Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Photon-Multiplication to Boost Si Photovoltaic Power Conversion Efficiency (PM2PV)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2020-PoC, 2020)
Start date: 2021-05-01
End date: 2022-10-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Photovoltaics (PVs) cells will play a major role in the worldwide transition to more sustainable sources of energy. There has been a vast scale up in the deployment of PV cells driven by the drastic price reduction of Si photovoltaics (Si-PVs). It is now widely accepted that increases in PV efficiency are key to pushing PV deployment further and continuing to lower costs. However, after decades of research and development Si-PVs are approaching the theoretical limit for power conversion efficiencies (currently 26.7% out of a possible 29.4%) as determined by the Shockley-Queisser limit, due to thermalisation losses. There is currently no commercially deployed technology and can overcome this challenge. This project will make a proof of concept demonstration of a new technology – a photon multiplication film (PMF), which overcomes these fundamental thermalisation losses by converting high energy photons into double the number of low energy photons using a process called singlet fission. A PMF film could raise the efficiency of the best Si-PVs from 26.7% to 32.5% (a 20% increase in efficiency). This all optical approach has several advantages over other technologies currently being researched such as tandem cells. For instance, since the output of the PMF is photons, they can be directed towards the PV cell without any change in cell design, making it a ‘drop in’ solution, compatible with 95% of current PV manufacturing capacity as well as future designs and hence requiring little or no change to current manufacturing lines and hence very low capital expense. This PoC project will produce a prototype PMF integrated on top of a Si-PV and demonstrate a gain in power conversion efficiency, thus opening up a new technological area, which will help deliver both economic, societal and environmental benefits.

Keywords: advanced solar energy harvesting,light management for photovoltaics,organic semiconductors,nanoparticles,singlet fission,excitons,triplet excitons
Development of carbon-rich biochar-mineral complexes for soil amendment, carbon sequestration and beyond (CarboPlex) (CarboPlex)

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: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-04-01
End date: 2017-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Aim of this project is to investigate and exploit the potentials of a new material termed biochar-mineral complex (BMC). The simple yet ground-breaking idea is to use common waste streams to produce BMCs with distinct properties. Primary target is the use of BMCs as soil amender, especially in soils, where the delicate but crucial structure of organo-mineral complexes is threatened by unsustainable soil use or climate change. Where pure biochar is known to face its limits, BMC because of its mineral part is assumed to enable much higher functionality (i.e. water and nutrient storage). To provide evidence-based information on production, properties and soil effects of BMC, a systematic study will be conducted. The highly interdisciplinary work is split into five strongly interconnected work packages, which cover the whole BMC lifespan from production to soil use and technology assessment. Most of the work will be conducted at the University of Edinburgh (UoE). A secondment is planned at Enrich Environmental Ltd., an innovative Irish waste treatment SME, where the potentials and requirements for successful large-scale implementation will be investigated. Introducing this original work to the scientific communities (i.e. waste, agriculture, soil, material science) is expected to make enormous impact. Strong attention is also paid to dissemination of the results to the industry, other stakeholders and the general public. The ER, in addition to the expected excellent research, profits greatly from new experiences with pyrolysis (UKBRC) and business management (Enrich) supporting his strive for an academic career as professor. The UoE benefits from the ER’s experiences in hydrothermal carbonization and gaining competence in BMCs. Enrich, in return, has strong interest to expand its range of products and to integrate innovative processes such as BMC production. Naturally, the ER, UoE and Enrich are strongly committed to the planed action and a most successful outcome.

Keywords: waste treatment,biochar,pyrolysis,hydrothermal carbonization,soil amendment
Identification of novel KSHV immune evasion mechanisms using a quantitative temporal viromics analysis (KSHV QTV)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-06-15
End date: 2017-06-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, or human herpesvirus 8, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, causing tumors in immunosuppressed patients, in particular those with AIDS. Like other herpesviruses, KSHV has evolved numerous mechanisms of escape from both the innate and adaptive host immune response. These immune evasion strategies facilitate the virus’s oncogenic potential and contribute to its pathogenesis. Beyond immune modulation, many viral proteins interact with components of the cellular proteome to enable viral replication. However, the complete array of such proteins, their kinetics and fate in both latent and lytic phase of viral infection has never been determined. Here, I propose an unbiased proteomic approach to analyze the expression kinetics of the KSHV proteome in the context of cellular infection, and explore how host cell surface and cytoplasmic proteins are regulated by this virus throughout its infection cycle. To achieve this goal I will resolve both the host cell and the viral proteome in primary endothelial cells and B cells using the recently developed technique, quantitative temporal viromics. This novel approach is interdisciplinary, incorporating virology, immunology, cell biology, state-of-the-art proteomics and has been successfully applied to identify novel markers of latent HCMV infection as well as novel immunomodulation strategies. The proposed study will allow a temporal analysis of how the host and viral proteome change upon latent as well as lytic KSHV infection. Newly discovered viral targets, such as ligands for Natural killer (NK) or cytotoxic T cells will be validated and investigated using biochemical and virological methods available in the host (Lehner) lab. The results of this study will therefore provide unique insight into the virus-host interactions and uncover novel viral strategies of the host immune system. The identified proteins may ultimately serve as novel targets for therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: virus,immune evasion
Unconventional Bifunctional Catalysts (UNBICAT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Panel description: New materials and new synthetic approaches, structure-properties relations, solid state chemistry, molecular architecture, organic chemistry
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2014-CoG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2021-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1987750.0
EU funding (EUR): 1987750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The development of sustainable chemical processes is one of the most important features in modern chemistry. It has become a key research area worldwide providing solutions to important societal demands by optimizing the use of natural resources and minimizing waste and environmental impact. Among the relevant methods for achieving this goal, catalysis represents a key and central approach. Both Organocatalysis and Metal Catalysis have emerged as solutions to the problems in this context. In this field, the progress of a novel bifunctional organocatalyst that could increase the number of different activations, and therefore the synthesis of valuable enantio-enriched molecules, would be highly desirable. Especially important, but still unknown, are the bifunctional-catalysts based on a Neutral Coordinate Organocatalyst and Photo-Organocatalysts. This proposal aims to develop two new unconventional approaches for the synthesis of bifunctional organocatalysts. The first one is based on the development of new Bifunctional Neutral Coordinate Organocatalyst and their application to the synthesis of biologically relevant compounds. I propose to use these bifunctional catalysts to promote the dual activation of silyl reagents and suitable electrophiles. This approach constitutes an unconventional way to synthesize asymmetric molecules and has no precedent in the literature. The second section of this proposal explores the photo-activation-bifunctional organocatalyst. I propose the design and application of new metal-free Bifunctional Photo-Organocatalysts which are able to chemically and photo-activate the substrate simultaneously in an asymmetric manner. This project has the potential to change the general view of asymmetric Neutral Coordinate Organocatalyst and Photo-catalysis as we know it today. These unconventional bifunctional would be incorporated into the privileged catalyst library for its applications in new asymmetric transformations.
Going Deep and Blind with Internal Statistics (DeepInternal)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2017-ADG, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2023-10-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2466940.0
EU funding (EUR): 2466940.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Unsupervised visual inference can often be performed by exploiting the internal redundancy inside a single visual datum (an image or a video). The strong repetition of patches inside a single image/video provides a powerful data-specific prior for solving a variety of vision tasks in a “blind” manner: (i) Blind in the sense that sophisticated unsupervised inferences can be made with no prior examples or training; (ii) Blind in the sense that complex ill-posed Inverse-Problems can be solved, even when the forward degradation is unknown. While the above fully unsupervised approach achieved impressive results, it relies on internal data alone, hence cannot enjoy the “wisdom of the crowd” which Deep-Learning (DL) so wisely extracts from external collections of images, yielding state-of-the-art (SOTA) results. Nevertheless, DL requires huge amounts of training data, which restricts its applicability. Moreover, some internal image-specific information, which is clearly visible, remains unexploited by today's DL methods. One such example is shown in Fig.1. We propose to combine the power of these two complementary approaches – unsupervised Internal Data Recurrence, with Deep Learning, to obtain the best of both worlds. If successful, this will have several important outcomes including: • A wide range of low-level & high-level inferences (image & video). • A continuum between Internal & External training – a platform to explore theoretical and practical tradeoffs between amount of available training data and optimal Internal-vs-External training. • Enable totally unsupervised DL when no training data are available. • Enable supervised DL with modest amounts of training data. • New applications, disciplines and domains, which are enabled by the unified approach. • A platform for substantial progress in video analysis (which has been lagging behind so far due to the strong reliance on exhaustive supervised training data).

Keywords: computer vision,video analysis,natural image statistics,image priors,unsupervised deep learning,image synthesis,self similarity,super resolution,blind deblurring,video segmentation,patches
Thinking rough towards sustainability (e.THROUGH)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Research and innovation staff exchange
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Spain,Spain,Spain,Italy,France,United States,Denmark,Portugal
Call: Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-01-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 733500.0
EU funding (EUR): 693000.0
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

To tackle its critical raw material (CRM) dependency, Europe needs comprehensive strategies based on sustainable primary mining, recovery from secondary resources and recycling. The EC classified 20 CRMs due to their high economic importance and high risk of supply interruption. e.THROUGH has the ambitious vision of turning the challenge of CRMs dependence into a strategic strength for Europe, contributing towards declassifying some CRMs, as tungsten, indium, gallium and chromium, by: 1) Promoting new trends in the characterization and exploration of mineral deposits; 2) Mapping CRMs between EU mining regions; 3) Gaining knowledge on innovative processes for recovery secondary CRMs; 4) Redesign construction materials using secondary materials, closing loops, strongly supporting waste minimization; 5) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the evaluation of global environmental impacts; 6) Transferring newly generated knowledge to stakeholders, both for policy development and standardization, and for shaping responsible behaviours. e.THROUGH is an intersectoral and interdisciplinary consortium of EU & Third Country partners of leading institutions that see waste as a resource to recover CRMs, influencing the whole value chain. By training human resources in CRMs´value chain, their recovery, recycling, further reuse and LCA, they become the much needed young and senior scientists and engineers for the growing EU CRM industry. The consortium comprises 40% industry and 60% research partners. This should help push Europe to the forefront in CRM sectors, providing eco-friendly alternatives in supply. The generated scientific relevant knowledge will be transferred to shape industries, communities and individual citizens’ behaviour, fostering corporate sustainability performance, important to influence economic agents’ choices. e.THROUGH will generate a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy, promoting the required transition towards a sustainable society.

Keywords: sustainable mining,critical raw materials,emerging recovery processes,recycling,recovery of secondary materials,upgrading wastes for construction materials,sustainable engineering,modelling
From microbial interactions to new-concept biopesticides and biofertilizers (INTERFUTURE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Industrial Doctorates
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Austria,Italy,Germany,Germany,Spain,Italy,Belgium,Belgium,France,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2016-12-01
End date: 2021-05-31
Duration (months): 54.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2833636.32
EU funding (EUR): 2833636.3200000003
Participants: 12
Project status: CLOSED

The Directive 2009/128/EC sets rules in EU for the sustainable use of pesticides to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on people's health and the environment. Among the listed actions there is the promotion of low pesticide-input management including non-chemical methods. In parallel several chemical active ingredients have been banned because of toxicity concerns. The result is that growers are left with few control tools against pests. On the other hand most of the available alternative control methods have several limitations, especially in term of efficacy. Several new ideas are not reaching the industry and are confined in the academic world. The concept behind this EIT is to explore new approaches to identify new cutting edge solutions for pest control based on new non classical approaches in strict collaboration with industrial partner and to train 11 highly skilled early stage researchers (ESR) through a doctoral programme that integrates 5 academic research with concept-driven product development in 6 EU companies with a strong curriculum in development and innovation within a large interdisciplinary environment. Microorganisms are often used so far as replacement of chemical active ingredients. The innovative aspect of this EID is to base the new pest control solutions on interactions of microorganisms with plants and insects rather than using them as plant protection products. Microorganisms’ unsurpassed inclination towards the association with eukaryotic macro-organisms determines traits and qualities in the host that harbours them. Microbial symbionts’ ability to profoundly transform their living habitat paves the way for unexplored outlooks in the ability to use microbial symbioses as sustainable and renewable tools to improve production and quality in agriculture. Microorganisms are key players in shaping several insect’s semiochemicals, in particular kairomones indicating a food source or oviposition site for some insect species.

Keywords: alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers,plant protection
GRAssroots Citizen science for global data Environments (GRACE)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2022-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 224933.76
EU funding (EUR): 224933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This research project uses data-led grassroots citizen science as a lens through which to consider actual and pending shifts in the governance of pressing global issues. Combining methods in Science and Technology Studies and Policy Analysis, it discerns how grassroots citizen scientists in three world regions (East Asia, Western Europe, Central Africa) mobilize new data devices and technologies to tackle environmental threats emanating from public concerns over environmental radiation, air pollution, and climate change. Recognizing that these complex, interdependent problems require a multi-stakeholder approach, it analyzes and compares how grassroots citizen data practices are received by local and global rules-based democratic and market institutions, including public authorities, research communities, businesses, mass media, and educational organizations. With concerned stakeholders, it addresses the tensions and pitfalls that emerge in these processes, as citizens create and value environmental data distinct from official institutional approaches. Its findings serve to incite collective learning about these tensions with the aim of facilitating mutually responsive environmental data governance. The project builds on the fellow’s research on citizen science in post-Fukushima Japan and his expertise in public engagement with new and emerging technologies. It will be carried out in close collaboration with Professor of Sociology Jennifer Gabrys (University of Cambridge), who is a leading expert in environmental sociology, digital technologies, and citizen participation.

Keywords: citizen science,data,digital participation,environment,grassroots,multi stakeholder governance
The conquest of a new habitat: a study of nutritional and sensory adaptations in Drosophila suzukii larvae (ECONUTRISENS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Career Restart panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2023-01-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 262209.6
EU funding (EUR): 262209.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Animals need to feed to incorporate nutrients -amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids. Since feeding substrates contain varying concentrations of these nutrients, animals have in place peripheral chemosensory mechanisms to search for them, and internal nutrient sensing mechanisms to assess their needs. Additionally, species occupying different ecological niches have evolved to profit from feeding substrates with different nutritional composition. My goal is to understand the relationship between these nutrient sensing mechanisms and a species’ nutritional needs, in the context of its ecological niche and its evolutionary history. I propose to model this subject on a comparative study between the recent global pest species Drosophila suzukii and D. melanogaster. Although both are generalist species that feed on overripe fruits as adults, D. suzukii has conquered a new egg laying niche, the ripening fruit, which implies a new nutritional landscape for the developing larva. I will address this subject by integrating three levels of analysis. First, the nutritional composition of their environment, the host fruits, and how it is affected by larval activity. Second, larval metabolic parameters and the activity of nutrient sensitive signaling pathways. Third, the function of the the peripheral chemosensory system related to nutrient sensing. I will accomplish this by translating tools generated on the model species D. melanogaster for the study of physiology and metabolism to D. suzukii. Through this action I will apply an innovative approach to the study of nutrition that integrates its ecological, physiological, chemosensory and evolutionary aspects. I will generate knowledge on the biology of D. suzukii, important for the fight against the growing pest. Importantly, this project will restart my career in academia after an unintentional break and I will train in the new skills I need to become an independent group leader on this same research topic.

Keywords: drosophila suzukii larva pest nutrition food composition adaptation niche chemoreception metabolism physiology