Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
A Philosophy of Open Science for Diverse Research Environments (PHIL_OS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Panel description: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, theoretical philosophy
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2020-COG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999851.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999851.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

This project will develop an empirically grounded philosophy of Open Science [OS] that emphasises the diversity of research environments around the world and articulates the conditions under which OS can leverage such diversity to promote good research practice. The OS movement is transforming research, with OS policies adopted around the globe and widespread agreement on implementing key OS principles like openness, transparency and reproducibility. However, the philosophy of science underpinning the OS movement has not been clearly articulated. Moreover, there are significant epistemic risks in implementing OS across widely different research settings, such as the marginalisation of contributions from low-resourced environments. This raises questions about the relation between open and good science. To address these concerns, this project combines a philosophical analysis of the epistemic significance of research environments with empirical research on how researchers working in different environments enact and conceptualise OS. This “philosophy of science in practice” [PSP] approach, which I helped to pioneer, is ideally suited to investigating the meaning and implications of OS for the conduct of research. Building on my experience as OS advisor, this project extends PSP by grounding conceptual analysis of scientific practice on qualitative research as well as collaboration with scientists and policymakers. The result will be a novel conceptualisation of OS that reframes its key principles by outlining how exchanges across environments can boost research excellence. This is a ground-breaking contribution to the philosophy of science, where (i) little attention has been given to how OS challenges existing accounts of knowledge production, and (ii) research on epistemic diversity has focused largely on disciplinary/theoretical perspectives. The project also supports OS governance, by providing a framework that fosters research quality, inclusivity and fairness.

Keywords: philosophy of scientific practice,knowledge production,open science principles,research excellence,research environment,epistemic pluralism,epistemic injustice,openness,reproducibility,transparency,science governance
Optimised Pest Integrated Management to precisely detect and control plant diseases in perennial crops and open-field vegetables (OPTIMA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
Theme: Sustainable agriculture and forestry
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Italy,Spain,Italy,Italy,Belgium,Belgium,Greece,Greece,France,France,Netherlands,Portugal
Call: Innovations in plant protection (H2020-SFS-2017-2, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2022-06-30
Duration (months): 46.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3517475.0
EU funding (EUR): 3425600.0
Participants: 17
Project status: CLOSED

OPTIMA will develop an environmentally friendly IPM framework for vineyards, apple orchards and carrots by providing a holistic integrated approach which includes all critical aspects related to integrated disease management, such as i) novel bio-PPPs use, ii) disease prediction models, iii) spectral early disease detection systems and iv) precision spraying techniques. It will contribute significantly to the reduction of the European agriculture reliance on chemical PPPs resulting in reduced use of agrochemicals, lower residues and reduced impacts on human health. OPTIMA will optimize disease prediction models for downy mildew in vineyards, apple scab in apple orchards and alternaria leaf blight in carrots to envisage faster the possibility of disease outspread and developing advanced early detection methods based on spectral imaging and deep learning techniques to precisely localise and quantify the infection. It will evaluate and screen biological and synthetic PPPs for their combined ability to control the selected diseases and weigh the optimum dosage and application timing and identifying and characterize induced host resistance mechanisms to achieve higher and durable resistance. It will enhance and develop three innovative prototype sprayers (for carrots, apple orchards and vineyards) actuating different nozzle types and adopting variable rate control based on canopy characteristics, the pathogen dispersal and disease development. The holistic developed IPM system will be tested and assessed in field conditions with the three selected crops. The advanced sprayer prototypes and the monitoring system will be tested in real-time to record field efficacy and potential discrepancies from the expected effectiveness. OPTIMA will finally, assess health, environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed IPM system in comparison to conventional systems using an extended Life-Cycle approach integrated with Human and Environmental Risk Assessment.

Keywords: bio ppps,prediction models,early disease detection,ipm dss,smart precision spraying technology
Artificial General Intelligence software enabling workforce relief for optimised results and increased efficiency (Xepholution)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Austria
Call: Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2016-12-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Xepholution is a cutting edge technology based on Artificial General Intelligence. Contrary to the so called ‘narrow’ Artificial Intelligence (or ‘weak AI), Xephor’s technology is able to develop creativity and perform intellectual tasks typical to humans. This advance technology, is the first one worldwide which is able to program itself in C++ and learn tasks from experience autonomously. The Cloud software observes and learns from a humans working on the computer in which an user-account is logged in, learns what they are doing, and analyses how to react appropriately. The learning process takes place in five stages: a) observation b) confirmation c) simulation d) cooperation e) autonomy. The process takes approximately 4 to 6 months for the system to be ready to take over the tasks completely and progress to creating new solutions and producing new ideas. The founding of Xephor was to directly propagate the cutting-edge AI technology of Xepholution. Xepholution’s creation was highly steeped in scientific and mathematical research, as well as market research indicating the gap with today’s solutions in addressing intelligent usage of software from an artificial source. Xephor have brought to fore a technology finally able to address the effectiveness concerns surrounding current AI being able fill the shoes of an employee; specifically when using speciality software. The proposed work in Phase 1 of the SME instrument fits into Xephor’s plan to bring Xepholution onto the market by contributing the financial resources needed to plan a fast and efficient wider deployment of the product across its target initial market.

Keywords: artificial general intelligence,disruptive innovation
Multi Lawn Care System Robotic mower fleets to take care of large green areas and replace the fossil-fuel powered mowers (MLS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2019-05-01
End date: 2019-08-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Fuel-powered ride-on mowers continue to be the most used alternative for the maintenance of large and multi lawn green areas, because of their high cutting efficiency (i.e. 20,000m2/14 hours). However, they have serious drawbacks such as gasoline consumption and spill, pollutant emissions, injuries, and high both operational costs and operator time requirements. Based on the more than 22 years’ experience into the robotic lawn mower market of our mother company, at Robotic Lawn Care AB, we are developing the cleanest and most highly efficient multi lawn mowing tool able to replace the current fossil-fuel driven mowers: the Multi Lawn System (MLS, patent pending). By using fleets of robotic mowers powered by high-performance batteries and controlled by a build-in IoT system, MLS covers large areas with unparalleled efficiency and 10h of autonomy, requiring an operator for only 30 min. Unlike ride-on mowers, MLS reduces drastically staff labour requirement (85% less) and mowing time (30% less), leading to up 60% reduction of lawn care costs per m2/year. MLS prototype is at TRL7. Using it we run a pilot project in the VårGårdhotel (Sweden), demonstrating a reduction of 96% of operator’s time. We have closed contracts with big clients such as Steen & Lund (largest landscape gardening company, Norway), Port of San Diego (US), and several municipalities across Sweden. To reach the TRL9 we need to optimize MLS performance (battery/software/base station) and its build-in IoT system. We will seize the €2 billion robotic lawn mower market fast growing, renting and selling MLS to lawn tenants (B2C) and care services companies (B2B), respectively. Hence, after reach TRL9 (requiring €2 million), its commercialization will begin by 2022 across Sweden, to then continue towards Norway, Germany and France. By 2026, we foresee to create 13 new jobs and €35.5 million of cumulative revenues from which €23.8 million represent gross profits (ROI 6.5).

Keywords: robotic mowers,rechargable batteries,multi lawn,large green areas,zero carbon communities
Inhibiting mechanotransduction for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (TALVIN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Novel ideas for radically new technologies
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Spain
Call: FET Innovation Launchpad (H2020-FETOPEN-4-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2020-02-29
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 100000.0
EU funding (EUR): 100000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Mechanical forces transmitted between cells and their microenvironment drive cell function and regulate tumorigenesis. Due to this importance, our FET PROACTIVE project MECHANOCONTROL aims to understand the molecular mechanisms by which forces exert their role, and their implications in the specific application of breast cancer. In this context, we have recently identified that the interaction between the cytoskeletal molecules vinculin and talin can be inhibited by a vinculin fragment (VD1) which blocks cell response to mechanical forces, and the activation of the major oncogene YAP that occurs in tissues with abnormally high mechanical stiffness. Both increased tissue stiffness and YAP activation drive tumor progression in most solid tumors, and thus inhibiting talin/vinculin interactions has a major potential as a therapeutic approach in several solid cancer types. We have designed and synthesized peptido-mimetic drugs reproducing the action of VD1. Among those synthesized, we have identified one that inhibits the metabolism of cell lines from pancreatic, colon and prostate tumors. Our aim is to valorize these drugs in the specific case of pancreatic cancer, which is a clear unmet clinical need since it is the one with the least therapeutic alternatives and worst prognosis. Specifically, the funding from this project will pay for the national phases of the current patent (PCT/EP2017/056410), regulatory pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and toxicity tests in mouse animal models, as well as for developing contacts of potential license-takers to close a license agreement. Because the focus is on pancreatic rather than breast cancer, and on bringing a specific drug to the market rather than carrying out research, this project is related to but falls out of the scope of the FET MECHANOCONTROL project.

Keywords: mechanobiology,cancer,pancreas,hippo,extracellular matrix,microenvironment
A programming language bridging theory and practice for scientific data curation (Skye)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2015-CoG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2023-02-28
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1995181.0
EU funding (EUR): 1995181.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Science is increasingly data-driven. Scientific research funders now routinely mandate open publication of publicly-funded research data. Safely reusing such data currently requires labour-intensive curation. Provenance recording the history and derivation of the data is critical to reaping the benefits and avoiding the pitfalls of data sharing. There are hundreds of curated scientific databases in biomedicine that need fine-grained provenance; one important example is GtoPdb, a pharmacological database developed by colleagues in Edinburgh. Currently there are no reusable methodologies or practical tools that support provenance for curated databases, forcing each project to start from scratch. Research on provenance for scientific databases is still at an early stage, and prototypes have so far proven challenging to deploy or evaluate in the field. Also, most techniques to date focus on provenance within a single database, but this is only part of the problem: real solutions will have to integrate database provenance with the multiple tiers of web applications, and no-one has begun to address this challenge. I propose research on how to build support for curation into the programming language itself, building on my recent research on the Links Web programming language and on data curation. Links is a strongly-typed language that provides state-of-the-art support for language-integrated query and Web programming. I propose to build on Links and other recent language designs for heterogeneous meta-programming to develop a new language, called Skye, that can express modular, reusable curation and provenance techniques. To keep focus on the real needs of scientific databases, Skye will be evaluated in the context of GtoPdb and other scientific database projects. Bridging the gap between curation research and the practices of scientific database curators will catalyse a virtuous cycle that will increase the pace of breakthrough results from data-driven science.

Keywords: curated databases,provenance,language integrated query,heterogeneous meta programming
Practical and Catalytic Stereoselective Synthesis of Versatile Tetrasubstituted Alkenes (TETRASYN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2023-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 196707.84
EU funding (EUR): 196707.84
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Alkene-containing molecules and their derivatives play a major role in medicine, food and energy production, as well as materials research and polymer science. In most applications, particularly in medicine, alkenes are needed in isomerically pure form. While strategies for stereoselective preparation of olefins have been the subject of substantial interest, methods relating to synthesis of tetrasubstituted alkenes are uncommon, especially those that are catalytic. What is more, the small number of available protocols are often not highly selective or broadly applicable. The goal of the proposed studies is to introduce a practical, scalable, modular and highly stereoselective synthesis of a large assortment tetrasubstituted alkenes from readily available Cu-based catalysts, nitriles, allenes, and a commercially available diboron compound. The tetrasubstituted alkene products will contain readily modifiable functional groups, such as a ketone, an ester, and a boronate moiety, thus offering direct access to a larger collection of otherwise difficult-to-prepare and much sought-after derivatives. The applicability of the approach will be highlighted by a concise and practical gram-scale stereoselective synthesis of two important bioactive compounds. The first will be neocurcumenol, a natural product with anti-inflammatory properties, and the second will be acolbifene, currently in third phase clinical trials for treatment of breast cancer. Equally important, the versatility of the catalytic strategy will allow for facile preparation of host of related analogues – entities that might display superior pharmacological properties and cannot be synthesized easily by the available methods.

Keywords: bioactive compounds,catalysis,stereoselective synthesis,tetrasubstituted alkenes
Composition and dynamics of stress granules in cerebral organoid models of frontotemporal dementia (FTD-Organoids)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Society and Enterprise panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Austria
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-06-01
End date: 2022-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174167.04
EU funding (EUR): 174167.04
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of dementia. A pathological hallmark is the formation of protein aggregates that consist mainly of Tau or TDP43. Patients suffer from the degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes with no effective treatments being available. The recent advancement of 3D brain organoid cultures grown from embryonic stem cells offer new possibilities to study disease mechanisms of neurological disorders and help validate therapeutic interventions. I therefore propose to generate the first cerebral organoid models of FTD. The new models will first be thoroughly characterized by immunohistochemical stainings and biochemical analysis. Furthermore, I will determine neuroaxonal degeneration, visualize protein aggregates and their cell-to-cell spreading and analyze the nucleation of the pathological protein conformation. In addition, I will determine if FTD-organoids recapitulate the brain region- and cell type-specific vulnerability that are observed in patients. FTD has also been linked to aberrant phase transition of proteins that can lead to disturbances in proteome and RNA homeostasis. However, molecular mechanisms and consequences of this processes in disease conditions remain largely unknown. I therefore propose to study the dynamics and molecular composition of stress granules, which are functional biomolecular condensates that arise through liquid-liquid phase separation during stress conditions, in FTD cerebral organoids. Disease-associated changes in stress granule dynamics and thus disturbances in RNA metabolism and regulation of neuronal translational might result in the lack of essential neuronal proteins. I will therefore identify and quantify key mRNA and protein components of neuronal stress granules in brain organoids. In summary, this project will provide new mechanistic insights into disease mechanisms of FTD and open new possibilities of therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: cerebral organoids,liquid liquid phase separation,neurodegeneration,pathologic protein conformations
Industrial research into the properties of molecular capsules in commercially relevant media (AqPDRA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: European SME innovation Associate - pilot (H2020-INNOSUP-02-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 68407.5
EU funding (EUR): 68407.5
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Encapsulation technologies protect valuable cargos in chemical mixtures by coating the cargos in a protective material until they are needed. Such technologies are used in commercial applications ranging from the protection of enzymes in laundry detergent, to the targeted release of drug molecules in a specific part of the body. Because encapsulation technologies are applicable to a broad range of industries, and they substantially improve the properties of existing products, the chemical encapsulation market is expected to be worth €17Bn by 2020. Aqdot is a growing chemical and materials company, which has developed an award-winning platform technology for providing encapsulation solutions in diverse fields, such as home care, health and beauty, food, and agriculture. It is seeking to recruit a Research Chemist to investigate the behaviour of its nanotechnologies in formulations that are suitable for various industrial applications. To succeed in commercialising these new capsules, it is vital to understand how they function in different media, such as gels, lotions and detergents. The Innovation Associate requested for this project will use their expert knowledge of the chemistry that underpins cargo encapsulation to investigate the strength of binding interactions in different media: improving Aqdot’s knowledge base and in turn accelerating commercialisation of the new capsules. The successful candidate will have a PhD, will have an aptitude for translating fundamentals of physical/supramolecular chemistry into practical product properties, and will bring a ‘can do’ attitude so that they can thrive during this opportunity with an ambitious SME.

Keywords: chemistry,formulation,encapsulation,supramolecular chemistry,polymers,nanotechnology,soft matter