Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Brain-inspired Computational Memory (BRICMEM)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Systems and Communication Engineering
Panel description: Electrical, electronic, communication, optical and systems engineering
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2024-ADG, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2030-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2493073.0
EU funding (EUR): 2493073.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have transformed the field of AI in recent years. However, a significant challenge persists in the form of inefficient hardware implementations of DNNs. Computation in memory (CIM) is an emerging approach that tackles the processor-memory divide in modern computing systems, enhancing their suitability for DNNs. CIM draws inspiration from certain computational principles found in the human brain, such as hard-wired neural networks and analogue processing. A key question is whether other attributes of information processing in the mammalian brain could help overcome conventional CIM challenges and lead to a radically enhanced variant of CIM. In biological brains, information is holographically encoded, without distinctions between significant bits, potentially allowing computing-in-superposition on the same hardware. Biological neural networks also use randomness constructively for information representation and computation. Time is a valuable computational resource in the brain, used for information representation and processes. Unlike current CIM-based DNNs, biological neural networks operate in three spatial dimensions. BRICMEM aims to develop a revolutionary brain-inspired computational memory by leveraging superposition, randomness, time, and space. For computing in superposition, the goal is to store multiple DNN models within the same computational memory. Randomness will be systematically used to enhance conventional DNN functionality and to develop new types of DNNs. Temporal encoding will be explored as an energy-efficient communication method between CIM cores, with novel mathematical functions operating on elapsed time. Additionally, we will utilize the third spatial dimension to improve weight capacity and to implement specific neural networks. Experimental validation will be conducted using current and future CIM prototypes developed by my team. If successful, BRICMEM could redefine the landscape of AI hardware.

Keywords: in memory computing,brain inspired computing,non volatile memory devices
EU research programme beneficiary depositing solution in Zenodo (HORIZON-ZEN)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Research infrastructures
Theme: Research infrastructures
Destination: EOSC ecosystem
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Partnership: EOSC (co-programmed)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: Enhanced depositing services for digital research objects for Horizon Europe beneficiaries - enriching the EOSC environment of FAIR repositories (HORIZON-INFRA-2023-EOSC-REP-ART195-IBA, 2023)
Start date: 2023-06-01
End date: 2025-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 429536.25
EU funding (EUR): 429536.25
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A specific aim of EU’s Open Science policy is to require all publicly funded research data to be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and open by default, and it’s even a contractual requirement for Horizon Europe beneficiaries. Despite large efforts, FAIR in practice is difficult for programme beneficiaries. EU has over the past 10 years funded Zenodo, an open data repository built by CERN, to help beneficiaries comply with first open access, and then open data contractual requirements. This grant capitalizes on past investments made in Zenodo and helps EC programme beneficiaries comply with the new FAIR and open science requirements, by implementing an easy go-to solution in Zenodo for beneficiaries to make data FAIR in practice. HORIZON-ZEN’s overarching aim is to provide the EC’s programme beneficiaries with enhanced depositing services for digital research objects that are FAIR-enabling and compliant with Horizon Europe requirements, and to establish best practices for how scientific repositories can support the implementation of FAIR data principles by leading by example. This will be achieved by enhancing Zenodo with FAIR-enabling capabilities that support programme beneficiaries during the depositing of research outputs and by leveraging Zenodo’s simple and seamless user experience.

Keywords: fair,zenodo,eosc,data repositories
Mechanisms and biological functions of H3K27me3 reprogramming in plant microspores (MagicSpore)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Integrative B iology : from Genes and Genomes to S ystems
Panel description: For all organis ms: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics  and other ‘omics studies , bioinformatics, systems biology , genetic diseases , gene editing, innovative methods and modelling,  ‘omics for personalised  medicine
Countries involved: Austria
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2023-COG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2029-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999671.25
EU funding (EUR): 1999671.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

How totipotency is established in germ cells is an essential question in reproductive biology. In the plant male germline, the haploid meiotic products – microspores – are totipotent, which permits crop breeding via microspore embryogenesis. However, the molecular basis and biological significance of microspore totipotency are unknown. More generally, our understanding of plant cell totipotency is in its infancy. My lab established the Arabidopsis male germline as a model to study germline epigenetic reprogramming. We recently discovered that H3K27me3, a histone modification essential for developmental regulation, is globally erased in microspores. We also identified a new family of histone H2A deubiquitinases (GDUs), and our results suggest that the GDUs and a histone H3 variant (H3.15) gradually remove H3K27me3 during microspore development. I hypothesize that global H3K27me3 erasure facilitates the diploid to haploid transcriptional shift, establishes cellular totipotency, and allows the two identical sperm cells within a pollen grain to initiate the development of distinct seed structures (embryo and endosperm). We will leverage our recent discoveries, as well as state-of-the-art technologies, to study in-depth the epigenetic basis of microspore totipotency and its biological functions, via these aims: 1) determine the timing, scope and functions of H3K27me3 reprogramming in microspores; 2) understand the role of histone H3.15 and GDUs in H3K27me3 reprogramming; 3) alter microspore regeneration ability by manipulating H3K27me3 reprogramming; 4) elucidate the contribution of global H3K27me3 erasure to double fertilization. Our outputs will revolutionize our understanding of plant cellular totipotency and sexual reproduction, and elucidate novel strategies to enhance microspore embryogenesis in recalcitrant crops. These insights will in turn reveal core principles governing epigenetic regulation of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.

Keywords: germline,epigenetic reprogramming,chromatin,polycomb,microspore,arabidopsis
Engineering and Delivering B Cells Using Biomaterials against Breast Cancer (END-BC)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2023-POC, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2025-06-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, and despite treatment availability, the disease remains challenging to treat, causing substantial adverse side effects and fatalities globally. The lack of efficacy and inaccessibility of standard care supports this demand for better treatments. This is demonstrated by resection surgery and current (neo)adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy exhibiting inadequacies resulting in 30% of BC patients having metastases. These percentages are even higher in low human index regions due to inaccessibility, cost and growing populations. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), such as CAR-T, is a category of emerging immunotherapies expected to impact oncology by transferring engineered immune cells into a patient to eliminate cancer cells. However, these treatments are currently ineffective in BC and costly. END-BC will complement research into B cells to produce an ACT that improves treatment efficacy against breast cancer while reducing side effects and costs from effective therapy. Our research developed novel biomaterial to overcome significant obstacles to successfully enhance B cell functions against cancer using a low-cost method. In END-BC, we will research the commercial and technical feasibility of tailoring the B cell ACT with biomaterials to determine its potential to treat BC.
Exploring the origin and diversification of mammalian tooth classes (NOVELTEETH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental B iology, Ecology  and E volution
Panel description: For all organisms : Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change , evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology , marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and mod elling
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2023-COG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-03-01
End date: 2029-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2651590.0
EU funding (EUR): 2651590.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

One long-standing question in evolutionary biology is: how do new morphological innovations arise? Integrative advances in palaeontology, genomics, development and evolution have unveiled general principles behind evolutionary novelties. However, we are far from understanding the mechanisms by which novelties emerge from ancestral genomic and developmental programs and then diversify in new ecological contexts. To solve this problem, my research uses the dramatic morphological and ecological diversity of bat teeth as a model system to study the origin and diversification of a major mammalian innovation, the tooth classes. Using morphological, genomic, developmental and modelling approaches on multiple species of bats from various ecological contexts, my goal is to understand the origin of mammalian tooth classes and establish a predictive model to study their evolution. Using geometric morphometric approaches, I will first characterize the differences and unique traits in tooth class morphologies in adults and during ontogeny on µCT scans (Aim 1). Then, to link the morphological variation with the underlying changes in the genomic and developmental program, I will establish a developmental transcriptomic signature for each tooth class using Spatial Transcriptomics and MERFISH in multiple species across developmental stages (Aim 2). Finally, I will link these morphological and transcriptomic changes by developing an integrative data-driven model of tooth class evolution using machine learning and extend these models to other mammals (Aim 3). By establishing bat teeth as a unique study system, my research constitutes an integrative framework using natural variation as a starting point to understand the evolution of morphological novelties in various ecological contexts.

Keywords: novelties,eco devo devo,morphological evolution,teeth,deep homology
Microbial Biopesticides to Control Disease Vectors and Agricultural Pests (MicroBioPest)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Attracting and mobilising the best talents
Destination: Attracting and mobilising the best talents
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Greece
Call: ERA Chairs (HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-02-01
End date: 2028-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The proposed ERA Chair, Prof. George Dimopoulos, completed his PhD at IMBB-FORTH in 1996 and has through a remarkable career path (Harvard, EMBL, Imperial College, Johns Hopkins) become a world-leader in the field of vector biology/microbial biopesticides. He will establish the MicroBioPest research team at IMBB, aiming to develop environmentally safe microbial biopesticides, for tackling vectors of human diseases and agricultural pests. The research plan includes innovative components and state of the art methodologies, for the identification of insecticidal microorganisms, elucidation of the nature and mode of action of microbial bio-pesticide, and, prototype product development. This project and research line coincides with the strategic plan of the IMBB Director John Vontas, an experienced researcher in chemical insecticides (currently coordinator of two Horizon2020 and several industrial projects). This project is aligned with his Green Biotechnology sustainable development goals, and the RIS3 of the Prefecture of Crete, in a region where agriculture and tourism are the main pillars for the economy. MicroBioPest will be supported by structural reforms, such as: (i) the establishment of a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) lab for work with vector pathogens, (ii) the allocation of space within the €60M investment by the EBI, for “Research, Training and Innovation Center” for hosting the sustainable Biotech-Biopesticide Center (BIOPEST) that will evolve from MicroBioPest, and (iii) operational procedures that will strengthen the Technology Transfer capacity of IMBB. The project will form a powerful and inspiring example of brain gain for the broader EU. It will train and educate young scientists towards pragmatic career prospects in Academia and industry. It will form a unique scientific niche in Greece, with significant impact on the society via tailored communication platforms for target groups, and offer alternative eco-friendly solutions to control insect pests.

Keywords: entomology insecticide public health mosquito vector biology bees malaria toxicology biopesticide
Systems Materials Engineering for High-Rate Bulk Solid-State Conversion in Metal-Sulfur Batteries (SOLIDCON)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting 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: Austria
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2022-STG, 2022)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2028-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2374448.0
EU funding (EUR): 2374448.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Batteries will be key in our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions but require major progress in sustainability, cost, and energy density. Liquid-electrolyte metal-sulfur batteries would be game-changers in many respects: a theoretical capacity amongst the highest of all batteries paired with the low cost and sustainability of sulfur. However, intrinsic obstacles are imposed by the electronically and ionically insulating nature of sulfur. Converting sulfur during discharge/charge is fundamentally different from mixed-conducting storage materials. While Li-ion battery materials transform in the solid-state, sulfur converts to metal sulfides in a solid-liquid-solid process. This causes poor cycle life and insufficient energy densities. In this project, we approach the fundamental challenge of sulfur phase transformation in a novel way: high-rate conversion in the bulk solid-state. We will pioneer advanced metrologies such as cryo-electron microscopy and in situ grazing incidence scattering with stochastic modeling to quantify the phase evolution during electrochemical sulfur conversion at atomic and mesoscopic (1-1000 nm) length scales. Based on systematic experiments on 2D transition metal carbide (MXene) substrates, we will establish the scientific foundations of solid-liquid-solid and solid-state sulfur phase transformation. Finally, we will form cathodes as artificial solid mixed conductors by structuring sulfides and MXenes to enable high-rate bulk solid-state sulfur conversion. This will solve the cycle life issue of Me-S batteries and boost the stored energy by maximizing the sulfur packing density. Foundation of SOLIDCON is a systems materials engineering approach, identifying how mutual structuring of storage materials, electron conductors, and ion conductors defines the physicochemical processes across length scales: electron, ion and mass transport, and electrochemical conversion.

Keywords: metal sulfur batteries solid state sulfur conversion artificial mixed conductors in situ small angle scattering cryo electron microscopy
PRECISION MEDICINE PLATFORM IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE (PROMINENT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Health
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Innovative Health Initiative
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: IHI (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Sweden,Finland,Spain,Luxembourg,Germany,France,Slovenia,Netherlands,Denmark,Norway,United States
Call: An innovative decision-support system for improved care pathways for patients with neurodegenerative diseases and comorbidities (HORIZON-JU-IHI-2022-01-single-stage, 2022)
Start date: 2023-05-01
End date: 2028-04-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 11069750.0
EU funding (EUR): 6069750.0
Participants: 18
Project status: SIGNED

Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most important contributors to morbidity and mortality in the elderly. In Europe, over 14 million people are currently living with dementia, at a cost of over 400 billion EUR annually. Comorbidities with these conditions are frequent and a major obstacle to optimal diagnosis and management. Recent advances in diagnostic technologies and the advent of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common aetiology of dementia, heralds the beginning of precision medicine in this disease area. PROMINENT will develop a digital platform for precision medicine that will remove barriers that currently exists for leveraging these technological advancements in the routine care of patients with neurodegenerative disorders and co-morbidities. The platform gives clinicians access to prediction models leveraging multimodal diagnostic data automatically derived from multiple sources (imaging repositories, medical records, mobile devices), helping them choose optimal care pathways and improving diagnostic precision. It will provide personalized, relevant and meaningful information on diagnosis and prognosis in a format understandable by patients and care partners. Further, it will support the introduction of new health technologies such as DMT for AD, by ensuring adherence to appropriate use guidelines and facilitating the prospective collection of data on real-world usage, safety and effectiveness. The expected impact of the project is to increase diagnostic accuracy and optimized use of existing and new treatment options. It will empower patients and caregivers by engaging them in more person-centric health care decisions, leading to improved adherence and patient experience. Ultimately this is expected to lead to cost-effective care, improved health outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords: neurodegenerative disease,alzheimer s disease,comorbidities,health technology assessment
Improving the cirCUlarity of complex plastic multi-material composites using novel BIobased materials in B2B semi-finished produCts (CUBIC)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Circular Bio-based Europe
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: CBE (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Spain,France,Ireland,Germany,Italy,Belgium,Denmark,Greece
Call: Circular-by-design bio-based materials to improve the circularity of complex structures (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022, 2022)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2027-02-28
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4683365.49
EU funding (EUR): 4683365.49
Participants: 13
Project status: SIGNED

The general objective of CUBIC project is to improve the sustainability and circularity of complex products made of high-tech advanced multi-material composite thermoset and thermoplastic structures, by developing novel circular biobased alternative materials. CUBIC project designs novel materials (biobased polyamide grades, biobased endured 3R-CAN-epoxy prepeg & and biobased lignin derived carbon fibre.) to obtain circular by design 100% biobased and recyclable thermoplastic and thermoset B2B intermediate products (sub-assemblies) that permits to eco-design complex products adapting their intrinsic characteristics to novel unconventional manufacturing processes as new paradigm to advance in mass production advanced products. The novel approach on which CUBIC project relies is based on modularity or pre-fabrication: the development of high-tech biobased intermediate formats (filaments, sheets – organosheets and UD-tapes, pellets, powder…). The smart combination of these intermediates into a final end-product allows to overcome the current technical and environmental limitations to meet the demanding requirements of a specific sector/application where a single biobased material doesn´t. Two end-products or specific applications will be validated within CUBIC project: type IV H2 gas storage pressure Vessel & automotive seat, that satisfy the technical and environmental requirements. The project demonstrates the de-manufacturing, recycling and valorization of the components too. The consortium consists of 13 partners with complementary competencies, 6 industries (SP, COM, TEQ, MOS & QPLAN as SMEs; and NOV as Large company) plus 6 RTO partners (AIT, CTB, CID, IDE, DITF, CIR) and 1 academia (LIM) to give support to the companies in the consortium and to develop the main scientific and technological activities in the work plan. The undertaking involves 8 European countries (ES, FR, IE, BE, DK, DE, IT, GR). The budget is 4,687,115.50 € in a 42 months duration project.

Keywords: biobased polyamides,biobased carbon fibre,covalent adaptable networks,biobased epoxy,mechanical and chemical recycling,valorization,building blocks,intermeddiate and complex products