Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Mechanically Interlocked Carbon Nanotubes (MINT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1444999.2
EU funding (EUR): 1444999.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We present a plan to design, synthesize and exploit the properties of mechanically interlocked carbon nanotubes (MINTs). The scientific aim of the project is to introduce the mechanical bond as a new tool for the derivatization of carbon nanotubes. The mechanical link combines the advantages of covalent and supramolecular modifications, namely: kinetic stability (covalent) and conserved chemical structure (supramolecular). Besides this, its dynamic nature opens up unique opportunities for both fundamental studies and applications. From a technological point of view, MINTs should have a practical impact in the fields of molecular electronics and molecular machinery. A general modular approach to MINT-based materials for photovoltaic devices and electrochemical sensors is presented. We also expect to exploit the rigidity and low dimensionality of SWNTs to construct molecular machines that utilize them as tracks to move across long distances, which is not possible in small-molecule molecular machines. To achieve these goals we will exploit the PI’s expertise in the chemical modification of carbon nanostructures, in the self-assembly of electroactive materials and in the synthesis and characterization of mechanically interlocked molecules.

Keywords: carbon nanotubes,mechanically interlocked molecules,rotaxanes,organic photovoltaics,sensors,molecular machines.
Time-Domain RF and Analog Signal Processing (TDRFSP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Systems and communication engineering
Countries involved: Ireland,Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1497000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1497000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

One of the most important developments in the communication microelectronics in the last decade was the invention and popularization of “Digital RF”. It transforms the radio frequency (RF) analog functionality of a wireless transceiver into digitally-intensive implementations that operate in time-domain. They are best realized in mainstream nanometer-scale CMOS technologies and easily integrated with digital processors. As a result, RF transceivers based on this new approach now enjoy significant benefits. Consequently, the RF transceivers based on this architecture are now the majority of the 1.5 billion mobile handsets produced annually. The invention and development of “Digital RF” was pioneered in the last decade by this applicant at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, USA. Despite having published over 130 scientific papers, that industrial research focus has been mainly limited to the highest volume segment of the wireless communications market: low-cost GSM/EDGE cellular phones and Bluetooth radios. Unfortunately, that low-cost low-data-rate market segment has already reached the saturation. The fastest growing segments of the wireless communications are now: high-data-rate “smart phones”, ultra-low-power wireless sensor network devices, antenna-array and millimeter-wave transceivers, where the original “Digital RF” approach could not be readily exploited. The goal of this proposal is to revisit and exploit the fundamental theory of the time-domain operation of RF and analog circuits. This way the broad area of the wireless communications, as well as analog and mixed-signal electronics in general, can be transformed for the ready realization in the advanced CMOS technology. This is expected to revolutionize the entire research field to even a larger extent than the “Digital RF” breakthrough in low-cost low-data-rate radios pioneered by this applicant in the last decade.

Keywords: digital rf,adpll,wireless,time-domain
Theory and Algorithms for Adaptive Particle Simulation (ADAPT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-09-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1476882.0
EU funding (EUR): 1476882.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

During the twentieth century, the development of macroscopic engineering has been largely stimulated by progress in digital prototyping: cars, planes, boats, etc. are nowadays designed and tested on computers. Digital prototypes have progressively replaced actual ones, and effective computer-aided engineering tools have helped cut costs and reduce production cycles of these macroscopic systems. The twenty-first century is most likely to see a similar development at the atomic scale. Indeed, the recent years have seen tremendous progress in nanotechnology - in particular in the ability to control matter at the atomic scale. Similar to what has happened with macroscopic engineering, powerful and generic computational tools will be needed to engineer complex nanosystems, through modeling and simulation. As a result, a major challenge is to develop efficient simulation methods and algorithms. NANO-D, the INRIA research group I started in January 2008 in Grenoble, France, aims at developing efficient computational methods for modeling and simulating complex nanosystems, both natural and artificial. In particular, NANO-D develops SAMSON, a software application which gathers all algorithms designed by the group and its collaborators (SAMSON: Software for Adaptive Modeling and Simulation Of Nanosystems). In this project, I propose to develop a unified theory, and associated algorithms, for adaptive particle simulation. The proposed theory will avoid problems that plague current popular multi-scale or hybrid simulation approaches by simulating a single potential throughout the system, while allowing users to finely trade precision for computational speed. I believe the full development of the adaptive particle simulation theory will have an important impact on current modeling and simulation practices, and will enable practical design of complex nanosystems on desktop computers, which should significantly boost the emergence of generic nano-engineering.

Keywords: adaptive particle simulation,molecular dynamics simulation,computer-aided-design,nanodesign.
Towards the dependable cloud: Building the foundations for tomorrow's dependable cloud computing. (DEPENDABLECLOUD)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: Portugal
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2018-01-31
Duration (months): 64.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1076084.0
EU funding (EUR): 1076084.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Cloud computing is being increasingly adopted by individuals, organizations, and governments. However, as the computations that are offloaded to the cloud expand to societal-critical services, the dependability requirements of cloud services become much higher, and we need to ensure that the infrastructure that supports these services is ready to meet these requirements. In particular, this proposal tackles the challenges that arise from two distinctive characteristic of the cloud infrastructure. The first is that non-crash faults, despite being considered highly unlikely by the designers of traditional systems, become commonplace at the scale and complexity of the cloud infrastructure. We argue that the current ad-hoc methods for handling these faults are insufficient, and that the only principled approach of assuming Byzantine faults is too pessimistic. Therefore, we call for a new systematic approach to tolerating non-crash, non-adversarial faults. This requires the definition of a new fault model, and the construction of a series of building blocks and key protocol elements that enable the construction of fault-tolerant cloud services. The second issue is that to meet their scalability requirements, cloud services spread their state across multiple data centers, and direct users to the closest one. This raises the issue that not all operations can be executed optimistically, without being aware of concurrent operations over the same data, and thus multiple levels of consistency must coexist. However, this puts the onus of reasoning about which behaviors are allowed under such a hybrid consistency model on the programmer of the service. We propose a systematic solution to this problem, which includes a novel consistency model that allows for developing highly scalable services that are fast when possible and consistent when necessary, and a labeling methodology to guide the programmer in deciding which operations can run at each consistency level.

Keywords: dependability,cloud computing,replication.
Circuit QED with hybrid electronic states (CIRQYS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2013-02-01
End date: 2018-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1456608.0
EU funding (EUR): 1456608.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We propose to develop a new scheme for detecting and manipulating exotic states formed by combinations of conductors with different dimensionalities and/or electronic orders. For that purpose, we will use tools of cavity quantum electrodynamics to study in a very controlled way the interaction of light and this exotic matter. Our experiments will be implemented with nanowires connected to normal, ferromagnetic or superconducting electrodes embedded in high finesse on-chip superconducting photonic cavities. The experimental technique proposed here will inaugurate a novel method for investigating the spectroscopy and the dynamics of tailored nano-systems. During the project, we will focus on three key experiments. We will demonstrate the strong coupling between a single spin and cavity photons, bringing spin quantum bits a step closer to scalability. We will probe coherence in Cooper pair splitters using lasing and sub-radiance. Finally, we will probe the non-local nature of Majorana bound states predicted to appear at the edges of topological superconductors via their interaction with cavity photons.

Keywords: quantum optics
Photo-Engineered Helices in Chiral Liquid Crystals (PHELIX)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-11-01
End date: 2017-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1496400.0
EU funding (EUR): 1496400.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Supramolecular helices are a striking expression of chirality which is found at every level of biological materials, from plant cell walls to bones. Helical biomaterials formed out of equilibrium display multiple length scales, adaptation of structure to function and responsiveness to changing environments, a unique set of features that constitutes a fascinating source of inspiration for materials science. However, matching the complexity of these biological architectures by rational design of synthetic systems remains a major contemporary challenge. The aim of this project is to develop sophisticated helical materials with responsive architectures that are of interest in optical communication, energy management, photonic materials and mechanical actuation. The innovative and versatile approach proposed here consists in using light i) to engineer the period, handedness and orientation of the cholesteric helix, and ii) to stabilise the structures formed out of equilibrium by in-situ formation of polymer networks. Three tasks will run concurrently: Task 1: Stimuli-responsive infrared super-reflectors Task 2: Dynamic templates for long range ordering of nano-objects Task 3: Photomechanical actuation of helicoids and spiral ribbons “Phelix” will yield complex systems that reach beyond the state of the art in stimuli-responsive materials, push the frontiers of research on supramolecular helices and shed new light on transmission of chirality across length scales. Ultimately, the omnipresence of helical structures in nature means that biomedical applications could be envisioned also. The proposal builds on my recent investigations on light-responsive helices in cholesteric liquid crystals. I have demonstrated the expertise in liquid crystals, photochemistry and microscopy required for this research and my leadership experience ensures its success.

Keywords: supramolecular helicity,light-responsive materials,chiral liquid crystals,photochromic switches,self-assembly,nanoparticles
Nonlinear Eigenproblems for Data Analysis (NOLEPRO)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1271992.0
EU funding (EUR): 1271992.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In machine learning and exploratory data analysis, the major goal is the development of solutions for the automatic and efficient extraction of knowledge from data. This ability is key for further progress in science and engineering. A large class of data analysis methods is based on linear eigenproblems. While linear eigenproblems are well studied, and a large part of numerical linear algebra is dedicated to the efficient calculation of eigenvectors of all kinds of structured matrices, they are limited in their modeling capabilities. Important properties like robustness against outliers and sparsity of the eigenvectors are impossible to realize. In turn, we have shown recently that many problems in data analysis can be naturally formulated as nonlinear eigenproblems. In order to use the rich structure of nonlinear eigenproblems with an ease similar to that of linear eigenproblems, a major goal of this proposal is to develop a general framework for the computation of nonlinear eigenvectors. Furthermore, the great potential of nonlinear eigenproblems will be explored in various application areas. As the scope of nonlinear eigenproblems goes far beyond data analysis, this project will have major impact not only in machine learning and its use in computer vision, bioinformatics, and information retrieval, but also in other areas of the natural sciences.

Keywords: nonlinear eigenproblems,numerical linear algebra,non-convex optimization and convex optimization,machine learning,statistical learning theory
Photo-switching of smart surfaces for integrated biosensors (PHOTOSMART)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Systems and communication engineering
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2013-07-01
End date: 2018-06-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499878.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499878.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Smart surfaces with switchable properties hold great promise for future integrated sensors. Azobenzene molecules have been demonstrated to switch reversibly between the trans and cis isomer with picosecond time constants, when triggered with an external light source. Due to the different molecular geometries and electronic properties of the isomers, these may be used as molecular switches for realizing smart surfaces. The objective of this research proposal is to establish methods for integrating photo-switchable smart surfaces into miniaturized sensors. For efficient switching this requires on-chip light sources providing sufficient intensity at the location of the molecular switch. Ultraviolet and blue organic light emitting diodes will be integrated monolithically onto dielectric substrates with a periodically nanostructured high refractive index layer. This slab photonic crystal allows for resonant excitation of the molecular switches. Two types of smart surfaces will be studied. First, the reversible switching of wettability between hydrophilic and hydrophobic will be investigated, which is of particular importance for reconfigurable microfluidic chips. Second, the switchable surface adsorption of biomaterials is targeted. The periodic switching of the binding sites between an active and an inactive state will cause a periodic measurement signal. This allows for the use of lock-in techniques with superior signal-to-noise ratio and for subtraction of the background at same position. Combining both types of smart surfaces promises reconfigurable, multifunctional, highly-selective future integrated biosensors. The final goal of the proposed project is to demonstrate for the first time an integrated microsystem with smart surfaces switched by on-chip light sources for spatial and temporal control of the surface wettability as well as control of binding sites for biomolecules.

Keywords: organic light emitting diode,photonic crystal,nanostructure,molecular switch,smart surface,monolithic integration,microsystem,biosensor
RETURN – Rethinking Tunnelling in Urban Neighbourhoods (RETURN)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Products and process engineering
Countries involved: Ireland
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2013-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project addresses important challenges at the forefront of geotechnical engineering and building conservation by introducing an entirely new workflow and largely unexploited data source for the predic-tion of building damage from tunnel-induced subsidence. The project will also make fundamental and ground-breaking advances in the collection and processing of city-scale, aerial laser scanning by avoiding any reliance on existing data for building location identification, respective data affiliation, or building fea-ture recognition. This will create a set of techniques that are robust, scalable, and widely applicable to a broad range of communities with unreinforced masonry buildings. This will also lay the groundwork to rapidly generate and deploy city-scale, computational models for emergency management and disaster re-sponse, as well as for the growing field of environmental modelling.

Keywords: tunnelling,finite element meshes,unreinforced masonry,building vulnerability
From complex to non-archimedean geometry (NONARCOMP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Mathematical foundations
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2012-StG_20111012, 2012)
Start date: 2012-10-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 787232.52
EU funding (EUR): 787232.52
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Complex geometry is the study of manifolds that are defined over the complex numbers. Non-archimedean geometry is concerned with analytic spaces over fields endowed with a norm that satisfies the strong triangular inequality. The aim of this proposal is to explore the interactions between these seemingly different geometries with special emphasis on analytic and dynamical problems. We specifically plan to develop pluripotential theory over non-archimedean fields. This includes the search for analogs of the celebrated Yau's theorem. In a more local setting, we shall also look for possible applications of non-archimedean techniques to the "Openness Conjecture" on the structure of singularities of plurisubharmonic functions. A second axis of research concerns the problem of growth of degrees of iterates of complex rational maps in arbitrary dimensions. We especially aim at extending to arbitrary dimensions the successful non-archimedean techniques that are already available for surfaces. Finally we want to investigate the geometry of parameter spaces of complex dynamical systems acting on the Riemann sphere using non-archimedean methods. This requires the development of the bifurcation theory of non-archimedean rational maps.

Keywords: non-archimedean analysis,complex dynamics,pluripotential theory
Microwave Clearance Measurement System for Low Pressure Turbines (MICMEST)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1)
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Sky
Action type: Article 171 of the Treaty
Partnership: CLEAN-SKY (Art-185)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (SP1-JTI-CS-2011-03, 2011)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2015-12-31
Duration (months): 47.0
Total project cost (EUR): 699987.0
EU funding (EUR): 349993.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The objective of this project is further development, laboratory validation, and demonstration of a microwave clearance measurement system (MCMS) on a SAGE4 GTF demonstrator engine. The system will measure radial running clearances and axial rotor displacements in the low-pressure turbine with the goal of application in a closed-loop Active Clearance Control (ACC) system. The project will first develop measurement concepts in a laboratory setting, translate these concepts to designs suitable for implementation in the demonstrator engine and then test the measurement system during an engine test. In addition, the project will demonstrate high operational reliability and field-replaceability of microwave sensors in the harsh low pressure turbine environment with the goal of at least one typical engine maintenance interval. Finally, the accuracy of the measurement of radial clearance and axial position, measurement interval, measurement signal processing and data formats will be demonstrated suitable for integration with an ACC system. Successful validation of a reliable MCMS used in conjunction with a closed-loop ACC control system for aerospace gas turbine engines will result in more efficient turbine and better engine performance and efficiency and hence improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions and will facilitate the early introduction of innovative and competitive European products into the market.

Keywords: microwave low pressure turbine tip clearance measurement system and probe,active turbine tip clearance control