Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen and phosphorus load reduction approach within safe ecological boundaries for the Nordic-Baltic region (NORDBALT-ECOSAFE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Bio-Environment
Destination: Clean Environment and zero pollution
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Denmark,Norway,Sweden,Finland,Poland,Latvia
Call: Regional nitrogen and phosphorus load reduction approach within safe ecological boundaries (HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999008.75
EU funding (EUR): 1999007.0
Participants: 8
Project status: SIGNED

The NORDBALT-ECOSAFE project involves eight partners in the Nordic-Baltic region and includes seven work packages and a cross-cutting issue on climate change. The project aims to develop new standards for setting safe ecological boundaries in water bodies and novel nutrient regulations using models, mitigation and policy tools and governance schemes. We will make an in-depth assessment of nutrient reference conditions and establish harmonised safe ecological boundaries for various biological indicators in water bodies, including climate change impacts. We will apply a state-of-the-art catchment model (SWAT+) to the project’s six river basins to demonstrate to stakeholders how to estimate nutrient concentrations, loads, sources and pathways, followed by a comparison of our findings with existing national models to assess model credibility. The water body status after adoption of the new ecological boundaries will be investigated using the SWAT+ output and an analysis of a large-scale river dataset on the entire Nordic-Baltic region. In NORDBALT-ECOSAFE we will produce guidance for the use of high frequency sensors in nutrient monitoring and their pros and cons compared to standard monitoring techniques. An analysis of trends in river stoichiometry (CNP) in the region will be made and the outcome compared with that of historical policies. We will develop novel indicators for balancing GHG emissions with nutrient loadings to water bodies and a framework for novel nature-based solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs), including guidance for optimum efficiency for nutrient reduction and side effects. Finally, a River Basin Management Support System for implementing NBSs and MMs in river basins to meet nutrient reduction targets will be developed and demonstrated. Stakeholders and policy makers will be involved at all project stages.

Keywords: nutrients,river basins,water bodies,safe ecological conditions,models,governance schemes,policy tools
Reassembling politics across children's cultures to scale intersectional pedagogies (K-Reporters)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Staff Exchanges
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Spain,France,Belgium,Norway,El Salvador,Ethiopia,Ukraine,Italy,Morocco,Netherlands,Colombia,Cuba
Call: MSCA Staff Exchanges 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-SE-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2027-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1446371.43
EU funding (EUR): 1403000.0
Participants: 19
Project status: SIGNED

Children, as creative social agents, generate unique children's cultures and contribute to the production of welcoming and worthy societies. The goal of this project is to legitimize and elevate children's discourses as scientific knowledge, which must be addressed to enhance children's well-being, the primary axis for building democratic communities. The K-Reporters project is interdisciplinary, international, and intersectoral, with the aim of exploring children's politics and children’s cultures of well-being in contemporary societies. It pursues to acknowledge children's agencies and learn from their creative strategies for survival, particularly in navigating conflict and discomfort. The project will develop cartographies and countertopographies of children's cultures in childhood studies, forging global alliances based on community practices for social change. Ultimately, the project seeks to transform neoliberal, adult-centric, gendered and colonial thinking on children and childhood by scaling intersectional pedagogies based on evidence-based knowledge, transferable skills, and networking to ensure informed decision-making and meaningful action in education and well-being standards. To do so, K-Reporters will reassemble data produced by children and various project stakeholders through ethnography and by merging intersectional approaches, methods, and interdisciplinarity. The project's key lies in transferring educational resources to different fields by validating and disseminating them to educational spaces. K-Reporters will inform the international development of new educational innovations that improve pre-service and in-service teacher education, as well as prepare social workers, educators, and policymakers, among other professionals working with children. Additionally, it will contribute to the fields of Education and Social Justice by addressing the intersectional design method, which is currently underdeveloped.

Keywords: childhood studies,intersectionality,children s rights,political participation,well being and agency
Focusing on deep sleep-wake brain regions in the context of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis: a multi-modal, high-resolution neuroimaging approach (ADEEPSLEEP)

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: Netherlands,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 272536.32
EU funding (EUR): 272536.32
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in our ageing society constitutes an urgent, far-reaching public health concern. In the worldwide effort to identify leverage points to prevent or delay the onset of AD, sleep has recently emerged as a potent modifiable factor to slow down the hallmark pathophysiological processes of the disease, namely amyloid-beta and tau protein accumulation together with neurodegeneration. Crucially, the brain regions that regulate sleep and wakefulness are the first to be affected by AD pathology in the preclinical stages of the disease, but their role in the link between sleep-wake disruption and AD pathogenesis has so far been critically overlooked, due to the inherent difficulty to image them in vivo in humans. In this project, I will take an innovative approach, by using state-of-the-art multimodal neuroimaging methods to investigate the contribution of these brain regions to sleep-wake quality in the earliest stages of the disease, and ultimately to AD-related trajectories. The underlying hypothesis is that worse structural and functional integrity of key sleep-wake nuclei will be associated with poorer sleep-wake phenotypes in the context of AD pathology, and will in turn hasten clinical symptomatology. The unmatched scientific expertise and resources provided by the team of Prof. Johnson at Massachusetts General Hospital will constitute an outstanding multidisciplinary environment to further develop my knowledge in advanced neuroimaging techniques and statistical modeling approaches, and to bolster my multifaceted international research network. The wide range of scientific and management skills acquired throughout this fellowship, combined with the international exposure and the resulting close collaborations between European and American research groups, will be key for my future career in Europe as an independent researcher contributing to the global endeavour to improve the earliest detection and prevention of AD.

Keywords: ultra high field mri sleep wake regulation actigraphy locus coeruleus hypothalamus basal forebrain amyloid beta tau plasma biomarkers pet cognitive ageing
Smart RNA delivery for therapy and diagnostic (grabRNA)

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: Netherlands
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS2 (ERC-2022-POC2, 2022)
Start date: 2023-04-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The progression of RNA-based cellular applications in molecular therapy has been greatly hindered due the difficulty of delivering RNA across biological barriers. Interest has therefore grown in the development of carrier systems which can facilitate RNA delivery in a controlled manner. Herein, we use peptide-based, binders to stabilise and deliver double-stranded RNA. The main goals of this project are the identification of lead candidates with robust cell delivery in relevant cell lines, and to be fit for partnering with a company and/or securing follow-up resources.
Revolutionizing Molecular Thermodynamics by Water and Electrolytes (REMOTE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and Processes Engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2024-COG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-06-01
End date: 2030-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Molecular thermodynamics plays a crucial role in the modeling, design, and optimization of various systems in product and process engineering. Despite significant progress made over the decades, existing thermodynamic models and theories still face significant challenges, particularly when dealing with water and electrolytes. This project seeks to harness these challenges as opportunities to revolutionize molecular thermodynamics by developing novel and physically sound models and theories that surpass current limitations. I aim to deepen our fundamental understanding of the underlying physics and pave the way for a paradigm shift in molecular thermodynamics. By employing a synergistic combination of infrared spectroscopic measurements, quantum chemical calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations, I will go beyond current boundaries and innovate advanced analytical methods to quantify critical structural information that will be used in the development and evaluation of molecular thermodynamic models and theories. I will pioneer the development of a ‘two-state’ theory for association interactions, explicitly accounting for diverse hydrogen-bonding structures characterized by the Gibbs energy of reactions obtained from quantum chemical calculations. We will lead the way in developing a physically consistent theory for ion-ion Coulombic interactions, unlocking the full potential of the molecular thermodynamic models and theories for electrolyte solutions. Extending beyond the established theories, we will develop novel ‘two-state’ theories for generally overlooked properties, such as dielectric constant, surface tension, and electrical conductivity. We will further demonstrate how structural information and these less commonly investigated properties can be systematically employed to evaluate and select the most powerful and physically correct models and theories, moving beyond mere parameterization towards a deeper understanding of molecular thermodynamics.

Keywords: molecular thermodynamics,water,electrolytes,two state,infrared spectroscopy,quantum chemical calculations,molecular dynamics simulations,models and theories,physical properties
Bridging Safety and Realism in CBRNe Training (PALAESTRA)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Civil Security for Society
Theme: Civil Security for Society
Destination: Strengthened Security Research and Innovation
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Netherlands,Greece,Belgium
Call: Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation (HORIZON-CL3-2024-SSRI-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-11-01
End date: 2027-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1996487.26
EU funding (EUR): 1496128.58
Participants: 6
Project status: SIGNED

PALAESTRA is a modular and adaptable platform designed to transform the training landscape for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) incident response across Europe. By integrating advanced technologies such as AI-driven scenario generation, digital twin-based training environments, and real-time physiological monitoring, PALAESTRA aims to modernize and enhance the preparation, execution, and evaluation of training exercises. The platform addresses current challenges in CBRNe training, such as the high costs, expertise requirements, and inefficiencies in scenario creation and evaluation. It simplifies these processes through automated tools, enabling institutions to create realistic and data-driven exercises with reduced reliance on specialized knowledge. PALAESTRA also improves safety and engagement by offering immersive simulations that replicate real-world crises without exposing trainees to actual hazards. Designed to strengthen the civil security sector, PALAESTRA emphasises inclusivity, compliance with EU regulations such as GDPR and the AI Act, and ethical AI usage. By reducing instructor workload, enhancing knowledge transfer, and improving access to state-of-the-art training methods, the platform aims to elevate CBRNe preparedness and response capabilities across Europe. This scalable solution provides a cost-effective way for training facilities to adopt advanced methodologies, fostering a more resilient and better-prepared civil security landscape.
Eco-evolutionary dynamics and the maintenance of organismal diversity (EcoEvoDiv)

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: Czechia
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): 1995250.0
EU funding (EUR): 1995250.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

There is growing evidence of rapid evolution leading to entangled eco-evolutionary dynamics. However, we are only beginning to address what this implies for maintenance of biodiversity in nature. Community ecology studies how species diversity is maintained in communities despite negative interactions. Separately, population biology studies how phenotypic and genetic variation is maintained in populations despite selection and drift. These two questions are interlinked, but usually addressed independently, not considering the other level. Intriguingly, genetic variation could help maintain species diversity, and reciprocally, diversity could help maintain variation, forming a positive feedback loop. However, this hypothesis has not been empirically tested in complex ecological networks, because maintaining such networks in the laboratory is a major challenge. I propose to experimentally test this hypothesis using a uniquely tractable network of tropical rainforest Drosophila and their parasitoids (6 fly and 5 wasp species), that I developed to allow multigenerational microcosm experiments. We will manipulate species diversity and genetic variation of all species in a factorial design to test the hypothesis. We will then explore the mechanisms of interactions between diversity and variation, focusing on rapid evolution. To link the findings to natural eco-evolutionary dynamics, we will investigate mechanisms maintaining diversity and variation in the wild. Based on the empirical work we will advance eco-evolutionary concepts of organismal diversity and stability. This project will provide a causal test of the interaction between maintenance of diversity and variation, thus linking two key questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. Uncovering the specific coexistence mechanisms will allow us to predict the importance of diversity – variation feedbacks in other systems with important implications for conservation of biodiversity.

Keywords: coexistence,persistence,genetic variation,population,host switching,negative density dependence,host parasitoid,food web,tropical forest,rainforest,drosophila,parasitic wasp
BOOSTING DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN KEY CEREALS IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE (BOOSTER)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Bio-Environment
Destination: Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Germany,Belgium,United States,Switzerland,Spain,Ethiopia,South Africa,Bulgaria,Ireland
Call: Exploring extreme environments: novel adaptation strategies at molecular level for bio-based innovation (HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage, 2022)
Start date: 2023-05-01
End date: 2027-04-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4999122.25
EU funding (EUR): 4999122.25
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

Prolonged drought due to climate change has a severe impact on agriculture, requiring measures to secure yield stability under water-shortage conditions. This project aims to be a BOOSTER for developing innovative and sustainable strategies to create climate resilient and drought tolerant cereals. Two synergistic strategies will be implemented to achieve this goal. Firstly, a new approach will identify genomic variants in regulatory regions functionally associated with drought tolerance. Novel regulatory elements underlying resilience will inform efficient breeding efforts to create new drought tolerant cereal varieties. Secondly, novel seaweed extracts and microbial biostimulants will be developed as an eco-friendly approach for improving drought resilience. The two strategies will be tested in two cereals with different responsiveness to drought: European maize and Ethiopian teff, a cereal with high genetic similarity to the desiccation tolerant Eragrostis nindensis. BOOSTER will improve drought tolerance in both maize and teff, while simultaneously exploring the potential for transferring species-specific drought responsive features. By exploiting natural genetic variation to achieve drought tolerant genotypes and by developing biostimulants derived from living organisms, BOOSTER will take advantage of the already available natural resources to steer our agriculture towards novel drought tolerant varieties. Importantly, BOOSTER approaches and results are transferable to other crops. A tailored communication/dissemination strategy and a stakeholders’ engagement plan will ensure the expected outcomes and impacts. The project will produce increased maize- and teff-derived biomass resources under harsh drought conditions, will lower irrigation requirement, will strengthen competitiveness of European and African agri-food industry, and will provide concrete examples for improving public awareness about a sustainable use of bio-based technologies.

Keywords: plant drought tolerance genomics biostimulants zea mays eragrostis tef eragrostis nindensis
Intergenerational Spillovers of Paternity Leave (Leave4NextGen)

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: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-10-01
End date: 2025-12-31
Duration (months): 27.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Recent evaluations show that paternity leave reforms have successfully increased fathers’ involvement in childcare and have contributed to a shift in gender norms. But whether this shift in gender norms can be passed on to the next generation and affect children’s real-life decisions remains to be seen. This study thus fills an important gap since preference formation and social norms have been found to be the main contributor to the persistence of gender inequality over time. The objectives of this research project are twofold. First, it will determine whether the introduction of paternity leave can promote counter-stereotypical attitudes that are transmitted from parents to children. A survey of young adults exposed (or not) to a father eligible for paternity leave will be conducted to measure attitudes toward gender roles. Second, the study will evaluate whether paternity leave has spillover effects on the next generation’s real-life decisions. As such, it will use register data to observe whether young adults’ human capital, labour supply, or fertility decisions are affected by their father’s use of paternity leave. To evaluate the intergenerational spillover effects of paternity leave, this research proposes to analyse the 2002 Belgian paternity leave reform, which offers an appealing setup. Indeed, Belgium was an early adopter of paternity leave policies, introducing a two-week leave in 2002. The children of Belgian fathers have therefore entered adulthood and will be 22 years old in 2024. To measure the causal effects of the paternity leave reform across generations, the study will use a natural experiment that relies on the fact that when paternity leave was introduced in Belgium in 2002, only fathers of children born after July 1 were eligible to take the paid leave. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design, this research will therefore compare young adults born before and after the reform cutoff.

Keywords: paternity leave,gender norms,intergenerational effects,human capital,labour supply,fertility,natural experiment