometrical accuracy, advancing the repair sector towards an extremely flexible, unprecedentedly scalable and remarkably customizable and sustainable level; this will open the door to the coveted "freedom and accessibility in repair" to a wide range of applications. CoRe will also explore target applications, production impact, and marketability of its output. This future-focused approach positions CoRe to lead a sustainable repair revolution.

Mots-clés : solid state deposition,toolpath planning,cold spay,repair
Projet ERC : INCANT (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Day one societa a responsabilita limitata — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : DAY ONE
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 30000.0 €

In view of the ongoing energy transition, solutions for the transportation and storage of hydrogen are urgently needed. Ammonia is recognized in principle as the best hydrogen carrier, but a bottleneck is represented by the lack of efficient industrial technologies for ammonia decomposition (cracking), a necessary step for hydrogen recovery. Capitalizing on the previous ERC projects of the PI (INTENT, AdG 2015; INSTANT, PoC 2020), INCANT proposes to develop an innovative reactor technology to valorise the potential of ammonia as energy vector via its cracking to hydrogen. The novelty core of INCANT is an electrified catalytic reactor configuration, which features ohmic heating of highly porous cellular internals (e.g., open-cell foams, 3D printed POCS). As demonstrated in the parent AdG ERC project INTENT for the case of another endothermic reaction, i.e. methane steam reforming, this solution provides a twofold advantage, in that: i) the high porosity can be packed with a large amount of catalyst particles, which is key to increase the conversion efficiency of the relatively slow NH3 cracking process; ii) the electrically and thermally connected cellular internals enable a very effective and uniform supply of the endothermic heat of reaction across the catalyst bed through the Joule effect (heat generation due to the passage of electric current in a conductor), with thermal efficiencies approaching 100%. The goal of INCANT is to adapt and demonstrate the same concept for the ammonia cracking reaction, developing a prototype NH3 reformer which will revolutionize the technology associated with the use of ammonia as hydrogen carrier: it will in fact enable the ammonia decomposition in compact, intensified structured reactors, which is optimal for distributed applications. If using electricity from renewable sources (wind, solar…), this concept results in releasing hydrogen with virtually no CO2 emissions.
Projet ERC : IMPACT (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Inserm
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The principal goal of this proof-of-concept study is to explore the feasibility of a cofactor-induced oligomerisation of IgG to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer antibodies targeting the tumour site. Our idea is based on two phenomena: Firstly, in our previous studies on the interaction of heme with therapeutic antibodies we found that the interaction of Trastuzumab with heme results in the formation of well-organized oligomers through Fab-Fab interactions of two IgG molecules. These species were considerably more potent in activating the complement system and inducing killing of cancer cells. Importantly, we were able to transfer the potential for oligomeriszation mediated by heme on two unrelated monoclonal antibodies used in clinical practice, thus providing strong evidence of the feasibility of the engineering effort and the utility of its application for broad range of IgG molecules. Secondly, there is strong evidence in the literature about the ability of tumours (especially malignant) to provoke haemorrhages. Based on these two phenomena, we formulated our working hypothesis that the locally released heme and hemoproteins at tumour sites can be harnessed as trigger of oligomerization of engineered IgG molecules, thus increasing their pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities due to aggregation of the Fc portion in close proximity. This will result in higher antibody avidity, more efficient cross-linking of Fc-gamma receptors, better recruitment of complement proteins (C1q) and, hence, a stronger activation of the immune effector cells and the classical pathway of complement system on the surface of cancer cells. Successful accomplishment of this project will have considerable societal impact due to clinical and social significance of cancer.
Projet ERC : SafeMoVE (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Lund — Pays : Suède — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

SafeMoVE addresses critical gaps in road safety assessment methods, particularly as they pertain to mixed traffic scenarios involving connected and automated vehicles, vulnerable road users, and conventional road users. Building on the scientific advancements of SUperSAFE, SafeMoVE aims to validate and commercialize a universal, proactive methodology for traffic safety analysis. Unlike traditional approaches reliant on historical accident data, the proposed framework employs Extreme Value Theory and Surrogate Measures of Safety to analyse road user interactions, enabling predictions of accident risk without requiring prior crash data. The project encompasses four integrated phases: Data Collection (A1): Using stationary cameras, drones, and simulations to gather detailed exposure and interaction data in real-world and virtual environments; Data Analysis (A2): Extracting and analysing trajectories and interactions to compute SMoS, facilitating safety assessments for both existing and future infrastructures; Framework Development (A3): Validating a proactive methodology for accident prediction and road safety assessment in diverse traffic compositions and automation levels; and Exploitation and Market Exploration (A4): Commercializing the validated methodology through spinouts, targeting stakeholders such as car manufacturers, road authorities, and policymakers. SafeMoVE’s innovative framework aligns with the EU’s Vision Zero target to eliminate road fatalities by 2050. Its proactive approach enables timely safety evaluations, mitigating risks before accidents occur. The project introduces scalable solutions for infrastructure and vehicle safety assessments, fostering advancements in traffic safety research, policy, and industry practices. By integrating multidisciplinary expertise and addressing the challenges of mixed traffic systems, SafeMoVE aspires to revolutionise road safety methodologies and contribute to safer, more efficient transportation systems globally.
Projet ERC : GBM Neuro Snooper (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Inserm
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Median survival for people that are diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) is only 15 months. Chemoradiotherapy and targeted therapies still fail to combat peritumoral relapse after tumour removal. Preventing peritumoral brain invasion is the main target to cure GBM. Our project aims to validate a proof-of concept for a new medical device (MD) ‘GBM Neuro Snooper’ in GBM animal models, a required step before initiating a clinical trial (Technology Readiness Level from 2/3 to 4). This MD will allow to define an in-situ electrophysiology profile of patients with GBM, after the tumor resection, to access a new mechanistic understanding in the brain tumour field as well as, new strategies for patient stratification and treatment. Already existing MDs with electrode wires are either very stiff or with a millimetric dimension. The ERC work will lead to a first generic, miniaturised prototype implant with moderate invasiveness and which design was validated in connection with neurosurgeons for the GBM application, validation of its Freedom to Operate in the context of continuous IP landscaping and the creation of an exploitation plan. In a long-term perspective, it will help characterise hyperexcitability in brain diseases such as tumors, but also epilepsy or the Alzheimer Disease. We will also investigate the effect of stimulation of the peritumoral tissue and the correlation with the recorded signals as a new electro-theragnostic strategy. We will address the ethics and social dimension of using such a MD and our exploitation plan will include the protection of intellectual property, business strategy and the preparation of a clinical trial after project completion. The project will be performed by a dedicated team that includes significant expertise in technical development, preclinical validation of devices, surgery, and knowledge transfer.
Projet ERC : DEEPSTIM (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland — Pays : Irlande — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : RCSI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can severely impact patients, impairing neurological function. The complex pathophysiology of SCI and the poor growth capacity of neurons results in a multi-faceted challenge to repair. Lifetime treatment costs for SCI patients can be as high as €2 million and approximately 11,000 new spinal cord injuries occur every year in the EU. Neuromodulation devices that provide controlled electrical stimuli to enable pain management, aid rehabilitation and represent a growing medical device market, predicted to reach an €83 Bn value by 2030. This project proposes to combine electrical stimulation for the integration of neuromodulatory functionality with a tailored tissue engineered device to enhance regrowth of injured neurons and restore nerve function. It builds on the cutting-edge 3D-printing technologies developed during my ReCaP Advanced Grant in order to design a ground-breaking patient-specific implant for the targeted delivery of electrical stimulation to promote SCI repair. High-resolution imaging of individual patient spinal cord injuries will facilitate 3D printing of an electroconductive implant architecture, filled with a biomimetic regenerative and immunomodulatory biomaterial, that matches both the gross lesion geometry as well as mimicking key aspects of the injured spinal axonal tract anatomy. The 3D-printed conductive architecture will be geometrically optimized to distribute externally delivered electrical stimulation to neurons throughout the injury – maximizing the therapeutic benefits of electrical stimulation. To demonstrate proof-of-concept, DEEPSTIM will develop a prototype for preclinical testing in a rat model of SCI. The DEEPSTIM team will work with institutional commercialisation teams and seek input from clinical experts to increase the technological readiness level of the platform with the ultimate aim of forming a spin-out company to further develop the technology towards clinical translation.