Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Predicting the future: How our brain predicts future events for successful navigation through our dynamic environment. (PredictiveBrain)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 187624.32
EU funding (EUR): 187624.32
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

To successfully navigate our dynamic environment, our brain needs to continuously update its representation of external information. This poses a fundamental problem: how does the brain cope with a stream of dynamic input? It takes time to transmit and process information along the hierarchy of the visual system. Our capacity to interact with dynamic stimuli in a timely manner (e.g., catch a ball) suggests that our brain generates predictions of unfolding dynamics. While predictive processing theories assume an internal representation of future external states, empirical research typically employs neural measures that capture an indirect consequence of prediction. The representational nature of predictions remains largely unexplored. One approach for investigating neural representations is representational similarity analysis (RSA), which typically uses models of static stimulus features at different hierarchical levels of complexity (e.g., color, shape, category, concept) to investigate how these features are represented in the brain. I have recently developed a novel dynamic extension to RSA that uses temporally variable models to capture neural representations of dynamic stimuli. A proof-of-concept MEG study unveiled predictive neural representations of naturalistic dynamic input. These promising initial results open the door for addressing important outstanding questions on how our brain represents and predicts the dynamics of the world. In this project I aim to answer these questions. I will execute the project at the prestigious Donders Institute in the lab of Floris de Lange, a leading expert in the field of predictive processing. The proposed project is unique as it tackles the rich dynamics of predictive processing in terms of neural representations. It will allow me to conduct creative, original and important research, which will propel my scientific career, and strengthen my competitiveness as a scientist.

Keywords: predictive coding,dynamic neural representations,representational similarity analysis,meg,visual attention,predictive action observation,naturalistic dynamic stimuli
Characterization of multi-species bacterial interactions underlying the beneficial symbiosis of a Mediterranean squid. (SquidVibrio)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: France
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 211754.88
EU funding (EUR): 211754.88
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Animals often use associations with microbes to preserve their health. These mutualisms are maintained by host-microbe communication and though interactions between bacterial symbionts. The squid-vibrio symbiosis has been used for over 30 years to study beneficial host-microbe associations. However, nearly all studies of the symbiosis have used Euprymna scolopes and its only symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, which precludes examination of how multiple microbial species affect symbiosis. Using the squid Sepiola affinis, and its two symbionts, V. fischeri and Vibrio logei, the SquidVibrio project proposes to examine the effects of multiple microbial species within a mutualism. The project is organized into three objectives. 1) Implement a husbandry facility for S. affinis. 2) Quantify the symbiont populations within the S. affinis light organ over seasons and over maturation. 3) Identify how the symbiont populations alter metabolites within the light organ. First, a husbandry facility will be established at the Banyuls-sur-Mer Oceanographic Observatory that will allow for the maintenance of wild S. affinis and for rearing of the squid. Second, metagenomics will be used to estimate the proportions of V. fischeri and V. logei within the light organ. Subsequently, light organs of field-caught and reared squid will be imaged using confocal microscopy to identify if the Vibrio spp. inhabit mixed or distinct niches. The third objective will use LC-MS and mass spectrometry imaging to identify metabolites that are altered by each Vibrio spp. and how localization patterns of these molecules are affected. These methods will allow for the two-way transfer of knowledge, with the researcher providing squid husbandry techniques and the host institution providing genomics and metabolomics. The SquidVibrio project will establish S. affinis as a model organism in Europe that can provide insights into how symbionts interact both with each other and their host to underly a mutualism.

Keywords: mutualism,symbiosis,host microbe
Unveiling atomic-scale elemental distribution of electrode/electrolyte interfaces and interphase in batteries (INTERACT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Materials Engineering
Panel description: Advanced materials development: performance enhancement, modelling, large -scale preparation, modification, tailoring, optimisation, novel  and combined use of materials, etc.
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2023-COG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2029-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2201834.0
EU funding (EUR): 2201834.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Developing high-energy-density rechargeable battery technologies is essential to solve energy and environmental problems. However, its development is currently impeded by a poor understanding of elementary processes occurring at electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Several long-standing issues such as short cycle life, low Coulombic efficiency and hazardous dendrite formation in batteries cannot be fundamentally solved due to the knowledge gap. The bottleneck is that interfacial chemistry on the atomic-scale is as yet unresolved, owing to the lack of sufficiently suitable analytical capabilities. I will address this gap using atom probe tomography, coupled with a highly innovative cryogenic sample preparation and transfer platform, to provide atomic-scale insights into solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The key open questions to answer are: i) what is the composition and elemental distribution in a stable SEI? ii) how do ions in the electrolytes affect SEI formation? iii) how does stable SEI inhibit dendrite formation? My goal is to advance fundamental understanding of SEI formation, establish its structure-property relationships, and elucidate its interplay with other elementary processes occurring at electrode/electrolyte interfaces in a lithium metal battery model system. I will i) reveal elemental distribution and compositional details of SEI in/under different electrolytes and working conditions; ii) unveil compositional evolution of SEI and the electrolytes during charging and discharging; and iii) interrogate their roles in dendrite formation in a half and full battery cell, respectively. These unique data will shed atomistic insights into how to tailor SEI and electrode/electrolyte interfaces to mitigate long-standing issues. Furthermore, the novel cryogenic platform is not system-specific and will be applicable for studying other liquid- or solid-state-electrolyte battery technologies.

Keywords: atom probe tomography
Restoring anisotropy in living tissues 'in situ' (RE-ALIGN)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Materials Engineering
Panel description: Advanced materials development: performance enhancement, modelling, large -scale preparation, modification, tailoring, optimisation, novel  and combined use of materials, etc.
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2021-ADG, 2021)
Start date: 2022-11-01
End date: 2027-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3056887.5
EU funding (EUR): 3056887.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Regenerative Medicine aims to restore the composition and organisation of damaged tissues of the human body to regain tissue functionality. When regenerating tissues inside the body (in situ), however, restoration of tissue structural organisation is commonly overlooked. This is particularly problematic for the heart, where functional performance is inseparable from its structurally aligned (= anisotropic) organisation at length scales from the cell to the organ. Two decades of cell-, gene- and material-based therapies to regenerate the damaged heart have mainly targeted the restoration of tissue composition, so far with limited success. I hypothesise that synergistic restoration of tissue anisotropy will radically improve therapy outcomes as it provides the proper environment for cell function, will promote coordinated contraction and halt adverse effects like fibrosis and inflammation. With my team I will test this hypothesis and explore an entirely new concept for restoring cardiac tissue anisotropy remotely using ultrasound. We will create living model systems at the cell and tissue level that recapitulate the increasing heterogeneity of damaged cardiac tissue following cardiac infarction, offer control of cardiac dynamics, and allow manipulation of structural organisation to delineate the interplay between (an)isotropy and cell and tissue functions. By integrating mechanistic understanding from cell and tissue level with multi-scale computational modelling in comparison with an ex vivo living heart model, we will rationally design strategies to mechanically RE-ALIGN diseased, disorganised cardiac tissue at the organ level and evaluate to what extend this can be achieved using ultrasound. By focusing on regenerating structure-function properties in situ, this multidisciplinary, technology-driven project provides unique insights and novel tools that may open up new therapeutic concepts for Regenerative Medicine in general and Cardiac Regeneration in particular.

Keywords: in situ tissue engineering,structural anisotropy,myocardium,regenerative medicine,mechanobiology
Random Combinatorial Designs (RAND-COMB-DESIGN)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Mathematics
Countries involved: Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-04-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The objective of this proposal is to develop fundamental and influential research into combinatorial designs. These objects have fascinated pure mathematicians for over 200 years and have also found many applications, for example in biological experiment design or in the design of strong error correcting codes in order to transmit data securely. The majority of research in design theory has focused on the existence and construction of designs. However recent breakthroughs have opened up exciting new perspectives, allowing for a much deeper understanding of these objects. The aim of this project is to develop these new directions by adopting a probabilistic stance and studying random designs. Our key objectives explore the existence and statistics of global structures in large designs and the longstanding problem of efficient algorithms for random sampling of designs. Through this, the project will foster connections between areas of pure mathematics, in particular extremal and probabilistic combinatorics, and the field of randomized algorithms in theoretical computer science. In order to achieve the proposal's objectives, the researchers will build upon a range of powerful novel methods, drawing on the expertise of the experienced researcher in absorption techniques and spanning structures and that of the host in rainbow structures and Markov chains. This will foster an exchange of knowledge between the two parties and greatly enhance the research potential of the experienced researcher. This project thus provides a pivotal opportunity for the development of his career as a young scientist, enabling him to push this exciting branch of design theory forward, broaden his knowledge and cement himself as a prominent researcher in several disciplines.

Keywords: probabilistic combinatorics,randomized algorithms,random discrete structures,combinatorial design theory,extremal combinatorics
Flexibility services based on Connected and interoperable Hybrid Energy Storage System (FlexCHESS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Energy
Destination: Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: France,Italy,Türkiye,United Kingdom,Slovenia,Cyprus,Spain
Call: Interoperable solutions for flexibility services using distributed energy storage (HORIZON-CL5-2022-D3-01, 2022)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2026-06-30
Duration (months): 43.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2882181.25
EU funding (EUR): 2317385.63
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

The large scale integration of renewable energy sources (RES) has introduced a new operating paradigm. Renewable energy sources are characterized by uncertainty and volatility. Moreover, overloading of transmission and distribution feeders have become more frequent. The curtailment of renewable power generation has thus increased, contradicting the goals for high shares of RES. A valuable solution to these challenges is the introduction of flexibility from flexible resources and loads. In this context, FlexCHESS project proposes cutting-edge solutions based on digital twin concept, Virtual energy storage systems (VESS) and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to revolutionize the existing practices. Based on the aggregation of Connected Hybrid Energy Storage System (CHESS), FlexCHESS improves the grid stability while increasing the profitability of its installations by guaranteeing various ancillary services at the distribution and transmission network levels. FlexCHESS will also ensure the highest level of interoperability of the proposed solutions and enhance the innovation capacity and competitiveness of SMEs and Startups in Europe by unlocking access to meaningful information and co-creating new business opportunities. This will be achieved by the appropriate promoting of open innovation and making smart technologies an asset for intelligent business. In order to validate and evaluate the proposed solutions, five pilot sites demonstrations with diverse assets in different European countries are planned. The aggregation and optimization of different resources will be extended to take into account not only electrical energy storage systems (ESS), but also multi-ESSs. Thus, FlexCHESS project will define different scenarios allowing to evaluate the performances and flexibility capability of CHESS. FlexCHESS project Consortium gathers 3 universities, 2 large companies, 3DSOs, 4 SMEs, and 2 NGO.

Keywords: hybrid energy storage systems,flexibility services,ev community,citewen energy community
Modelling and maintaining maternal mental health (HealthyMom)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Human Mind and Its Compl exity
Panel description: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2022-COG, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2028-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1998569.0
EU funding (EUR): 1998569.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Pregnancy loss oftentimes yields extensive negative consequences on the mental health of the affected women and their families, yet it is a largely neglected factor in global health. While we have started to gain insights into how pregnancy shapes the female brain toward motherhood, the impact of the abrupt termination of pregnancy on maternal brain plasticity remains largely unknown. Here, I seek to study traces of unwanted terminated pregnancy following early and late pregnancy loss in the female brain, understanding to what degree motherhood associated changes in brain anatomy and function are formed back when a pregnancy is lost. I aim to identify traces and determinants of afflicted mental health in this period of profound vulnerability and (self-)stigmatization. Leveraging my portfolio of expertise in multimodal brain imaging, statistical genetics, and computational psychiatry, the HealthyMom project will acquire unique longitudinal data of the weeks and months following early miscarriage or stillbirth. Specifically, women will undergo repeated brain imaging, hormonal assessment and a comprehensive monitoring of their mental health. I will perform whole genome sequencing, not only of the women but also of their life partners. Together with detailed surveys, this will allow me to uncover how individual brain trajectories relate to environmental levers for mental health maintenance and to genetic risk factors, including genetic effects of the partners on the women. The project will draw on existing big data and advanced computational modelling techniques to chart individual brain imaging patterns in the context of the population norm. As such, HealthyMom offers unprecedented opportunities to understand female-specific brain dynamics and to reveal neurogenetic signatures of mental disorder vulnerability as well as targets for maintaining maternal mental health. It has significant implications for women’s health and (indirectly) the health of future offspring.
REcommissioning and DEorbiting using Cubesat swarms with electrO spRAy ThrusTErs (REDECORATE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Germany,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-07-01
End date: 2027-06-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 289407.84
EU funding (EUR): 289407.84
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

Space industry is growing at an unprecedented rate with more satellites launched into low Earth orbits (LEO) each year than ever before. This is leading to an increasing number of collisions of uncontrolled space objects and space debris accumulation in LEO. Sustainability of the space economy requires new techniques to address space debris. REDECORATE proposes CubeSat swarms as a cost-effective way to mitigate space debris. It develops a debris deorbiting and recommission concept combining novel control and guidance approaches and a CubeSat swarm equipped with staged ionic electro spray engines (iESE). A CubeSat swarm can rendezvous with space debris, dissipate its rotational energy (detumble) using reaction wheels. The main thrusters lower the debris orbit to burn-up the system in the atmosphere. Such a mission is highly challenging, requires coordinated CubeSat swarm guidance and control, reliable hardware and effective propulsion - a combination which does not exist so far. First, staged iESE thrusters facilitate longer missions and achieve higher reliability and thrust than standard CubeSat propulsion. If the CubeSats are attached around a decommissioned satellite, coordinated activation of the iESEs can function as a new control system for detumbling (avoiding unreliable reaction wheels), deorbiting and due to their long life-time even recommissioning. Second, a safe-by-design hierarchical control framework will be developed to address the need for high reliability. It uses a planner-tracker feedback stack and addresses all mission segments. Third, integral quadratic constraints (IQCs) will be used to increase robustness w.r.t. system uncertainties and communication delay inside the swarm. The feasibility of the concept will be validated using IQC-based and probabilistic robustness analyses on a digital twin of the iESE CubeSat swarm and microcontrollers-in-the-loop. In summary, the project will provide Europe with know-how to tackle the space debris crisis.

Keywords: robust control,robust performance analysis,integral quadratic constraints
Microalgae cultivation in a WRRF scheme to improve circularity and risk-based assurance in wastewater treatment using digital tools. (MicroAlgae 4.0)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Italy,Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172750.08
EU funding (EUR): 172750.08
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

MicroAlgae 4.0 will allow the researcher to improve his knowledge and skills in the application of Circular Economy, digitalisation, water-energy-food-ecosystems Nexus, and the zero-pollution ambition to the water treatment sector. This project will be carried out at the Polytechnic University of Marche (UNIVPM) (Italy) under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Fatone. UNIVPM appears as an ideal Host to coordinate this project due to their vast experience in developing EU-funded projects, including DWC (www.digital-water.city), FIT4REUSE (https://fit4reuse.org), and PROMISCES, which are in line with some of the activities developed in MicroAlgae 4.0. As part of this project, the researcher will develop a Secondment at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain) and a short visit in SIMAM S.p.A. (Italy). MicroAlgae 4.0 combines aspects related to environmental science, chemical engineering, microalgae biology, human health, computer science, legislation and social aspects, with the goal to develop a Water Resource and Recovery Facility (WRRF) scheme based on microalgae cultivation biotechnology to maximise reclaimed water production and nutrient recovery from wastewater and to minimise environmental pollution. To this aim, MicroAlgae 4.0 will focus on overcoming the barriers that hinder the wide implementation of microalgae-based systems by improving the performance and reliability of the process, developing innovative digital tools that monitor and automate the system, and assuring the safety of the by-products obtained. MicroAlgae 4.0 will also allow improving researcher´s skills such as teamwork, leadership, digital skills, communication, innovative thinking, proposal writing and development of products and processes. This will make him a proficient researcher by the end of the project. Considering the challenges faced in MicroAlgae 4.0, its innovation and the alignment with European policies, MicroAlgae 4.0 is considered a highly ambitious proposal

Keywords: microalgae nutrient recovery photobioreactor reclaimed water wastewater