Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Synaptic computations of the hippocampal CA3 circuitry (CIRCA3)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Austria
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2022-01-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174167.04
EU funding (EUR): 174167.04
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The hippocampus is critical for learning and memory, and the unique wiring of its CA3 area has inspired theories for neuronal mechanisms of memory storage and retrieval. CA3 pyramidal neurons form an interconnected network which could store unique experiences in specific ensembles of coactive cells. While an attractive hypothesis, many critical facets of CA3 networks remain unknown. CA3’s principal synaptic input arrives from dentate gyrus granule cells, via the powerful mossy fibre synapse. Little is known about the connectivity of individual granule cells to CA3 neurons, while their activity in vivo is very sparse, and they appear to predominantly target inhibitory interneurons rather than pyramidal neurons. Therefore, due to the technical challenge of identifying functionally connected neurons, whether the circuit properties of CA3 are sufficient for its proposed memory function is unclear. This project aims to determine the circuit mechanisms underlying information processing in CA3 at the level of individual synaptic connections. It will employ simultaneous multicellular patch-clamp recordings from CA3 neurons to identify locally connected neuronal ensembles in hippocampal slices, while driving sparse granule cell input in realistic activity patterns using optogenetic stimulation. This project will determine the synaptic connectivity of individual mossy fibre inputs into CA3 cell ensembles, characterise the role of feedforward inhibition in controlling pyramidal neuron activity, and reveal how the unique properties of each synaptic connection contributes to signal processing. Together, this study will provide an insight into the synaptic mechanisms of the hippocampus’ critical memory storage functions. The fellowship will facilitate rigorous scientific development of the researcher, including critical training in state-of-the-art circuit investigation techniques that will enable pursuit of an innovative research career, defined by the highest quality science.

Keywords: neuronal circuits,synaptic transmission,circuit wiring,hippocampus,synaptic connectivity
Video Understanding for Autonomous Driving (VUAD)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Türkiye
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-04-01
End date: 2022-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 145355.52
EU funding (EUR): 145355.52
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Autonomous vision aims to solve computer vision problems related to autonomous driving. Autonomous vision algorithms achieve impressive results on a single image for various tasks such as object detection and semantic segmentation, however, this success has not been fully extended to video sequences yet. In computer vision, it is commonly acknowledged that video understanding falls years behind single image. This is mainly due to two reasons: processing power required for reasoning across multiple frames and the difficulty of obtaining ground truth for every frame in a sequence, especially for pixel-level tasks such as motion estimation. Based on these observations, there are two likely directions to boost the performance of tasks related to video understanding in autonomous vision: unsupervised learning and object-level reasoning as opposed to pixel-level reasoning. Following these directions, we propose to tackle three relevant problems in video understanding. First, we propose a deep learning method for multi-object tracking on graph structured data. Second, we extend it to joint video object detection and tracking by exploiting temporal cues in order to improve both detection and tracking performance. Third, we propose to learn a background motion model for the static parts of the scene in an unsupervised manner. Our long-term goal is also to be able to learn detection and tracking in an unsupervised manner. Once we achieve these stepping stones, we plan to combine the proposed algorithms into a unified video understanding module and test its performance in comparison to static counterparts as well as the state-of-the-art algorithms in video understanding.

Keywords: computer vision,autonomous driving,autonomous vision,video understanding,unsupervised learning,multi object tracking,video object detection,motion estimation,structured deep learning
Mobile pelletizing unit (Proxipel)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2019-12-01
End date: 2020-04-30
Duration (months): 5.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The biopellet market is booming in Europe, and the production of wood pellets (main commercial product) has increased from 6-7 to 26 Mton/year in the period 2006-2015, and is expected to rise to 38 Mton/year in 2025, due to the general interest in substituting fossil fuel with CO2 neutral biomass. There is a need of solutions to utilise the potential of biomass residues currently available in forests, agriculture, agroindustry and parks, not being used today as it is too expensive to handle and process the feedstock. Our innovative solution consists in a mobile pelletizing unit, placed on a trailer that can be connected to a normal truck for transportation. This eliminates associated costs with buying land and obtaining building and permissions. The raw material is crushed, milled, dried, and pressed to biopellets. Our solution can handle a large variety of raw material, like straw, nut shell, rice husk, etc., although the main raw material is expected to be wooden residues. Only one operator is required, and the unit can produce up to 1.2 ton/h with a low energy consumption. Our first sales is expected to be in Switzerland and in France. By 2026, it is expected to have sold more than 400 units.

Keywords: biopellets,wood pellets,manure,biomass,solid biomass,renewable,sustainable,energy,pellet production,iso 17225,energy supply,mobile,co2 reduction,organic residues,shredder,dryer,presser
Scalable Quantum Photonic Networks (SCALE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Panel description: Particle, nuclear, plasma, atomic, molecular, gas, and optical physics
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2014-ADG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-12-01
End date: 2020-11-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499981.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499981.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

It is an outstanding challenge in quantum physics of today to scale small proof-of-concept experimental demonstrations into larger quantum networks. In the last decade, solid-state photonic systems have matured significantly, and an ambitious research project on such scaling seems viable. With the present proposal we intend to take up this challenge and exploit single quantum dots in photonic-crystal nanostructures as a deterministic photon-emitter interface for scalable quantum architectures. The project objectives are threefold. We will explore: 1) Deterministic single-photon sources for quantum simulations, 2) A giant photon nonlinearity for quantum-information processing, 3) The deterministic interfacing of multiple quantum dots. In 1) we will exploit our recently developed deterministic single-photon source to produce a spatially multiplexed array of single photons (prospectively of 10 photons or more). This source will be used for quantum simulations. Area 2) exploits a single quantum dot in a photonic-crystal waveguide as a giant nonlinearity. The quantum dot will be operated either as a passive nonlinear scatterer or actively controlled. The nonlinearity will enable constructing a deterministic CNOT gate for photons or a single-photon transistor. Finally, 3) concerns the coupling of two or more quantum dots by an extended dipole-dipole interaction that is mediated by the photonic-crystal waveguide. The fundamental limits for the size and complexity of such a quantum photonic network will be explored. The present project focus on overcoming the fundamental obstacles that photonic quantum-information processing applications have been suffering from, i.e., probabilistic single-photon emission and weak nonlinearities. The successful accomplishment of the project could elevate quantum photonics to a frontrunner technology for scalable quantum-information processing.

Keywords: solid state physics,quantum photonics
Expanding the genome editing toolbox by rational reprogramming of tyrosine recombinase DNA specificities (EditYR)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Biotechnology and Biosystems E ngineering
Panel description: Biotechnology using all organisms , biotechnology for environment  and food applications, applied plant and animal sciences , bioengineering and synthetic biology , biomass and biofuels , biohazards
Countries involved: Slovenia
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2030-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1599500.0
EU funding (EUR): 1599500.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Gene therapies aim to cure genetic diseases by modifying the DNA blueprint. An ideal gene therapy should be durable, safe, and efficient, which often requires integration of large therapeutic DNA cargo at precise genomic locations. Advanced DNA editors with programmable specificities, such as the CRISPR technology, are limited by the nuclease-based mechanism and poor efficiency of large DNA insertions. Increased efficiency, specificity and precision of large edits are required to address a broad therapeutic space. Tyrosine recombinases (YRs) efficiently rearrange large DNA segments without the pitfalls of nuclease-based editors, but with an important caveat – rational reprogramming of their specificities for binding non-native DNA targets is an unsolved problem. EditYR ambitiously aims to develop a rationally programmable tyrosine recombinase platform for efficient integration of large DNA cargo into precise genomic locations. EditYR will expand recombinase engineering capabilities by exploiting the recent advances in large scale DNA synthesis and sequencing coupled with bioinformatics and innovative protein design. Objective 1 will engineer tyrosine recombinase DNA specificities and extract a comprehensive DNA recognition code. Objective 2 will modify their oligomerization properties to enable binding non-palindromic targets, allowing targeting any desired nucleotide sequence. Objective 3 will investigate requirements for irreversible recombination to maximize integration efficiencies and unlock the full therapeutic potential of these enzymes. Finally, Objective 4 will validate engineered enzymes by identification of targetable sequences in therapeutically relevant genomic regions and integration of therapeutic DNA cargo in various human cell types for different disease cases.EditYR will establish tyrosine recombinases as advanced tools for genome editing, creating a DNA editing technology that will elevate the capabilities of gene therapies to unprecedented levels

Keywords: site specific recombinases,tyrosine recombinases,protein engineering,high throughput library screening,genomic sage harbors
Novel current control for climate neutral energy infrastructure (NOVETROL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Energy
Destination: Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Romania,Austria,Czechia,Italy
Call: Emerging energy technologies for a climate neutral Europe (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D2-01, 2024)
Start date: 2024-12-01
End date: 2027-11-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2498682.5
EU funding (EUR): 2498682.5
Participants: 6
Project status: SIGNED

Low Voltage DC power systems are one of the most promising technologies for a clean and efficient energy transition, especially for local generation and storage. However, safety considerations prevent rapid adoption of the proposed solutions. Our project aims at developing new current limiting (CL) technology, based on high-mobility materials and the extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) effect, as well as their integration into Direct Current (DC)-and hybrid AC/DC microgrid infrastructures. A system design approach will be adopted to find device layouts suitable for five selected use-cases: native DC-supply loads, battery systems, photovoltaic, microgrids and bidirectional EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) to enable the V2X (focus on V2G) technology deployment. The devices are fabricated and tested for proof of concept. The potential of this technology is further evaluated by simulation means aiming at standardization, and the development of DC- and hybrid microgrids steady state operation strategies. The proposed research results in passive, multifunctional, more robust, and safer CL devices for DC applications, with reduced cost, size, and environmental footprint, when compared to the state-of-the-art. Our technology can be a breakthrough for circuit protection, aiming at demonstrating through end-to-end, design-to-application innovation (design supported by LCA guidance, simulation, fabrication, and lab-based testing) that a comprehensive, advanced solution encompassing EMR-enabled current limiting devices, can meet the current needs of the DC microgrid market. It can establish European industrial leadership with a technology that is critical for the on-going energy transition which makes it a suitable goal for the European Green Deal.

Keywords: dc microgrids,emr effect,real time digital grid simulation,protection,lca
CRYOsphere Science Concluding in new Observations and Productive Exploitation (CryoSCOPE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Climate
Destination: Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Finland,Austria,Norway,Iceland,Belgium,Switzerland,India,Germany
Call: Inland ice, including snow cover, glaciers, ice sheets and permafrost, and their interaction with climate change (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D1-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-02-01
End date: 2029-01-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 7227516.25
EU funding (EUR): 7227516.25
Participants: 19
Project status: SIGNED

The CryoSCOPE project unites a consortium with diverse expertise in inland ice-related fields, comprising top-level global research organizations and companies.We address challenges related to evolving land ice, snow, and permafrost, excelling in comprehensive in situ and remote sensing observations of the atmosphere, aerosols, cryosphere, and hydrology. Proficient in advanced modeling techniques, including global Earth System Models (ESMs), glacier dynamics, hydrological processes, atmospheric drivers, and land surface modeling, we leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence data analysis tools. Moreover, our consortium has a successful track record in engaging stakeholders, societies, and end-users in impactful dialogues, contributing to the development of effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. CryoSCOPE aims to demonstrate excellence across the entire value chain by: Providing advanced observations of the CAH system in globally significant "cold spots," including the Indian Himalayas, the Alps, Iceland, Northern Scandinavia, and Svalbard. Integrating observation-constrained modeling, spanning from detailed process models to Earth System Models (ESMs), enhancing our understanding of physical and chemical processes of the CAH system. Generating new knowledge on cryosphere-ecosystem changes in targeted regions and globally, enabling predictions of the impacts of climate change and related drivers across seasonal to long-term time scales. Developing societally impactful services and solutions to bolster resilience against the changes occurring at various time scales. The overarching scientific objective of CryoSCOPE is to understand and quantify physical and chemical processes of the CAH system in diverse landscapes and found the intricate interplay among different processes. This encompasses examining how these interactions are represented within regional process-based models and global ESMs, and predicting their susceptibility to climate change impacts.

Keywords: cryosphere process atmospheric drivers integrated system modeling compound hazards cryosphere atmosphere hydrosphere cah systems diverse landscapes
Kidney Nephron Orientation in Vivo-like in Vitro (KNOVV)

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,Germany
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-04-01
End date: 2025-09-30
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 254330.4
EU funding (EUR): 254330.4
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

KNOVV aims at directing nephron spatial orientation within renal organoids to mimic in vivo kidney development. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing socio-economic burden, with 100 million people affected in Europe; available treatments are limited to dialysis and transplants. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) aims at developing in vivo–like organs, using in vitro three-dimensional (3D) systems as new therapies. Promising TERM therapies involving self-organized renal organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are being investigated. These kidney organoids contain the appropriate cells although heterogeneity, immature stage and lack of the spatially specific nephron orientation are still major bottlenecks. These limitations impair microphysiological form and function, which limits their research utility and clinical applications. I hypothesize that inducing spatial nephron orientation in kidney organoids will result in improved maturation and function closely mimicking the in vivo organ. To achieve this, I will optimize protocols to generate renal organoids from hiPSC. I will identify molecules to inhibit or induce glomerulogenesis (glomeruli formation), and develop glomerulogenesis-inducing and -inhibiting hydrogels for bioprinting renal organoids. Immunostaining, qPCR, and functional assays will be used to evaluate the morphology and function of the 3D bioprinted renal organoid construct. KNOVV will strengthen my research and academic profiles, broaden my knowledge and experience by combining developmental biology, TERM and biofabrication to improve renal organoids. My ambition is that the bioprinted renal organoid constructs with spatially directed nephrons will enable unprecedented microphysiological maturation and function. This will allow a leap beyond the current organoids state of art and ultimately lead us closer to clinical translation, offering an alternative for the growing CKD population.

Keywords: kidney development,renal organoids,3d bioprinting,human induced pluripotent stem cells,
Advancing Gene Transfer Capabilities (AGTC)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention,  Diagnosis and T reatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies  and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions , pharmacology, preventative  medicine, epidemiology and public health , digital medicine
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2024-ADG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-11-01
End date: 2030-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Innovation: We recently developed a targeted lipid nanopar We recently developed a targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) that can insert a gene directly into the genome of T cells in vivo, with efficiency comparable to viral methods. This innovation creates a unique opportunity to track gene delivery using barcoded synthetic vectors. These barcodes help us understand the key factors needed for effective DNA delivery and the biological consequences of gene transfer. Background: Gene therapy holds great promise for treating various diseases. Viral vectors are currently the most common method for gene transfer, but they come with limitations like size restrictions on nucleic acids, triggering immune responses, and complicated production processes. Synthetic vectors like LNP have made significant strides, as shown by the success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which demonstrate the efficacy, scalability and cost-effectiveness of LNP. However, LNP have struggled with efficient gene transfer. Improving this is challenging due to the vast nanomedicine design space and poor correlation between in vitro and in vivo results. Barcoding technology has revolutionized LNP design by allowing higher throughput screening, enabling comprehensive sampling of the design space in living organisms. To apply this to gene transfer, a working prototype is necessary. Our recent success with LNP-mediated gene transfer serves as this foundation for rational optimization of synthetic vectors using DNA-encoded peptide barcodes. Objectives: The AGTC project will explore three main research lines: 1. Nanomedicine Design: Efficiently explore the design space to optimize LNP. 2. Targeting: Investigate precision and flexibility of targeting, particularly in T cells. 3. T Cell Biology: Link gene transfer to biological activity, focusing on CAR T cells. Outcomes: AGTC will enhance our understanding of what drives effective DNA delivery, paving the way for a new generation of synthetic gene transfer therapies.

Keywords: genetic barcoding,chimeric antigen receptor t cells,lipid nanoparticles,targeted drug delivery