Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Foraging Decision Making in the Real World – revealed from a bat’s point of view by on-board miniature sensors (GPS-Bat)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Panel description: Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology, marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and modelling
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2021-07-31
Duration (months): 65.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1928750.0
EU funding (EUR): 1928750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

How animals make decisions in the wild is an open key-question in biology. Our lack of knowledge results from a technological gap – the difficulty to track animals over long periods while monitoring their behaviour; and from a conceptual gap – how to identify animals’ decision-points outdoors? We suggest applying our innovative on-board miniature sensors, to study decision making in the wild. We focus on one of the most fundamental contexts of decision making – foraging for food. We will study bats, which constitute over 20% of mammalian species and are extremely diverse, enabling to examine different aspects of decision making. Importantly, echolocating bats emit sound to perceive their environment, allowing us to infer their behavior (attacks on prey and interactions with conspecifics) via sound recording. Our miniature sensors include a GPS and an ultrasonic microphone, which enables us to reveal not only bats’ movements, but also their behavior and accordingly the factors underlying their decisions. We will study three bat species to elucidate different aspects of foraging decisions: (1) How does animal sociality facilitate decision making? We have developed a system to monitor an entire colony including all conspecific-interactions when bats are in the roost or foraging outside. (2) How do animals weigh current input against previous experience? We will study a bat that must nightly search large areas over sea to find food. (3) How flexible are animal decisions? We will manipulate the natural environment of specific individuals to study how they adjust their foraging. Our results will have far-reaching implications in many fields, from animal conservation to robotics. The operational and technical difficulty of performing controlled manipulations in the wild drives most disciplines to perform experiments exclusively in artificial laboratory conditions. Our approach opens new opportunities to conduct controlled studies in the natural environment.

Keywords: foraging,behavior,bats,biologging,modeling,signal processing,neuroscience,decision making,echolocation,biosonar,social behavior
Development of Experimental Techniques and Predictive Tools to Characterise Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue Behaviour and Damage Mechanisms (DevTMF)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Sky 2
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: CS2 (Art-187)
Countries involved: Sweden,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Characterisation of Thermo-mechanical Fatigue Behaviour (H2020-CS2-CFP01-2014-01, 2014)
Start date: 2016-02-01
End date: 2021-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 994538.75
EU funding (EUR): 994538.75
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

DevTMF takes the collective technical expertise and experience of working on thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) problems related to large aero-engines from three major centres of TMF research, namely Linköping, Swansea and Nottingham Universities in order to perform the activities of this topic. Together, the team will deliver significant technical innovations in following major topics to ensure world-leading competencies in aero engine and aircraft manufacturing sector for Europe: 1. Improvement and development of advanced standard and non-standard cutting-edge TMF experimental methods and harmonisation of the test methods to enable standardisation across the field by performing comprehensive studies into the phenomena for a range of representative parts, 2. Advanced metallurgical assessment of structural disc alloy(s) taking into account the effect of multiple critical variables (e.g. R-ratio, phase, environment, dwell) to determine active damage mechanisms that control the life under TMF operating conditions, and 3. Physically based coupled models, with experimental validation, capable of predicting TMF initiation and propagation lives of components subjected to complex engine cycles and suitable for implementation in the computer programmes used to predict component lives. The project will take the above-described technologies to TRL5. Two business opportunities are addressed by this work: (i) at the end of the project the materials understanding and lifing models will be used to optimise/uprate the performance of existing individual aero engine components and (ii) over a longer timescale influence the development of new disc alloys and ultra efficient future designs (Advance, Ultrafan). The developed TMF technologies will enable industrial aero gas turbines used for aero engines to be operated at higher temperatures and pressures, improving their efficiency and reducing fuel consumption (by 1%) and CO2 emissions. Hence improved competitiveness and marker share.

Keywords: thermo mechanical fatigue,crack initiation and propagation,high temperature materials,disc alloy,prediction,modelling
Advanced Research Incubator in Biosciences (ARIB): A centre of excellence for disseminating quality biomedical research and boosting the next research generation for sustainable growth (ARIB)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany,Czechia
Call: Teaming Phase 1 (H2020-WIDESPREAD-04-2017-TeamingPhase1, 2017)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 12.0
Total project cost (EUR): 359207.5
EU funding (EUR): 359207.5
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Despite the influx of European regional development funds into the Czech Republic including the Central Bohemian Region (CBR), there is not yet a functional transfer environment in which innovation leads to products and services that drive the economic development of the region. This Teaming proposal will address the structural deficiency in the CBR by establishing “ARIB - Advanced Research Incubator in Biosciences”, a unique new institution designed to nurture the research and career development of young researchers who will generate the high quality innovative research findings and inventions needed to fill the newly established infrastructures with life. The source of excellence will be the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, a flagship institute of the Max Planck Society and the excellence will be absorbed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics (IMG) in Prague, the flagship biomedical research institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. MPI-CBG has a rich research landscape on which to draw examples, and the IMG can provide the best regional structural opportunities to exploit it. The first innovative high potential and synergistic research opportunities have been identified and are elaborated in the proposal. The proximity of Dresden and Prague is the most crucial factor to facilitate the effective transfer of excellence. The proposal seeks funding for preparation of a comprehensive business plan to implement a Teaming for Excellence strategy that will awaken the dormant research synergies between Dresden and Prague. A systematic inventory of the available assets, strengths and weaknesses will identify productive synergies between the two regions that when brought to fruition in ARIB, will serve as success stories for further implementation in the Czech Republic. Thus, ARIB will accelerate discoveries in biomedical research and transfer the results into the fertile environment of the nascent CBR technology cluster.

Keywords: biology,biochemistry,biomedicine,genetics,teaming,excellence,research,technology transfer,scientific impact,internationalization,czech,german,cooperation
Gaining insights into human evolution and disease prevention from adaptive natural selection driven by lethal epidemics (SELECTIONDRIVEN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Panel description: Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology, marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and modelling
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2018-STG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499600.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499600.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Background Lethal epidemics like the Black Death have killed millions of people and must pose an extreme selective pressure on any genetic variant that confers disease protection. Therefore, such epidemics have been hypothesized to play a key role in the evolution of humans. To what extent this is true, is a fundamental question of wide interest. Yet, it remains unanswered, in part due to limitations of the current methods to detect signatures of selection. Objectives I wish to accomplish three linked goals with the proposed project. The first goal is to develop new statistical methods for detecting signatures of adaptive natural selection driven by lethal epidemics. The second goal is to use these new methods to investigate the role of epidemics in recent human evolution by applying them to genetic data from several recent epidemics. The third goal is to gain insights into mechanisms that protect against infectious disease via the identification of genetic variants that have been under selection because they confer disease protection. Methods To reach these goals, extensive simulations will be performed to carefully characterize the genetic signatures of adaptive selection acting on a protective genetic variant during an epidemic. Then new statistical methods that can detect these signatures will be developed. Next, the new methods will be applied to several real datasets, including one from a recent Ebola epidemic. Finally, all signatures of selection detected in these real datasets will be further investigated. Expected outcome and importance This project will deliver new statistical methods that will move the field of selection studies a substantial step beyond the state-of-the-art by filling an important methodological gap. It will also yield key insights into the role of epidemics in recent evolutionary history. Finally, it has the potential to provide new knowledge on the genetics of disease resistance that could help prevent future lethal epidemics.

Keywords: natural selection,epidemics,recent human evolution
Reliable, digital and non-contact precision measurement system for remote structural health monitoring of any structure (VG360)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: SME instrument (H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-3, 2019)
Start date: 2020-04-01
End date: 2023-03-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1530675.78
EU funding (EUR): 1071473.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The monitoring of structures is one of the ultimate challenges to engineering companies today. Ageing and increasing number of extreme events (e.g. earthquakes or strong wind) are degrading the long-term performance of the structures. A collapse or closure of structure can lead to chaos, significant financial losses, and, in some cases, heavy casualties. The recent collapse of the Morandi bridge (Genoa, Italy) due to ageing structures and poor maintenance led to 43 deaths and €600 million loss. Whereas, a single-lane closure of the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland due to the safety risk caused a €734k loss daily. Unfortunately, the current solutions are expensive, slow and unreliable, leading to ineffective monitoring and reduced number of analysis. The currently adopted techniques request the installation of permanent devices on the structure to be monitored, implying: high installation and monitoring costs, time-consuming monitoring and low versatility. To address these problems, Imetrum has developed VG360, a non-contact, full field digital measurement system for remote structural health monitoring of any type of structure, 24×7×365. It is composed of a digital camera connected to a commercial Robotic Total Station (RTS), computer, and intelligent field software. The software is based on Imetrum’s proprietary algorithms for pattern recognition and Digital Imaging Correlation (DIC) for robust image tracking. Within the overall innovation project, Imetrum aims to upgrade VG360 core technology with new intrinsic features and integrate it within the Topcon RTS series; perform a long-term pilot demonstration and validation of the VG360 system at different site locations and develop a sound commercialization and market strategy.

Keywords: infrastructure monitoring,building,structures,digital measurement,software,intelligent algorithms
Innovative circular solutions and services for new business opportunities in the EU housing sector (HOUSEFUL)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Climate action, environment,  resource efficiency and raw materials
Theme: Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Austria,Spain,Italy,Spain,Ireland,Israel,Belgium,France,Netherlands
Call: Systemic, eco-innovative approaches for the circular economy: large-scale demonstration projects (H2020-CIRC-2017TwoStage, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 8464060.61
EU funding (EUR): 6997228.5
Participants: 17
Project status: SIGNED

The housing sector is a major contributor to current global problems of resource depletion and climate change, representing one of the most important consuming sectors at EU level: 50% of all extracted materials, 40% of final energy consumption, 33% of water consumption and 33% of all produced waste. The lock-in to the linear business models of today is causing many environmental problems and is one of the major barriers in transition towards a circular economy. HOUSEFUL project proposes an innovative paradigm shift towards a circular economy for the housing sector by demonstrating the feasibility of an integrated systemic service composed of 11 circular solutions. HOUSEFUL will introduce solutions to become more resource efficient throughout the lifecycle of a building, taking into account an integrated circular approach where energy, materials, waste and water aspects are considered. This approach fosters new forms of co-creation, increasing the collaboration among stakeholders of the housing value chain to develop new circular solutions and services. HOUSEFUL concept will be large scale demonstrated at 4 demo-sites in Austria and Spain, adapting the concept to different scenarios, including in social housing buildings. HOUSEFUL solutions will be evaluated from an environmental (Life Cycle Assessment), economic (Life Cycle Cost) and social (Social Assessment) point of view. The results obtained will be used to define an integrated HOUSEFUL service which will be driven and promoted through a SaaS (Software as a Service). The SaaS will integrate a Circularity Tool to quantify the circularity level of buildings and will include different circular solutions to be offered as services, encouraging the housing value chain to redesign traditional business models towards circular ones. 10 EU Follower buildings will be engaged with the support of a Collaborative Community of Housing Experts to replicate HOUSEFUL results and maximise the impact of the project.

Keywords: social innovation,systemic service,housing sector,construction,water re use,bio waste treatment,biogas production,wastewater,co creation,circular economy business opportunities
Magnetic, electric-field and light induced control of spin-polarized supercurrents: fundamentals for an offbeat electronics (SUSPINTRONICS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2014-CoG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-10-01
End date: 2021-09-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1997729.0
EU funding (EUR): 1997729.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims at establishing the basis for high-temperature superconducting spintronics. The innovative idea is to use spin-polarized superconducting pairs -instead of normal electrons- to convey and manipulate information, taking advantage of the coherent transport inherent to superconductivity. To further increase the potential of this approach, we intend to create multiple control knobs: magnetic field, the classical one in spintronics, as well as the knobs customary in conventional electronics: electric field and light. This will endow superconducting spintronics with a magnetic and electric memory, as well as with photosensitivity. The basic ingredient for this ambitious project is complex-oxide heterostructures. The approach consists of combining the following fundamental effects: (a) Superconducting proximity effects, in order to transfer superconductivity into ferromagnets. (b) Ferroelectric field-effects, in order to modulate the superconductor/ferromagnet interactions and tune Josephson coupling. (c) Spin-torque and ferromagnetic resonance effects, in order to couple superconductivity and magnetization dynamics. (d) Photoconductivity and photoelectric effects, in order to manipulate the interactions between superconductors and ferroics. This research is essentially fundamental, but the novel concepts pursued will increase the technological possibilities of superconductivity and spintronics -whose applications are at present completely disconnected.

Keywords: oxide heterostructures,ferroelectric field effects,triplet superconductivity,andreev reflection
Nanolasers for in-vivo deep in tissue neuron activation and action potential sensing (Neuralase)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-06-10
End date: 2024-01-09
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 174806.4
EU funding (EUR): 174806.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Summary Nanolasers offer the ultimate photonic gadget with unique properties as biosensors and actuators. Lasers at the nanoscale can concentrate high optical powers in small volumes and use a fraction of the power required to drive a conventional laser. Recently, nanolasers and nanoresonators have seen use for biosensing, with the focus so far on in-vitro biochemistry. Translating this approach to in-vivo is complex but promises to link relevant in-vivo physiological information with chemical pathways. This project aims to integrate photonic architectures for in-vivo deep-tissue exploration and to translate this technology to areas where probing the local environment with light has an immediate impact, such as the Brain. My proposed research thus bridges different scientific disciplines exploring the physics of biological sensing. I foresee 3 major efforts to succeed in this research: 1 – Design of micro- and nanocavities operating in the IR. 2 – In vitro characterization through highly scattering media. 3 – In vivo investigations for deep-tissue sensing.

Keywords: intracellular laser,upconversion,nanolaser,deep tissue,sensing,neural probe
Electron Nanocrystallography (NanED)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Italy,Switzerland,Belgium,Sweden,France,Czechia
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-03-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3936311.97
EU funding (EUR): 3936311.97
Participants: 8
Project status: SIGNED

The atomic structure determination of inorganic, organic and macromolecular compounds is a hard challenge anytime the crystal size falls below the micron range, becoming no more suitable for single-crystal x-ray diffraction. Still, a number of chemicals with valuable commercial and medical implications can be synthesized only as nanocrystals or show phase/polymorphic transitions during crystal growth. The development of more efficient tools able to disclose the nature of nanocrystalline materials is therefore a hot and transversal topic that links materials science, physics of diffraction, new instrument engineering, chemical production and pharmacology. Electron diffraction (ED) allows extracting structure information from single nanometric crystals. ED experienced a tremendous boost after the development of 3D routines for data collection, up to be enlisted among the main breakthroughs in Science. However, the development of 3D ED is still limited to few laboratories and is slowed by the lack of dedicated instrumentation. NanED aims to form a new generation of electron crystallographers, able to master and develop 3D ED techniques in an interdisciplinary and interconnected network, where competences and know-how of usually distant scientific sectors are shared and merged. NanED will gather all European scientists hitherto active in 3D ED development and a pool of large and small companies interested in instrument development and material or pharmaceutical production. NanED will deliver portable procedures for sample preparation, data collection and data analysis, suitable for the successful application of 3D ED to all kinds of compounds. NanED will also establish a new standard of crystallographic training, closer to nowadays industrial needs. Finally, NanED will favor the dissemination of 3D ED in academic and industrial laboratories, pushing Europe to be the leader for nanomaterial characterisation and development, with a noticeable and global economic impact.

Keywords: electron crystallography,diffraction,nanochemistry,macromolecular crystallography,transmission electron microscopy