Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
scaling sustainable Anodes for efficIent water ElectroLysis (ARIEL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2024-POC, 2024)
Start date: 2025-07-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

ARIEL (scaling sustainable Anodes for efficIent water ElectroLysis) seeks to demonstrate and validate a scalable process for the synthesis, activation, and implementation of non-platinum-group catalysts for water electrolysis – a bottleneck on the path to the projected gigawatt deployment of this technology that is needed to meet carbon emission targets. We have previously demonstrated, at the lab-scale, the feasibility and potential of cobalt-based anodes as alternative to iridium in proton-exchange membrane water electrolysers (PEMWE), achieving activity and stability at PEMWE-relevant current densities (Science 384, 1373, 2024). ARIEL aims to build on these results translating original, non-scalable synthesis and manufacturing protocols into scalable processes that retain catalytic activity and stability. The aim is to demonstrate a process compatible with kg-synthesis and activation, prototyping electrodes up to 400 cm2; and externally validating these, as a prelude to the potential commercial exploitation of this invention. ARIEL will further assess the sensitivity of the different parts of the process on reliability, and perform scale-informed technoeconomic and lifecycle analysis to evaluate different exploitation schemes.
Multi-hazard and risk informed system for Enhanced local and regional Disaster risk management (MEDiate)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Civil Security for Society
Theme: Civil Security for Society
Destination: Disaster-Resilient Society for Europe
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Norway,Netherlands,Italy,France,Iceland,United Kingdom,Austria
Call: Enhanced assessment of disaster risks, adaptive capabilities and scenario building based on available historical data and projections (HORIZON-CL3-2021-DRS-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2025-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3549970.0
EU funding (EUR): 3549969.5
Participants: 18
Project status: SIGNED

This project will develop a decision-support system (DSS) for disaster risk management by considering multiple interacting natural hazards and cascading impacts using a novel resilient-informed and service-oriented approach that accounts for forecasted modifications in the hazard (e.g., climate change), vulnerability/resilience (e.g., aging structures and populations) and exposure (e.g., population decrease/increase). The primary deliverable from MEDiate will be a decision support framework in the form of service-orientated web tool and accompanying disaster risk management framework providing end users (local authorities, businesses etc) with the ability to build accurate scenarios to model the potential impact of their mitigation and adaptation risk management actions. The scenarios, which can be customised to reflect local conditions and needs (e.g., demographics, deprivation, natural resources etc), will be based on a combination of the historical record and future climate change projections to forecast the location and intensity of climate related disaster events and to predict their impacts, including cascading impacts, on the vulnerability of the local physical, economic and social systems. The scenarios will allow end users to evaluate the potential impact of different risk management strategies to reduce vulnerability and enhance community resilience. The project will consist of analysis of relevant data and co-development with testbed decision-makers of a DSS to enable more reliable resilience assessments, accounting for risk mitigation and adaptive capabilities, to be made, therefore reducing losses (human, financial, environmental etc) from future climate-related and geophysical disasters. The project will involve a multi-disciplinary team of geophysical and meteorological scientists, risk engineers, social scientists, information technologists and end-users, working together to ensure that the system is user-led and supported by appropriate technology.

Keywords: natural hazards,climate changes,decision support system,vulnerability,resilience,exposure
Breakthrough Synergy in Heterojunction-Ordered Oxide Nanocomposites for Accelerated Oxygen Reduction (BREATHO)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Chemistry
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 276187.92
EU funding (EUR): 276187.92
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Electrochemical ceramic devices (ECDs) are crucial for advancing the transition to a zero-pollution, sustainable future by converting energy from clean sources like hydrogen and producing green hydrogen through water splitting. A significant challenge lies in the high operating temperature (preferably 700-1000 °C), where sluggish cathodic reactions, such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), are pivotal obstacles. Cost-effective p-type and n-type mixed electronic and ionic conducting oxides (p-MEIOs and n-MEIOs) suffer from electron depletion and insufficient oxygen vacancies during ORR, respectively. Gathering all desired features in a single oxide conductor has proven impractical. BREATHO pioneers a transformative solution by integrating p-MEIO and n-MEIO into vertically aligned nanocomposites (VANs), which feature densely ordered S-scheme heterojunctions with enriched mobile charge carriers, creating synergistic sites that significantly enhance ORR below 600 °C. These VANs will be deposited as thin films onto diverse substrates using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), followed by thorough investigations into their local chemistry, structure, and cathodic kinetics using advanced nanoscale characterization techniques, e.g., Plasma Focused Ion Beam Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (PFIB-SIMS), Isotopic Exchange Depth Profiling (IEDP), low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEISS), and atom probe tomography (APT). The performance of VANs as cathodes will be evaluated in metal-supported fuel cells concerning the resistance to chromium poisoning. BREATHO’s bottom-up research methodology, drawing from a convergence of interdisciplinary approaches, aims to overcome the persistent challenges in ECDs. This paradigm is anticipated to set a new benchmark in translating cutting-edge material design concepts into functional, real applications. Additionally, the emergent "1+1>2" effect achieved in composites provides valuable scientific insights benefiting a broad spectrum of fields.

Keywords: p type and n type mixed electronic and ionic conducting oxides heterojunction vertically aligned nanocomposites oxygen reduction cathode solid oxide fuel cells synergistic effects thin films
Macro-Social Turn in Labour Market Inequality: An Open Database and A Toolkit of Unpaid Labour (ReSTLess)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2025-POC, 2025)
Start date: 2025-10-01
End date: 2027-03-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

In my ERC AdG (ResPectMe) I developed a survey module of unpaid labour that was implemented through nation-wide panel surveys in Sweden (Lore), France (ELIPSS), The Netherlands (LISS) & UK (NatCen). With this PoC (ReSTLess) I will harness and maximize the utility of this survey module along three dimensions: time (work hours, incl. time to maintain, prepare, travel for work), material (office spaces, smart phone, software, PCs, other infrastructures), immaterial assets (emotions, feelings, knowledge, skills, competences). Hence the aim of this PoC is to establish a clear pathway from research (ResPectMe) to policy and innovation (ReSTLess) by instigating a ‘macro-social turn’ on labour market inequality due to unpaid labour. This will be achieved through two major deliverables: First, the PoC will create a new Open database (OD) encompassing the cross-national harmonised three dimensions of the ResPecTMe survey module. The OD will cater to identified end-users, namely international & EU-based agencies, such as Eurofound & ILO. It will support them in developing policy recommendations by monitoring shifts in labour market inequality, based upon job quality through the OD providing information along the harmonised unpaid labour dimensions across the indicated countries. A policy & technical report will present recommendations for policy makers & policy research institutes, connecting between unpaid dimensions, their socio-demographic, occupational differences at individual level, and macro-level labour market indicators, variables for each studied country (the ‘macro-social turn’). Second, the PoC will develop a Toolkit of unpaid labour. Based on the OD, the Toolkit will cater to EU-based social organizations end-users, such as ETUI, to train unions, workers representatives on bargaining about working time reduction, and civil society organisation SOLIDAR to empower workers by raising awareness about unpaid labour.
European infrastructure for Rydberg Quantum Computing (EuRyQa)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Digital, Industry and Space
Theme: Digital
Destination: Digital & Emerging Technologies for Competitiveness and Fit for the Green Deal
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: France,Germany,Netherlands,Greece,Portugal,Italy,Israel,Croatia
Call: Investing in new emerging quantum computing technologies (RIA) (HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4970860.0
EU funding (EUR): 4970860.0
Participants: 12
Project status: SIGNED

EuRyQa aims at establishing Rydberg quantum processors as a leading platform for scalable quantum computing. Rydberg atoms have already provided proof-of-principle demonstrations of all the requirements for general purpose digital quantum computing and are today the only platform that has demonstrated more than 200 qubits with strong interactions and with a clear path to further scalability and eventually fault tolerant operation. To develop the next generation of fully programmable and scalable quantum computing systems based on Rydberg atoms and open them up for the European community now requires a coordinated interdisciplinary and intersectoral effort. For this, the EuRyQa consortium combines partners from academia and the private sector that are at the forefront of cold-atom technology with key industrial partners with complementary expertise on quantum hardware, classical electronics, firmware, and software. The project will bring together four Rydberg platforms with 100-1000 qubits, including three nationally funded platforms and one leading European start up, to provide a unique European solution to Rydberg-based quantum computers together with Europe-wide benchmarking and standardization of the technology. We will provide a common quantum computing stack for Rydberg atoms, a federated cloud service, solutions to concrete computational problems leading to a quantum advantage, and key technology and a blueprint for fault-tolerant quantum computing with Rydberg qubits.

Keywords: neutral atoms,rydberg qubits,multi qubit gates,scalable quantum computing,quantum hardware,benchmarking
HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT OF NATECH EMERGENCIES WITH CROSS-COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES (HARMONI)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Civil Security for Society
Theme: Civil Security for Society
Destination: Disaster-Resilient Society for Europe
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Türkiye,Italy,Portugal,Romania,Greece,Netherlands
Call: Hi-tech capacities for crisis response and recovery after a natural-technological (NaTech) disaster (HORIZON-CL3-2024-DRS-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3993575.0
EU funding (EUR): 3993575.0
Participants: 13
Project status: SIGNED

HARMONI addresses the growing complexity of NaTech disasters by developing a comprehensive platform to enhance prevention, monitoring, and response for critical infrastructures (CIs). The platform will integrate existing data and lessons learned into a unified Knowledge Graph (KG) and the information gathered will serve for the creation of a database of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The tools that will be offered by HARMONI are: 1) PREVENTION: Digital Twins (DTs) for CIs, enabling the modeling of cascading effects and worst-case scenarios to inform prevention and mitigation strategies. 2) MONITORING: HARMONI combines advanced remote sensing algorithms, UAV-SAR imaging, and on-site data collection, to deliver real-time monitoring and early warnings of vulnerabilities, while 3) ACTION/RESPONSE: will be guaranteed by its Hybrid NaTech Decision Algorithm (HNDA) that integrates Federated Learning, human expertise, and SSH insights to recommend actionable SOPs tailored to evolving disaster scenarios. This ensures a holistic decision-making process, aligning technical capabilities with social and ethical considerations. The project includes six use cases, showcasing its technologies in diverse NaTech scenarios, including a cross-border collaboration use case to validate interoperability and scalability with existing systems. By fostering cooperation with ESA FutureEO initiatives and EU frameworks, HARMONI supports knowledge sharing and alignment with international standards. Ultimately, HARMONI aims to strengthen resilience, reduce disaster impacts, and provide innovative, interoperable solutions to NaTech crises, supporting safer, more sustainable management practices across Europe and beyond.

Keywords: natech,platform,digital twins,decision support,critical infrastructure
Euro GO-SHIP: developing a Research Infrastructure concept to support European hydrography (Euro GO-SHIP)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Research infrastructures
Theme: Research infrastructures
Destination: Development and infrastructures
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Norway,Romania,Switzerland,United Kingdom,Italy,France,Ireland,Germany,Belgium,Finland,Spain
Call: Research infrastructure concept development (HORIZON-INFRA-2022-DEV-01, 2022)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2025-11-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2619125.0
EU funding (EUR): 2619125.0
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

Observations from ships, and in particular water column measurements, remain the backbone of much Oceanographic Science, including fisheries, regional oceanography, and global climate science. Every coastal country in Europe has a programme of such observations that feeds data into evaluations in support of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive with these programmes being organised into both regional clusters and serving as contributions to wider international networks. In 2019, as part of the OceanOBS conference, networks identified gaps in their requirements for support and here we propose a programme to address these requirements within the context of the European RI landscape. The proposed new services and access opportunities based on the network needs presented at OceanOBS are: • shared facilities such as training, best practices, access to capability and access to equipment through a European Marine Equipment Pool (EMEP) • data curation to ensure fit for purpose data systems and metadata for both real-time and delayed mode quality-controlled data • secondary quality control to increase consistency and add uncertainty estimates to observations. These will be refined by broad consultation with data originators, governments, funders and end-users. In addition, pilot activities will both provide immediate support to the networks and help to refine a statement of requirements. These requirements will be compared to the set of services already available within the European RI Landscape and on the basis of this a new structure for supporting European Hydrography proposed. Possible models range from complete service delivery within existing RIs and the establishment of no new structures through to the creation of an RI with a set of services unavailable elsewhere.

Keywords: ship observations hydrography data end users best practice ocean demonstration access training co design ri landscape
Shape and size adaptive liquid-crystal microgels: a novel class of responsive colloids (ShapeGels)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Italy
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2025-07-01
End date: 2027-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 193643.28
EU funding (EUR): 193643.28
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The growing demand for advanced soft and stimuli-responsive materials has generated interest in developing deformable micro- and nano-scale particles with programmable transformations. Colloidal microgels–cross-linked polymer networks that undergo reversible isotropic volume changes–stand out for their responsiveness to stimuli like temperature. However, despite innovations that have greatly extended their functionalities, architectures and shapes, their responses are typically limited to simple size changes. Expanding these capabilities to include complex, non-spherical deformations and anisotropic behaviours could significantly enhance their potential in applications such as photonics, microfluidics, biomedicine, and microrobotics. To overcome these limitations, we propose developing Liquid-Crystal Microgels (LCMGs)–a novel class of soft colloidal particles combining the stimuli-responsive properties of microgels with the anisotropic behaviour of liquid crystals. By incorporating anisotropic mesogenic monomers, LCMGs will exhibit programmable, reversible shape and size transitions in response to external stimuli, providing enhanced design flexibility of their deformability and adaptive properties. This research will employ a multi-scale modelling approach to understand how the interplay between the orientational order of liquid crystals and polymer connectivity and elasticity affects the physical properties and responsive behaviour of LCMGs. The goal is to develop a robust computational theoretical framework and simulation tools and models for predicting and designing the properties of LCMGs, and to explore the tailorable collective behaviour of these particles able to toggle between multiple shapes, sizes and inter-particle interactions. This will lay the basis for their experimental realisation and pave the way for multifunctional, reconfigurable materials with advanced applications, and ultimately stimulate new research in soft matter and biological physics.

Keywords: microgels,liquid crystals,elasticity,coarse grained models,responsive materials
Neuropsychiatric Impairments and Neurotransmitter-related Functional Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease (NINFA-AD)

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: Italy
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2025-06-01
End date: 2027-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172750.08
EU funding (EUR): 172750.08
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Depressed mood, agitation, false beliefs, lack of motivation and other alterations in behaviour, usually named with the umbrella term of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), are commonly observed in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). NPS are highly prevalent in people with AD (35-85%) and increase the risk of dementia by up to 10 times. The onset of NPS may even precede that of cognitive deficits and predict subsequent cognitive decline. Although not all patients experience NPS and some experience only very mild symptoms, clarifying AD aetiology is of primary importance to improve early diagnosis, provide better care and mitigate the economic burden of dementia. The neural changes associated with NPS in AD are still unclear and, consequently, wide consensus on the best treatment strategies is lacking. Since the earliest accumulation of AD pathology is observed in the nuclei involved in the production of neurotransmitters, the NINFA-AD project aims to investigate whether alterations in brain functioning influenced by abnormalities in different neurotransmitter pathways may be associated with NPS in people either with or at risk for AD. This aim will be pursued by applying an innovative interdisciplinary approach combining functional magnetic resonance with positron emission tomography imaging, fluid AD biomarkers and cognitive data. The NINFA-AD project will provide novel hypothesis-based insights on the cause of these symptoms that will lead to more efficient treatments and improvements in patients' prognosis. Moreover, the findings could be exploited to develop more informative biomarkers to be used in trials to test the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of novel interventions targeting behavioural problems in AD.