Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Can I see Quantum Gravity? (CanISeeQG)

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: Netherlands
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2018-ADG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 84.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The interplay between two of the most important building blocks of nature, quantum mechanics and gravity, has been a great source of inspiration for theoretical physics, leading to discoveries such as the Hawking radiation of black holes and the development of string theory. In turn, the following picture emerged: physics at the most fundamental level is governed by the rules of quantum mechanics while gravity is some effective coarse-grained description of the underlying microscopic theory. Given that the microscopic degrees of freedom are non-local, standard techniques such as the renormalization group and effective field theory a priori do not apply. Nevertheless, we use effective field theories that incorporate general relativity to describe our observations. With the discovery of gravitational waves and the various ongoing and upcoming experiments that will put general relativity to the test, it has become urgent to assess the validity of the standard framework of effective field theory for describing observable quantum gravity effects. Recent developments in resolving the information loss paradox and the quantum nature of black holes concluded that effective field theory must be modified in a way that uniquely incorporates quantum gravity. The main purpose of this proposal is to describe this modification in a precise and quantitative way, ultimately connecting it to potential experimental discoveries. In order to achieve this goal, I will approach the problem using a combination of thermodynamics, hydrodynamics and quantum information theory, mostly in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence, where a precise description of quantum gravity is available. As a by-product of identifying observational features of quantum gravity, I will also make substantial progress in several foundational problems. My broad track record and expertise, and the fact that I have already obtained promising preliminary results, makes me uniquely qualified to lead this endeavor.

Keywords: quantum gravity,holography,black holes
Seeing is predicting: Testing a predictive coding account of visual perception involving saccadic eye movements (C-Pre)

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: Netherlands
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-02-01
End date: 2022-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175572.48
EU funding (EUR): 175572.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We make about three saccadic eye movements per second which bring about an abrupt and drastic change in visual input on the retina. However, visual perception seems remarkably stable. I want to determine whether this phenomenon can be explained by predictive coding. Crucial for predictive coding is the transmission of prediction and prediction error signals across brain networks. I want trace down these signals in humans with non-invasive neurophysiological and neuroimaging methods. I will record EEG and MEG data combined with eye-tracking in gaze-contingent experimental designs in which visual input changes during a saccade and in which the frequency of change is manipulate to affect higher-level trans-saccadic expectations. I will apply measures of information transfer and dynamic causal modelling to assess brain dynamics time-locked to saccadic eye-movements. This approach will provide evidence for or against pre-saccadic top-down prediction and post-saccadic bottom-up prediction error signals, which will eventually speak to the question whether predictive coding can explain the phenomenon of visual stability. The proposed action will strongly enhance my theoretical knowledge about predictive processes and it will widely extend my methodological skills about MEG, source analysis, and the analysis of brain dynamics and connectivity. The project will be conducted under the supervision of Floris de Lange at the Donders Institute, the Netherlands, and includes a secondment with Karl Friston and Rick Adams at UCL, UK, as well as cooperation with Stefano Panzeri from IIT, Italy. In sum, this project combines methods and approaches from an international set of world-leading experts in an unprecedented way to test a hypothesis derived from the currently most comprehensive theory of brain function. Therefore, this project will make a highly-innovative falsification attempt of an influential theory which could mean a crucial step in advancing the cognitive sciences.

Keywords: visual perception,eye movements
Creating a novel, innovative toolkit for the identification of agricultural management regimes in the past using seed shape (iShape3DSeed)

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: Spain
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-11-02
End date: 2023-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172932.48
EU funding (EUR): 172932.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Research on modern seeds has shown that their shape reflects the influence of environmental growth conditions, including cultivation regimes. However, no modern agronomical or archaeobotanical studies have so far exploited this immense potential of information encompassed in seed shape. The main reason is that shape in these disciplines is currently studied using geometric morphometrics (GMM) but, largely due to the small size of grains, this is limited to 2D and semi-3D landmark measurements that cannot take advantage of the full, complex shape of the crops. iShape3DSeed will tackle this problem by employing cutting-edge emerging technologies and a novel combination of high-resolution 3D modelling of seeds, geometric morphometrics and machine learning (ML). The aim is to develop a novel, non-destructive and low-cost methodological toolkit that will allow using the full 3D shape of seeds to provide in-depth interpretations on agricultural management and distinguish environmental impact. To do so iShape3DSeed will focus on cereals and will use material from the Greek Genetic Bank that includes pre-mechanisation crops with their growing information, experimental cultivation of traditional cereal varieties, and archaeological material from four Aegean Bronze Age sites. The modern material will be used to develop and test the new toolkit, and the ancient to allow and test its archaeological application. The modern material will be also experimentally charred to test preservation impact on shape. The seeds will be reconstructed using micro 3D photogrammetry and will then be subjected to 3D GMM and surface texture analyses. The data obtained will be fed into purposely developed ML algorithms to classify and match shape and agricultural data. iShape3DSeed will provide thus a new means to identify agricultural management regimes in archaeological seed assemblages solely using the full shape of cereal seeds, pushing the frontiers of archaeobotany.

Keywords: archaeobotany,agricultural management,geometric morphometrics,machine learning,minoan
Evolution of organ size scaling in plants (SCALE)

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: Sweden
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): 203852.16
EU funding (EUR): 203852.16
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

One of the most pervasive laws in biology is the maintenance of the relationship between organ sizes among individuals, populations and/or species. The existence of such allometric scaling, together with the fact that most of the organ growth regulators are pleiotropic, suggests that the same genes are controlling the size of different organs. Yet, in many instances during evolution, the morphological scaling relationship among organs has been modified and new relationships have evolved. How allometry is maintained and evolve at the molecular level is, however, poorly understood. It is equally unclear how identity factors influence growth processes in different organs. We hypothesise that organ identity factors quantitatively modulate the expression of general growth regulators through chromatin-based mechanisms that modify their sensitivity to hormonal signals. I will test this hypothesis by studying the molecular basis of one prominent example of allometric scaling evolution in plants, the decrease in flower size after the transition to selfing, using a combination of genomics, molecular genetics and cell biology approaches. This work will determine how organ growth is affected, spatially and temporally, by organ identity and highlight the molecular mechanisms quantitatively regulating the transcription of general growth regulators, determining the size of different organs.

Keywords: development evolution,growth,gene transcription,flower,petal,capsella
The ‘other’ Europe: the formation and development of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), 1958–92 (EFTA DEVELOPMENT)

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: Finland
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2017-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179325.6
EU funding (EUR): 179325.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Debates over the type and degree of integration pursued by European states currently dominate the European Union (EU). As the gulf between proponents and critics of the ‘Community method’ grows more acute, as the EU environment increasingly revolves around interstate relations, and as scenarios of EU ‘disintegration’ are entertained at various levels, attention has focused on historical precedents of intergovernmental models of cooperation in the hope of foreseeing the EU’s future development. Such debates have aroused notable interest in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the principal ‘other’ in postwar European politics. Yet very little is known about how and why EFTA developed in the way it did, its institutional and policy-making structure or the implications of these aspects for the present-day EU. The current state-of-the-art suffers two particular limitations: (i) it concentrates on very short time periods and (ii) it presents a highly state-centric realist account of EFTA’s history. This project fills this gap by undertaking a detailed historical study of EFTA’s development. It aims to (i) examine EFTA’s growth over a sustained period (1958–92) and (ii) account for this evolution as a product of interplay between actors at the national, transnational and institutional levels. Methodologically, the project deploys an innovative interdisciplinary approach that embeds historical research in the multi-level governance concept borrowed from political science. Empirically, the project draws on EFTA’s hitherto underexplored archives in Geneva and the national collections of its various member states. Historiographically, it promises new insights into EFTA history and reconnects the organisation’s and its members’ historical narrative to studies of European integration that generally focus more on the denser pre-history of the EU. In so doing, the project adds significantly to both research in the European Research Area and the priorities of Horizon 2020.

Keywords: european free trade association,european integration,multi level governance,institutional history,transnationalism,network analysis,sovereignty,intergovernmentalism
Innovative infrastructure for astronomical research based on stratospheric balloons (ORISON)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Research Infrastructures
Theme: Research infrastructures
Destination: Support and infrastructures
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Germany
Call: Innovative procurement pilot action in the field of scientific instrumentation (H2020-INFRASUPP-2015-2, 2015)
Start date: 2016-02-01
End date: 2017-07-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 606198.75
EU funding (EUR): 606198.0
Participants: 4
Project status: CLOSED

ORISON addresses an innovative research infrastructure based on scientific instrumentation integrated into movable stabilized balloon platforms. Many Astronomical observations and experiments are severely limited by the Earth’s atmosphere: atmospheric turbulence, atmospheric absorption, scattering and emissions, bad weather and other phenomena degrade or prevent many astronomical observations. To solve that, scientists utilise specific space missions, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, whose costs are immense and whose availability is highly restricted. ORISON aims at using small low-cost stratospheric balloons equipped with light-weight medium-sized stabilized telescopes and other instruments to perform specific tasks in short-duration missions in conditions similar to those of the outer space. This instrumentation will be implemented by high-tech industry actors and the acquisition will be handled by a public procurement process. The current CSA project is partially aimed at analysing and exploring the use of PCP or PPI procurement hence minimising risks and maximising the value for money of the whole action. The feasibility analysis that will be undertaken in the current CSA project will lead the consortium to reach the necessary knowledge about the requirements, technical specs and market supply to prepare the purchase of the research infrastructure proposed. The ORISON CSA project will also explore the possible infrastructure exploitation strategies. ORISON‘s consortium is composed by a balanced team incorporating the necessary expertise and experience for successfully undertaking this important investment decision. The partners will study to enlarge the buyers’ group to reach a valuable critical mass and ensuring a larger impact.

Keywords: astrophysics,scientific instrumentation,astronomical observation,movable stabilized balloon platforms,feasibility analysis
CommBeBiz - Communicating and Bridging BioEconomy Research to Business (CommBeBiz)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Ireland,Belgium,United Kingdom
Call: Bridging research and innovation efforts for a sustainable bioeconomy (H2020-ISIB-2014-1, 2014)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2018-02-28
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1672591.25
EU funding (EUR): 1672591.0
Participants: 4
Project status: CLOSED

Communicate and Bridge BioEconomy Research to Business The overall objective of the CommBeBiz project is to contribute to the improvement of sustainable living conditions through the most effective and responsible use of our biological resources. This will be achieved through designing, delivering, assessing & evaluating a Pilot scheme (BeBizPilotPlan), that provides tailored and targeted support and co-ordination activities across all Member States. The Pilot will bring KBBE funded research projects in FP7 and Horizon2020 programmes together with bioeconomy research, knowledge transfer, social innovation, policy development and communication experts, SMEs and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and exploitation faster for the environmental good and commercial benefit. The full results of the BeBizPilotPlan will be published in the BeBizBlueprint. The project will use a tailormade approach to the segments of the bioeconomy : agriculture, fisheries, food, forestry and biotechnology. CommBeBiz will work collaboratively on the FP7 database with 'Allied Projects' BioLinx and ProBio utilising the Heads of Agreement document agreed between us (July 2015).

Keywords: fast tracking ec funded bioeconomy research projects to commercial,social and policy innovation via evaluated pilot programme of assessment,networking,mentoring,training,tailored support
Towards improved understanding of the worldwide decline of wind speed in a climate change scenario (STILLING)

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: Sweden
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185857.2
EU funding (EUR): 185857.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In a globally changing climate, scientists have paid little attention on variability of wind speed. A recent discovery to science is the “global stilling"; a worldwide slowdown of wind speed since the 1980s. This stilling is not fully understood and neither the quantity nor the quality of wind speed observations is adequate to allow a reliable study. The scientific aims of this MSCA to fill this key gap are (i) to rescue the longest wind speed series (starting prior to the 1960s), and (ii) to improve our knowledge on the influence of atmospheric circulation. Given the interdisciplinary impacts of "global stilling" on wind energy, agriculture and hydrology, the socioeconomic-environmental aim is (iii) to look at past wind speed to better assess future wind speed projections needed for climate change adaptation. The innovative approach combines the rescue (ACE framework) and homogenization (SNHT test) of historical wind speed data, providing a unique opportunity to statistically assess trends/cycles and atmospheric causes (SOM/RCPA and weather typing techniques) on long time periods and reliable datasets than previous studies. The applicant will bring his new homogenization protocol, extensive expertise on winds and a novel collaboration topic to UGOT and KNMI. In turn, these Institutions are world authorities on data rescue techniques and attributing causes of climate trends; the applicant will also be trained in leadership, management, funding, supervision and communication skills enhancing his career development. Jointly this team is in a position to push the boundaries of “global stilling” knowledge far ahead, with the ultimate intent to allow the applicant to train through research, establish an independent career, and a research group at the forefront of wind research in Europe. Additionally, this MSCA addresses two of the H2020 Societal Challenges: “Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy”, and “Climate action, Environment, Resource efficiency and Raw materials”.

Keywords: wind speed slowdown,global stilling,historical wind speed dataset,rescue and homogenization,wind speed trends,cycles,atmospheric circulation,climate change and variability
QuickMIC™ - an ultra-rapid diagnostic system for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) (QuickMIC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-04-01
End date: 2018-09-30
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of the project is to bring QuickMIC™, an ultra-rapid diagnostic tool for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) to the market and clinical practice. AST is usually carried out to determine which antibiotic will be the most appropriate in treating a bacterial infection in a particular patient. Sepsis is the major cause of death as a result of an infection today. It affects approx. 30 million of people every year worldwide. About 20 % of the patients do not survive the disease. Currently, it can take up to 48 hours for the current golden standard AST method to produce reliable diagnostic results. Therefore, doctors empirically treat sepsis patients with wide-spectrum antibiotics while the blood samples are being tested. The globally escalating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has resulted in empirical treatment being unsuccessful more and more often. Misuse of antibiotics additionally contributes to increasing resistance. The improvement of survival rates in sepsis and the decrease in AMR will only be possible with access to a quicker AST tool. To address this unmet clinical need, Gradientech is developing an ultra-rapid AST system, QuickMIC™, based on a patented technology platform. By combining i) advanced microfluidics and ii) continuous image detection and analysis, QuickMIC™ can reduce the time of an AST to two hours. Besides being the fastest AST under development, QuickMIC™ is also a low-price alternative compared to its direct competitors. By commercializing QuickMIC™, Gradientech will make an important contribution to fighting AMR in Europe. Moreover, we will significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. A continued development of QuickMIC™ will result in a CE-IVD marking by early 2019. In the Phase 1 project, we will develop a business plan that will guide the future clinical studies and commercialisation activities. If successful, the overall innovation effort will take Gradientech to a new level of competitiveness and growth.

Keywords: antibiotic susceptibility testing,antimicrobial resistance,sepsis,antibiotic treatment,microfluidics,continuous image detection