Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : Spermotile (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Tromsø — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UiT
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 140000.0 €

ERC starting grant 3D nanoMorph has achieved groundbreaking results that open an unprecedented opportunity for assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs). ARTs require selecting sperms with high fertilization potential - this is characterized by morphology, motility and kinematic parameters of sperms indicating their progressive motility. Current optical solutions for sperm selection can investigate only morphology, nature of motility and kinematics in terms of speed. Our groundbreaking solution enables studying the motion of sperm with unprecedented super-resolved details, which can be used to derive advanced kinematic features. The ART market is growing at an annual rate of 7.8%. Our population is aging, people are planning families at later ages, and fertility is deteriorating due to occupational, environmental and lifestyle factors. Thus, it is becoming a societal challenge to maintain population growth. This PoC grant aims to take the next step in transforming my groundbreaking research into innovation of commercial and societal value.
Projet ERC : sCENT2 (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Tromsø — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UiT
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The demand for highly sensitive trace gas detection down to part-per-billion (ppb) levels and exceptional selectivity is paramount across various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and healthcare. Currently, such capabilities are only accessible through bulky and expensive high-end sensors, limiting their use primarily to research settings. However, the ERC Starting Grant project sCENT has recently achieved a significant breakthrough by demonstrating the first chip-scale sensor capable of ppb-level detection and selectivity equivalent to that of high-end instruments. These sensors merge the strengths of high-end commercial spectroscopic systems, offering sensitivity, selectivity, isotope detection capability, and long-term stability, while also being compact, lightweight, and requiring only microlitre sample volumes. This success was possible due to a pioneering waveguide design supporting air-like modes, demonstrated within the ERC Starting Grant sCENT.  The current project aims to explore the disruptive innovation potential of the sCENT sensor concept, advancing it from a proof-of-concept to the next level of technological readiness. This entails (i) the development of a prototype module and (ii) its real-life application demonstration to study the metabolic emissions of methane-consuming bacteria native to permafrost soils.  Additionally, the project encompasses crucial aspects such as IP protection management, monitoring target markets (primarily environmental intelligence), and designing a technology roadmap for the sensor's exploitation. Outreach activities are meticulously planned to promote the sensors to potential commercial partners, end-users, and stakeholders. The overarching vision for the sCENT sensor is to unlock new opportunities for large-scale in-situ gas monitoring with unparalleled data density, ultimately enhancing our capabilities for environmental intelligence in the face of our evolving climate.
Projet ERC : Print and Grow (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Technion - Institut de technologie d'Israël — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting holds great promise for tissue engineering, with extrusion bioprinting in suspended hydrogels becoming the leading bioprinting technique in recent years. In this method, living cells are incorporated within bioinks, extruded layer by layer into a granular support material and undergo gelation through diverse cross-linking mechanisms. It offers high fidelity and precise fabrication of complex structures based on the living tissue properties, however the transition of cell mass mixed with the bioink into functional native-like tissue requires post-printing cultivation in vitro. An often-overlooked drawback of 3D bioprinting is the non-uniform shrinkage and deformation of printed constructs during the post-printing tissue maturation period. This leads to highly-variable and unpredictable engineered constructs, posing a challenge for the technology to meet applicative requirements. We propose to develop a novel technology of "Print and Grow", 3D bioprinting into a specially designed microgel aimed to enhance the long-term structural stability of the printed objects by providing structural support and a possibility for live monitoring during tissue maturation. Our preliminary testing of the “Print and Grow” method demonstrated accurate bioprinting with high tissue viability while preserving the construct shape and size, unlike current state of the art approaches. We aim to optimize the support material properties and develop scalable and reproducible fabrication techniques. We also plan to test the “Print and Grow” for a wide range of tissue types and adjust the microgel according to specific tissue requirements. Finally, we will study the in vivo transplantation possibility of the tissue generated through the “Print and Grow” process. The results of our proof of concept project may lead to emergence of universal and user-friendly 3D bioprinting technology for regenerative medicine, drug discovery and cultured meat industry.
Projet ERC : hiPSCmore (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Pavie — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 100000.0 €

In hiPSCmore (read hiP-See-More), my team and I will engineer fluorescent sensors in the DNA of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) so we can “See More” during high-throughput imaging screenings (imHTS) for drug discovery and regenerative medicine.  Since hiPSCs can differentiate in most cell types in the human body, they are the ideal cell source for more predictively screening therapies. Yet, hiPSCs are expensive to maintain and require external reagents to visualize pathophysiological changes, which adds to the screening cost and complexity. In fact, the major hurdle in adopting hiPSCs for imHTS has been the price increase from <0.10 $/data point to 2+ $/data point.  In the context of our ERC Stg, we genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for cell structure, function, and cell cycle progression directly into hiPSCs for in-vitro modeling of heart development. With those sensors, we can visualize pathophysiological changes through reagents provided by the cells themselves. Thus, the more experiments we conduct, the cheaper they become. We believe this is the strategy to bring hiPSCs into imHTS, where testing millions of compounds vanishes an experiment's marginal cost. Like software. To explore this opportunity, we envision three main objectives. 1. Technology feasibility. We will scale up the production of our SeeMore hiPSCs and validate their cost-effectiveness in drug screening and regenerative medicine applications. 2. Business feasibility. We will analyze market dynamics and customer preferences in the drug screening and regenerative markets to define the most efficient go-to-market strategy. 3. Executive management. We will work with stakeholders in our advisory board to delineate IPR, business strategy, and future fundraising opportunities for a SeeMore spin-off company.  Through these activities, the SeeMore spin-off will incorporate the right mix of tech development and business savvy in its own DNA, so it can "seize more" of the HTS market.
Projet ERC : 3-Phase-BAT (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : IMDEA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The high cost and poor performance of certain components of redox flow batteries (RFB) such as the ion-exchange membrane, along with material toxicity, fluctuating prices, and limited availability of vanadium active compounds, are hindering the widespread adoption of RFB in the market. Our 3-Phase-BAT ERC-PoC involves the development of a new type of membrane-free RFB which does not require the use of any membrane since the electrolytes are separated by thermodynamics eliminating the requirement for a physical barrier. Moreover, the vanadium species are replaced by organic redox compounds that are abundant, less expensive, and present tuneable properties. Specifically, 3-Phase-BAT proposes the use of a three-phase immiscible liquid system, where the top and bottom phases serve as redox electrolytes, separated by an electrochemically “inert” intermediate liquid phase that replaces the costly ion-exchange membrane. This new technology builds upon insights gained from the MFreeB ERC-CoG project, led by Dr. Rebeca Marcilla, devoted to membrane-free RFBs using immiscible biphasic systems. The 3-Phase-BAT ERC-PoC aims to address challenges related to low efficiency and limited energy density by incorporating a third immiscible intermediate phase, effectively preventing the detrimental self-discharge commonly seen in flow battery technology. This ERC-PoC offers a tremendous opportunity to i) validate this novel technology, ii) explore scaling up as part of the technology transfer process, and iii) define an exploitation pathway to transition our 3-Phase-BAT technology from the lab to industry, with the goal of accelerating market access within 5 years.

Mots-clés : membrane free redox flow battery,membrane less batteries,redox flow battery,organic batteries,sustainability
Projet ERC : VRAI-CURE (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : Mines Paris - PSL
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 0.0 €

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) pose a severe neurovascular threat, with rupture leading toIntracranial aneurysms (IAs) pose a severe neurovascular threat, with rupture leading to life-threatening complications. Current treatment planning relies on static imaging and computational fluid dynamics, which are computationally expensive and lack real-time clinical integration. Clinicians face uncertainty in selecting optimal intervention strategies, increasing procedural risks and costs. VRAI-CURE proposes an AI-driven clinical decision support system that combines Physics-Constrained Graph Neural Networks for real-time hemodynamic simulation and immersive Virtual Reality (VR) visualization. This system enables instantaneous, patient-specific blood flow predictions, transforming clinical workflows by providing neurovascular specialists with actionable insights for treatment planning. Unlike conventional simulation or imaging methods, the proposed AI-based approach is computationally efficient, self-improving with each new patient case, and seamlessly integrates into standard imaging workflows (MRI, CT, angiography). By delivering an interactive VR-based visualization of blood flow dynamics, VRAI-CURE enhances clinical understanding of aneurysm behavior and treatment effects, facilitating personalized decision-making. Our preliminary validation demonstrates superior accuracy and efficiency compared to existing techniques, addressing a significant gap in neurovascular intervention. With the VR healthcare market projected to reach $40 billion by 2032, the transformative potential extends beyond neurovascular medicine, offering a cutting-edge solution in a rapidly expanding sector. This project aims to advance to TRL 6, developing a certified clinical prototype ready for industrial transfer. The project’s high-risk/high-gain potential positions it as a transformative innovation in precision neurovascular medicine, with broad implications for AI-driven clinical decision support.
Projet ERC : Cremoso (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Linxole ab — Pays : Suède — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 90000.0 €

The European Union adopted an ambitious and much-needed European Green Deal policy to make Europe the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Harvesting solar energy from photovoltaics (PVs) is a promising way to tackle today’s energy issues and to contribute to the European Green Deal. New-generation PV technologies (such as those based on organic semiconductors and metal halide perovskites) offer many benefits compared to traditional silicon-based solar panels in terms of lightweight, aesthetic, and flexibility. As such, they are promising candidates to complement silicon-based PVs for our sustainable future. A key challenge that currently limits the practical application of these new-generation PVs is the high cost of charge-transport materials, a critical component of these new PV technologies.  This project aims to address this critical challenge and bridge the knowledge gap on the cost of charge-transport materials for these new-generation PVs. This project is firmly based on our recent breakthrough which successfully developed high-efficiency new-generation PVs with excellent stability (published in Science and patent application ongoing). At the core of this project is rational materials development, coupled with device engineering. Utilizing our prior research experience and our start-up, LinXole, we will develop novel charge-transport materials that are free of synthetic complexity and, eventually, low enough in price to be commercially viable. This project will achieve a new paradigm for low-cost new-generation PVs, contributing to the European energy transition. We have also built a strong team with complementary expertise for this project, including researchers, business developers, entrepreneurs, and innovation advisors. As such, we are keen to contribute to market expansion by delivering technology solutions for modern energy services.
Projet ERC : EpiGrid (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Neurosoft bioelectronics sa — Pays : Suisse — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 36000.0 €

Epilepsy is a highly prevalent brain disorder affecting 1% of the population. Brain surgery can cure epilepsy if we can delineate the diseased tissue intra-operatively. Unfortunately this delineation is currently not performed precisely and leads to poor success rates (50-70%). High frequency oscillations (HFOs) have been identified as a biomarker of epileptogenic tissues, which can be electrically recorded with intraoperative electrocorticography. These HFOs are specific of diseased epileptogenic brain tissues and remnance after an initial resection predicts continuation of seizures after surgery and thus may indicate incomplete removal. The problem is that currently available electrode grids do not provide an adequate recording resolution (too low electrode density). Moreover these electrodes are made of stiff materials, which yields low signal-to-noise level when recording from the cortical surface and which does not offer the possibility to record from within resection cavities, as the rigid electrodes cannot conform to the curvature of the cavity. We need high density flexible electrode grids that can adhere to the cortical surface and cavities. Neurosoft Bioelectronics produces flexible and high density electrode grids based on unique stretchable soft electrodes. Our goal is to use this grant to translate our clinical needs into an optimal design of soft electrode grids adapted for epilepsy surgery, with the help of an industrial designer. We will first test these newly designed soft electrodes in vitro for clinical handability and improved signal quality, and eventually test them during epilepsy surgery in 12 patients. The recorded signals and clinical outcomes will be compared to those from standard rigid electrode grids. Improved delineation of the epileptogenic tissue will lead to a higher succes rate, make epilepsy surgery a first choice treatment, and over all change this otherwise life-long disease into a curable disorder for many people.
Projet ERC : SLEEP-TI (Horizon Europe, appel 2025, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Somnial technologies sro — Pays : Rép. Tchèque — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Organismes privés (hors enseignement)
Financement ERC de l'entité : 75000.0 €

SLEEP-TI proposes a new approach to address widespread sleep disorders and enhance sleep quality through non-invasive neuromodulation. Leveraging the innovative Temporal Interference (TI) technology, SLEEP-TI aims to develop a portable, user-friendly device capable of modulating specific brain regions associated with sleep regulation and memory consolidation, without the need for invasive procedures or the limitations of traditional sleep therapy methods. Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders such as insomnia and parasomnias affect millions worldwide, significantly impacting mental health, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Current treatments, ranging from pharmacological interventions to mechanical devices like CPAP machines, often fall short in terms of efficacy, user compliance, and convenience. SLEEP-TI introduces a novel solution by using TI to precisely target and modulate the neural circuits involved in sleep stages, particularly NREM sleep, which is crucial for physiological recovery of our brain and body. The project builds on preliminary data demonstrating the effectiveness of TI in inducing sleep-related neural patterns, initially in a cohort of epilepsy patients. By adjusting the frequency and location of TI stimulation, SLEEP-TI aims to replicate these beneficial effects in the broader population, offering a personalized sleep enhancement tool. This portable device will empower individuals to manage their sleep quality at home, potentially transforming the landscape of sleep therapy and cognitive health maintenance. SLEEP-TI's multidisciplinary team combines expertise in neuroengineering, sleep medicine, and commercial product development, ensuring the project's scientific rigor and its potential for commercialization. The project's outcomes will not only contribute to the scientific understanding of sleep modulation but also open opportunities for a new class of electroceuticals in sleep medicine.
Projet ERC : EpiGrid (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : University Medical Center Utrecht — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UMC
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 92000.0 €

Epilepsy is a highly prevalent brain disorder affecting 1% of the population. Brain surgery can cure epilepsy if we can delineate the diseased tissue intra-operatively. Unfortunately this delineation is currently not performed precisely and leads to poor success rates (50-70%). High frequency oscillations (HFOs) have been identified as a biomarker of epileptogenic tissues, which can be electrically recorded with intraoperative electrocorticography. These HFOs are specific of diseased epileptogenic brain tissues and remnance after an initial resection predicts continuation of seizures after surgery and thus may indicate incomplete removal. The problem is that currently available electrode grids do not provide an adequate recording resolution (too low electrode density). Moreover these electrodes are made of stiff materials, which yields low signal-to-noise level when recording from the cortical surface and which does not offer the possibility to record from within resection cavities, as the rigid electrodes cannot conform to the curvature of the cavity. We need high density flexible electrode grids that can adhere to the cortical surface and cavities. Neurosoft Bioelectronics produces flexible and high density electrode grids based on unique stretchable soft electrodes. Our goal is to use this grant to translate our clinical needs into an optimal design of soft electrode grids adapted for epilepsy surgery, with the help of an industrial designer. We will first test these newly designed soft electrodes in vitro for clinical handability and improved signal quality, and eventually test them during epilepsy surgery in 12 patients. The recorded signals and clinical outcomes will be compared to those from standard rigid electrode grids. Improved delineation of the epileptogenic tissue will lead to a higher succes rate, make epilepsy surgery a first choice treatment, and over all change this otherwise life-long disease into a curable disorder for many people.
Projet ERC : 2D-TRANSFER (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Université de Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

Two dimensional materials (2DM) and their van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures have opened new opportunities to develop atomically thin electronic and optoelectronic devices with a wide range of functionalities. While thousands of research papers demonstrate proof-of-concept studies with improved and novel performance using small-scale exfoliated crystals, a number of challenges still remains when these are attempted to be scaled up on wafer-scale with CVD grown 2DM. One of the key challenges is the transfer process of 2DM from their growth substrate to another 2DM or a target substrate for intended use. Currently, this process is performed using organic polymers to support 2DM, which introduces considerable amount of contamination and mechanical damage to the transferred layers. We propose to circumvent the existing issues of the transfer process by employing a new technique recently invented in NGI, which completely avoids use of organic compounds. This approach enables production of heterostructures with perfect interfaces free from interlayer contamination and correspondingly excellent (opto)electronic behaviour. In addition, eliminating polymeric supports allows new possibilities for vdW heterostructure fabrication: assembly at temperatures up to 600°C, and in different environments including ultra-high vacuum (UHV), liquid submersion and improved mechanical stability. This project will apply our novel approach for wafer-scale use, considering requirements of industrial companies, such as the choice of 2DMs and wafers, quality standards, throughput and reliability. The improved inorganic transfer technology will be then licensed to a selected 2DM foundry. In addition, we will develop an instrument for wafer-scale 2DM transfer that employs our innovative approach, which will be made available via spin-out company. Successful completion of the project can bring life to a wide range of industrial exploitation of 2DM in industrial nanotechnology applications.