Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
HOst-Transposon Interactions in the MAle GErmline (HOTIMAGE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced 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: France
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2022-ADG, 2022)
Start date: 2023-06-01
End date: 2028-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499276.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499276.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that have massively colonized mammalian genomes. Host genomes and TEs are engaged in ambiguous trade-offs, whereby TEs can be co-opted for genomic upgrades over evolutionary timescales, but they should also be suppressed to protect genome stability and function. Effective and multi-layered surveillance is primordial: TE reactivation is associated with various dysfunctional states, including infertility, ageing, cancer or neurological disorders, involving both transposition-dependent or -independent routes. Understanding the two-way relationship between host genomes and their TE integrants is an essential and fascinating topic, with far-reaching impact on development, evolution and disease. Here I propose to uncover and functionally challenge the molecular arrangements that genomes and TEs came upon for the sake of germline development and fertility. The germline is a highly relevant context, as this is where host-TE interests are the most conflicting, and from their outcome depend reproductive success and species fitness. I will specifically question how TE transcription is transiently tolerated during germline reprogramming and whether it could be purposely used for the early germline program. Using the mouse model, we will deploy innovative and ambitious approaches including in vivo epigenome editing of TE activity, single-cell multimodal profiling, and advanced molecular profiling and microscopy to investigate i) the molecular bases of mutualistic relationships between germ cells and TEs, ii) the dynamic coordination of host-TE interactions within germ cell nuclei, iii) the consequences of dysfunctional host-TE interactions on meiosis. By harnessing our unique expertise and tools and by going beyond correlations, we expect to reveal groundbreaking insights into the molecular transactions in which TEs and host genomes are engaged, and how unbalanced host-TE interactions can lead to disease.

Keywords: transposable elements nuclear organization chromatin genome stability mouse development fertility
Heterogeneously integrated Multi- material Photonic Chiplets for Neuromorphic Photonic Transfer Learning AI Engines (HAETAE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Chips for Europe Initiative
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: CHIPS (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Greece,Belgium,Germany,Korea, Republic of
Call: Joint call with Korea (HORIZON-JU-Chips-2024-3-RIA, 2024)
Start date: 2024-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499956.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499956.0
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

HAETAE targets to establish a novel computing paradigm by developing a multi-material PIC technology platform and align this along photonic Neural Network architectures capable of operating along the principles of Transfer Learning methods. HAETAE will deploy a co-integrated PIC platform that brings together the best-in-class material platforms through micro-transfer-printing and hybrid multi-chiplet bonding and proceeds along the best-in-class linear optical circuit architectures, combining: a) Si/Si3N4/SiGe photonics for high-speed fan-in, weighting and fan-out computational stages, b) InP actives for on-chip amplification, and all-optical non-linearities, for speed- and SNR-enhancement in neuromorphic photonic circuit layouts, c) Si/Si3N4 non-volatile Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) structures for energy-efficient and non-volatile weighting, d) embedded FPGA-based control plane for the efficient programmability of MEMS and chip-configuration. It aims to finally deliver a Photonic Transfer Learning engine that can support one order of magnitude improvements along all critical performance metrics of AI chipsets: energy efficiency of <19fJ/MAC and on-chip computational power that can scale to ~4.1PMAC/s. HAETAE aims to highlight the versatility and flexibility of its twofold photonic transfer learning accelerator by targeting three discrete application sectors in communications and computing: i) real-time threat detection processor for DC cybersecurity applications, ii) DL and AI computing as a LLM transformer, and iii) an optics-enabled AI-enhanced DSP processor for IM/DD transceivers.

Keywords: photonic computing,photonic neural networks,neuromorphic photonics,multi material integration,multi chiplet integration,micro transfer printing,silicon photonics,transfer learning
Polypeptide Hybrid Nanogels for the Delivery of Agricultural Biostimulants. (AgriGel)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: Ireland,United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-07-01
End date: 2027-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 252728.64
EU funding (EUR): 252728.64
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

The impact of climate change on agriculture is expected to lead to significant reduction in crop yield by the abiotic stress it causes for plants. With a growing world population, this puts a serious risk on future food security. The past concept of more fertiliser, more pesticides is not sustainable anymore due to the long-lasting negative effect this might have on the environment and human health. The use of biostimulants such as natural bacteria able to promote plant health and productivity is seen as the way forward. AgriGel aims to develop a novel approach in biostimulant formulation in which the bacteria are embedded in a polypeptide hydrogel containing sugar loaded polypeptide nanoparticles. In this system, the nature-inspired degradable polypeptides and the sugar provide the nutrients (nitrogen, oxygen, carbon) for the bacteria to grow once applied to the plant. The project aims at a proof-of-concept spanning from the synthesis of the nanoparticle loaded hydrogels to in vitro assays testing the nitrogen fixation and phosphorous solubilisation of the bacteria. This innovative project is placed at the intersection of polymer chemistry, material science, microbiology and agricultural technology. With Syngenta UK the project involves a multinational agricultural company offering several months of secondment and full access to their laboratories and expertise. This intersectoral project will provide an exceptional opportunity for the validation of the materials as well as a unique experience for the applicant in industrial R&D during secondments. The applicants’ expertise will be further enhanced by a dedicated training programme in scientific and complementary skills jointly offered by the academic and industry partner for a positive career impact. Project results will be communicated to the scientific community as well as the public to create further awareness of the importance of finding solutions to climate change impact on humanity.

Keywords: polypeptides,hydrogels,nanoparticles,biostimulant
Is This A Good Medical Test? (HistPhilMedTest)

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: Germany
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 189687.36
EU funding (EUR): 189687.36
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

This project uses integrated history and philosophy for medicine to inform medical practice today. The evaluation of medical tests is today in a state of confusion. Traditionally, the main index used to evaluate diagnostic tests is diagnostic accuracy. Typically, this is done by evaluating the sensitivity (the proportion of patients with a disease that test positive) and the specificity (the proportion of patients without a disease who test negative) of a test. Sensitivity and specificity are commonly assumed to be constants, or to vary only in a limited rage of circumstances. In contrast to this, others claim that sensitivity and specificity are highly variable, so much so that the ‘diagnostic accuracy paradigm’ should be abandoned. Instead of focusing on diagnostic accuracy, some recommend that test evaluation should focus on patient outcomes, whilst others strongly disagree. This confusion is detrimental to medical practice, as it leaves medicine in a state of not knowing how to tell if a medical test is a good one. This project seeks to understand and address this confusion using historical and philosophical tools. Philosophical analysis reveals that the differing attitudes to test evaluation have at their root differing philosophical assumptions about how homogeneous or heterogeneous patients with the same disease are. The project provides and intellectual and social history that traces the development of test evaluation over the twentieth century. It follows how successive generations of researchers have balanced assumptions of homogeneity and heterogeneity and modified them for use in their particular setting. The central claim of this project is that understanding medical history is key to balancing assumptions of homogeneity and heterogeneity skillfully.

Keywords: philosophy of medicine medical testing sensitivity and specificity diagnostic accuracy
Unravelling ApoE4 contribution to tau-mediated synaptic degeneration in AD by combining advanced proteomics and super resolution microscopy (SynApoE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Panel description: Nervous system development, homeostasis and ageing , nervous system  function and dysfunction , systems neuroscience  and modelling , biological basis of cognitive processes and of behaviour, neurological and mental disorders – In humans and all other organisms
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498449.0
EU funding (EUR): 1498449.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the biggest scientific and socio-economic challenges of the 21st century. Currently, there is no cure. Aggregates of amyloid-β and tau protein, along with neuroinflammation/gliosis, are hallmarks of AD that lead to synaptic and neuronal loss as the basis for cognitive decline. The latter correlates closely with the brain distribution of tau aggregates, providing a strong incentive to investigate a link between tau accumulation and synaptic degeneration. Brain apolipoprotein E (ApoE), mainly produced by astrocytes, is essential for lipid transport to neurons and synaptic functions. ApoE4 isoform is the strongest genetic risk factor for AD and contributes to tau-mediated neurodegeneration. Determining how ApoE4 controls tau-mediated synaptic degeneration is thus essential to understand AD and develop efficient treatments, yet this requires fine characterization of ApoE4 functions at tau-damaged synapses with a synaptic resolution. SynApoE will test in 3 work packages the hypothesis that ApoE4 worsens tau-mediated synaptic degeneration by altering the astrocyte/neuron interactions at the synapse: 1: SYNAPTIC CHANGES. Identify directly at tau-damaged synapses the ApoE4-mediated structural and functional synaptic changes; 2: PROTEIN PLAYERS. Identify the protein players underlying these structural and functional synaptic changes; 3: MECHANISMS. Discover the mechanisms through which ApoE4 promotes tau-associated synaptic degeneration, based on the protein players identified in WP2. SynApoE aims to decipher how ApoE4 drives tau-mediated synaptic degeneration, providing a deeper understanding of AD pathophysiology. SynApoE achieves unprecedented synaptic resolution by combining advanced proteomics, super resolution microscopy at synapses, electrophysiology and behavioral testing. This will help unravel the mechanisms leading to synaptic loss and subsequent cognitive decline, providing new targets for drug design to protect synapses.

Keywords: tau pathology,alzheimer s disease,synapses,apolipoprotein e4,astrocytes,tripartite synapses,synaptic degeneration,gliosis,microglia
Quantum-Enhanced Random Number Generation for Post-Quantum Enabled Cybersecurity (Q-RAND)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Accelerator
Destination: Other destinations
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: EIC Accelerator 2024 - Short application (HORIZON-EIC-2024-ACCELERATOR-01, 2024)
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Within the next 5-10 years, quantum computers will be able to easily break conventional encryptions, compromising vast amounts of sensitive information such as financial data, healthcare information and trade secrets. Already today, bad actors are launching ‘Harvest Now and Decrypt Later’ attacks, stealing encrypted data now and intending to use quantum computers to crack the keys and decipher the data in the future. A major breach is catastrophic for an organisation as it may compromise millions of private customer, employee, and partner records, disrupting operations and costing millions of euros in litigation, fines, and long-term reputational damage. To combat this, emerging Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solutions are leveraging quantum physics to exchange encryption keys in a way that guarantees security against classical and quantum computing. Robust QKD relies on generating truly random numbers, yet current Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG) – leveraging the innate randomness of quantum mechanical processes to generate random numbers – are too slow for most operations, are bulky and expensive, and lack robust proof of their entropy source. We have built Q-RAND – the world’s fastest QRNG based on an innovative, robust and simple laser technology (patent-pending). Driven by our expert team, Q-RAND performs measurements on vacuum quantum states to produce quantum random numbers, delivering a strong security proof, +3x faster throughput speed and 3x cheaper price vs. our closest competitor, all packed in a compact and easy-to-integrate extension card (vs. bulky rack solutions). We are now developing a faster and more stable quantum engine ready for manufacturing, which we will validate with lead-customers. We are requesting EIC support to close our funding gap of €12.5M, allowing us to mature our product and de-risk our project for new investors. By 2031, we aim to become the QRNG market leader, reaching €120M in annual revenues and +78 employees.

Keywords: quantum random number generator,cryptography,quantum computing,quantum key distribution,encryption,cyber security,quantum attack
Agents of Cohesion in the Governance of an Empire: the Anthropogeography of Byzantium, 7th to 12th centuries (Byz-GOVAG)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Study of the Human Past
Panel description: Archaeology and history
Countries involved: Greece,Cyprus,Türkiye
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2024-ADG, 2024)
Start date: 2026-05-01
End date: 2031-04-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2492721.0
EU funding (EUR): 2492721.0
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

Crucial to Byzantium’s survival against several post 6th-century external foes was the introduction of the theme-system (military-territorial units), which sealed its provincial administration for five centuries. The long debate on this institution, often biased by anachronistic evidence from literary sources, has gained new impetus through the study of seals, the tiny lead disks that the Byzantines used to secure and authenticate their correspondence. The plethora of irrefutable evidence that seals provide on the administrative nomenclature and the prosopography of high- and (the otherwise unattested) low-ranking officials, allow the in-depth analysis of a special group of individuals directly linked to the state, whose professional performance and unobstructed succession in office was a prerequisite for the Empire’s cohesion and well-being. An international team of researchers will apply a well-tested methodological model on the recording and analysis of seals to study relevant material in more than 100 collections worldwide (including hundreds of unpublished seals from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey) and offer in-depth prosopographic analysis of the officials who manned the themes and contributed to Byzantium’s long-lasting endurance. An innovative geo- and chrono-referenced database of seals with secure findspots will, for the first time, visualise the Byzantine correspondence network, and data on the iconography of the seals and the historical, archaeological and sigillographic profile of the thematic headquarters will further revolutionize our hitherto perception of the military, social and cultural history of Byzantium. Printed and online publications, three open access databases, an updated manual on dating criteria for seals, scientific meetings, exhibitions, and an educational programme (designed also for people with special needs) will disseminate the results of the project and guarantee their future use in the study of the European Middle Ages.

Keywords: byzantine prosopography,sigillography,administration,historical geography,urbanism
Unveiling convergent adaptation in Mediterranean pines to inform a new tool for the management of forest genomic resources (MedForAct)

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
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-06-01
End date: 2025-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172750.08
EU funding (EUR): 172750.08
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The impact of climate change on forest species is predicted to be dramatic due to the insurgence of adaptive lags between the current genetic make-up of populations and the newly established climatic conditions. The consequent disruption of local adaptation is of concern as plants may not be able to readapt or migrate fast enough, which could inflate genetic erosion, eradication and extinction. Ongoing conservation efforts are currently devoted to the characterization of forest genetic resources, with the aim of maximising adaptive potentials and increasing the chance for forests to tackle future conditions. Here, MedForAct will focus on three iconic pine species native to the Mediterranean basin (Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster and P. pinea) to identify a core set of genes and gene networks that may have fostered their convergent adaptation in the face of compelling ecological challenges and despite million years of independent evolution. To tackle this challenge, the project will use a newly produced genomic dataset composed of c. 800 individuals genotyped at c. 100K SNPs representing both neutral and adaptive variation. Detecting signatures of convergent adaptation could highlight the adaptive potential of these species, with implications for the development of genomic-informed management strategies and setting conservation priorities based on predicted climate change scenarios. Following this, MedForAct envisages using the detected top-ranked candidates to develop a new software for forest management, with the aim of providing forest managers with a practical means of implementing targeted reforestation approaches by monitoring the expected adaptive lag of populations using genomics and future climatic predictions.

Keywords: adaptive evolution,local adaptation,gene environment associations,forest genetic resources,adaptive potential,conservation genomics,climate change,forest management,mediterranean pines
vera.ai: VERification Assisted by Artificial Intelligence (vera.ai)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Digital
Destination: A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Greece,France,Germany,Belgium,Switzerland,United Kingdom,Italy,Netherlands,Slovakia,Bulgaria
Call: AI to fight disinformation (RIA) (HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-09-15
End date: 2025-11-14
Duration (months): 38.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5691875.0
EU funding (EUR): 5691875.0
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

Online disinformation and fake media content have emerged as a serious threat to democracy, economy and society. Recent advances in AI have enabled the creation of highly realistic synthetic content and its artificial amplification through AI-powered bot networks. Consequently, it is extremely challenging for researchers and media professionals to assess the veracity/credibility of online content and to uncover the highly complex disinformation campaigns. vera.ai seeks to build professional trustworthy AI solutions against advanced disinformation techniques, co-created with and for media professionals & researchers and to also set the foundation for future research in the area of AI against disinformation. Key novel characteristics of the AI models will be fairness, transparency (incl. explainability), robustness against concept drifts, continuous adaptation to disinformation evolution through a fact-checker-in-the-loop approach, and ability to handle multimodal and multilingual content. Recognising the perils of AI generated content, we will develop tools for deepfake detection in all formats (audio, video, image, text). vera.ai adopts a multidisciplinary co-creation approach to AI technology design, coupled with open source algorithms. A unique key proposition is grounding of the AI models on continuously collected fact-checking data gathered from the tens of thousands of instances of “real life” content being verified in the InVID-WeVerify plugin and the Truly Media/EDMO platform. Social media and web content will be analysed and contextualised to expose disinformation campaigns and measure their impact. Results will be validated by professional journalists and fact checkers from project partners (DW, AFP, EUDL, EBU), external participants (through our affiliation with EDMO and seven EDMO Hubs), the community of more than 53,000 users of the InVID-WeVerify verification plugin, and by media literacy, human rights and emergency response organisations.

Keywords: disinformation,multimodal and multilingual content verification,deepfake detection,social network analysis,trustworthy ai,fair,responsible,explainable ai,human in the loop,co creation,edmo