Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Vaccine lot to Vaccine lot comparison by consistency testing. (VAC2VAC)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Innovative Medicines Initiative 2
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: IMI2 (Art-187)
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Germany,Austria,Italy,Germany,Belgium,Belgium,France,Netherlands,Netherlands,Netherlands,Netherlands,Denmark,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: The Consistency Approach to Quality Control in Vaccine Manufacture (H2020-JTI-IMI2-2015-03-two-stage, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2022-02-28
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 16372929.0
EU funding (EUR): 7850000.0
Participants: 27
Project status: CLOSED

Lot release testing of established vaccines relies on using animal models. Many of these models were developed decades ago and reflect the level of product knowledge, production technology and quality management in those days. Current production techniques are optimised, in-process control is implemented and tight quality management systems are in place. These developments have brought testing for lot-to-lot consistency into reach. The consistency approach involves the use of a set of parameters obtained by using innovative in vitro technologies, to define the product along the manufacturing pathway and to ensure similarity to a lot of proven efficacy and safety. The ambition of the VAC2VAC project is a demonstrated proof of concept of the consistency approach for lot release testing. We will develop/optimise and validate innovative in vitro methods for the categories of established vaccines on the market. Product profiles will be defined using analytical methods, cell-based assays and bioinformatics. The project includes 7 WPs: 4 on R&D, and one each on validation, promotion to regulatory acceptance and consortium management. Consortium partners represent the vaccine stakeholder groups (OMCLs, Academia, Translational research institutes and Vaccinology alliances) and are complementary for the expertise ranging from method development and validation to facilitating and providing guidance to regulatory acceptance. Acceptance will be promoted by strategic guidance activities: a roadmap conference, workshops and training courses. Implementation of the consistency approach in lot release testing has multiple impact: 1) strengthening fundamental understanding of vaccine products resulting in enhanced understanding of vaccine quality 2) strengthening competitiveness of European Vaccine Industries resulting in reduced QC costs and shortened QC time. 3) strengthening European animal welfare policies resulting in a substantial reduction in animal numbers for vaccine QC

Keywords: vaccine manufacture testing quality control
Crop diversification and low-input farming across Europe: from practitioners engagement and ecosystems services to increased revenues and chain organisation (Diverfarming)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
Theme: Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Germany,Spain,Italy,Spain,Italy,Italy,Spain,Italy,Germany,Switzerland,Hungary,Finland,Finland,Hungary,Netherlands,Netherlands,Netherlands,Netherlands,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Crop diversification systems for the delivery of food, feed, industrial products and ecosystems services - from farm benefits to value-chain organisation (H2020-RUR-2016-2, 2016)
Start date: 2017-05-01
End date: 2022-10-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 9999277.5
EU funding (EUR): 9999277.5
Participants: 27
Project status: SIGNED

With the long-term view of increasing diversification and biodiversity in Europe and fostering sustainable development of bioeconomy, the Diverfarming consortium come together to develop and deploy innovative farming and agribusiness strategies. Diverfarming will increase the long-term resilience, sustainability and economic revenues of agriculture across the EU by assessing the real benefits and minimising the limitations, barriers and drawbacks of diversified cropping systems under low-input agronomic practices that are tailor-made to fit the unique characteristics of six EU pedoclimatic regions (Mediterranean south and north, Atlantic central, Continental, Pannonian and Boreal), and by adapting and optimising the downstream value chains organization. This approach will provide: i) increased overall land productivity; ii) more rational use of farm land and farming inputs (water, energy, machinery, fertilisers, pesticides); ii) improved delivery of ecosystem services by increments in biodiversity and soil quality; iii) proper organization of downstream value chains adapted to the new diversified cropping systems with decreased use of energy; and iv) access to new markets and reduced economy risks by adoption of new products in time and space. The diversified cropping systems will be tested in field case studies for major crops within each pedoclimatic region. In the end, Diverfarming focuses on research and innovation for rural development, with emphasis on developing new framework systems and business models adapted to the rural context of each pedoclimatic area of the EU, to foster sustainable growth through adoption of diversification, sustainable practices and efficient use of resources.

Keywords: crop diversification,ecosystem services,land productivity,crop quality,production costs,agricultural value chain,efficient use of resources,policy framework
The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life. (MONPLAS)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Belgium,Sweden,Netherlands,Denmark,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2024-03-31
Duration (months): 51.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3908325.24
EU funding (EUR): 3908325.24
Participants: 9
Project status: SIGNED

Micro and nanoplastics have recently been found in our soil, tap water, bottled water, beer and even in the air we breathe, with a growing concern about the potential health risks they pose to us. Whether that is through ingesting the harmful bacteria they pick up when coming from wastewater plants, or just through injury and death of cells through contact, possibly through absorption of nanoplastics by cells, we really don’t know. Which is why there is an urgent need for more research on their toxicity and also why a new EC drinking water directive is to be published in 2019 stating that water companies will need to measure concentrations of microplastics from within two years for positive release and inspection. However, even though a standard measurement method will be published in 2019 for water, its necessary use of existing and expensive scientific laboratory equipment, such as microscopy and FTIR or Raman spectroscopy, will make it prohibitively expensive for in line use for many companies across Europe especially considering its need for highly trained personnel. There is therefore a need to develop suitable technologies for a robust, easy to use and low cost industrial instrument, whose measurements will correspond directly to the aforementioned standard, as well as train engineers for method development and operation. Given these multiple technical and analytical challenges, and that global production of plastic, that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, is expected to triple by 2050; we propose a timely four year Initial Training Network to train multiple Early State Researchers throughout various scientific areas. Consisting of some of Europe's greatest experts in their fields it will provide tomorrows talent with the skills and knowledge to tackle possibly one of mankind's greatest threats to its existence whilst they jointly develop the technologies for the industrial instrument in collaboration with end-users and equipment manufacturers.

Keywords: microplastics nanoplastics microfluidics photonics optics toxicology instrumentation
Flexible automated manufacturing of RST Facets: High Performance Solar Reflectors for CSP industry (AUTO-RST)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Spain
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2, 2019)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2022-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2253190.0
EU funding (EUR): 1577233.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

TEWER is a Spanish Engineering Company founded in 2014 by a team of experts in design, optimization and product development for solar plants and industrial technologies, with strong presence in the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) energy market. TEWER’s RST solar reflector is a disruptive patented solution, a unique sandwich-type, high performance facet for CSP applications, with very robust behaviour under working conditions and with an innovative design and manufacturing process. The technology proposed will remarkably enhance the optical quality to values lower than 0.6mrad for any operational conditions as well as produce the first facets in the market of up to 7sqm. This will allow to reduce the solar field investment by 15% (around 23M€ out of 156M€), disrupting the existing tower thermosolar market. The RST project and its possible future evolutions with joined optimizations with heliostats are aimed at a cost reduction of energy generation using this technology to the tune of 65 to 75 €/MWh depending on the plant location and other business parameters as financing cost. This project drastically improves the production/cost ratio, including both CAPEX and OPEX. The main objective of the SMEI Phase 2 Project is to transition form the artisanal making of one-off individual facets to a pre-series production that allows to reproduce the design results in large numbers. This will be reached through the deployment of a pilot pre-series production line, representative of the future series production process to verify and validate the quality and performance of representative batches. Once the necessary re-engineering is done, the production process optimized and the facets thoroughly tested and validated, the RST production technology will be ready for market replication. The duration of the project will be of 24 months with a total budget of €2,253,190.

Keywords: tower solar cps technology,heliostat,facet,csp plant,solar reflector
Transitioning Textile Industry Into the 21st Century: the New Generation Needle by Needle Knitting Machine (NbyN)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Italy
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2019-03-31
Duration (months): 3.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The knitting machine industry has not evolved significantly in the past 25 years and they use the same mainly mechanical and partially electrical knitting machines today as they did in the last millennium. Based on our 30+ years’ experience in this industry we have developed a new type of knitting machine that can revolutionise the complete industry. Instead of moving the knitting needles using mechanical cams on a predefined route (present solution used by industry), we have integrated miniature stepper motors to move each needle individually (needle by needle). Our innovation results in a faster, more versatile and cheaper machine allowing the production of limitless different designs in a single batch (Just in Time manufacturing). The aim of NbyN development is to take our circular knitting machine for hosiery to the market (as the market entry point) and through it pilot the technology for the industry. The second step will be to apply our NbyN technology to all type of knitting machines. The potential impact of this development is huge in the long term, but even in the short term we see that the NbyN circular knitting machines for hosiery will generate profits in the region of € 5 million 3 years after the development is completed. We have wide range of networks (over 50 past customers) and have sold over 1,500 custom machines to the industry. Based on feedback from our flagship partners there is a significant need for our innovation (see Letters of Intent from potential customers). This gives us the perfect platform to commercialise our new technology. The aim of the Phase 1 project is to review the market, adjust our business strategy (licencing or distribution) and prepare for product development under the Phase 2 project.

Keywords: circular knitting machine,fashion,textile industry,versatile production
Implementation of workplace innovation scheme in Southern European SMEs (INNovaSouth)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Italy,Greece
Call: Workplace innovation uptake by SMEs (H2020-INNOSUP-2019-04, 2019)
Start date: 2019-06-01
End date: 2021-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 299875.0
EU funding (EUR): 299875.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of INNovaSouth project is to stimulate Southern European SMEs to implement new organizational models for the management of human resources and innovative solutions for the modernization of the workplace. The INNovaSouth innovative model of best practices of non-technological innovation will allow Italian and Greek SMEs to find simple, immediate and innovative solutions to increase employee’s motivation and productivity, which will be translated into added value for the business and more benefits for the entrepreneurs. The piloting scheme will be initially implemented in Sicily and Thessaly regions, giving rise to a multiplier effect boosted by a targeted dissemination strategy conceived and implemented by partners. The model designed will be developed within an Online Manual of Good Practice on Workplace Innovations based on a four-quadrant matrix, resulting from two categorisations of practices and workplace innovations. The categories are defined according to the economic nature of the solutions (Monetary and Non-Monetary Innovations) and the grade of complexity for the implementation of those actions (Short-term and Long-term Innovations). To adopt effectively these solutions, vouchers with value of € 8.000, funded by H2020 Programme, will be provided to be spent on workplace innovations activities, goods, and tools. Voucher provision will be regulated through an open call for projects that will ensure funds for 24 companies in the regions. In addition, SMEs managers and employees will have the chance to follow an online training programme in ICT WPI System offered by partners that will improve their competences in several topics. This new context-based mechanisms could attract more skilled workforce and generate entrepreneurial dynamism and widespread prosperity, stimulating other companies to adopt similar mechanisms.

Keywords: workplace innovation,skills improvement,voucher,sicily,greece
Integrating robotic control and planning with human activity prediction for efficient human robot collaboration (Predict-Plan-Control)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Standard European Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-05-01
End date: 2020-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In this project, I will develop a robotic planning and control system that performs human-robot collaborative manipulation tasks. The system will enable robots to help a human perform continuous forceful operations on a workpiece---grasping and moving the piece in coordination, in a way that is efficient and comfortable for both the human and the robot. This requires a novel integrated approach involving three components: control, human-interaction, and grasp planning. First, I will develop a cooperative controller that, in addition to responding to human motion and forces, can also explore freedoms natural to a given task, e.g. continuous grasp regions on objects. Second, I will develop probabilistic models for human motion, forces and comfort during interaction with robots. These models will inform the controller about human intentions and needs. Third, I will develop a grasp planner that can evaluate how effective a certain grasp is for the progress of the rest of the task. Such a capable human-robot collaborative manipulation system, integrating control, human-interaction, and grasp planning, is completely novel and does not yet exist anywhere else to the best of my knowledge. The multidisciplinary character of this project will provide me with a unique set of expertise complementing my previous knowledge in cooperative robot control with new skills in human activity prediction and grasp planning. I will be working with Prof. Cohn, an expert in human activity recognition and prediction, and Dr Dogar, an expert in robotic planning. This fellowship will enable the transfer of knowledge between their group and me through hands-on collaborative work and mutual training. It will strengthen my professional reputation and skill set, help me become a world-leading expert in human-robot collaborative manipulation, and will be a critical stepping stone in my career plan to attain a permanent academic position at a leading institution.

Keywords: cooperative control,grasp planning,human activity recognition and prediction,human robot physical interaction
Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe (UniSAFE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Science with and for Society
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Germany,Poland,Sweden,Sweden,Lithuania,Belgium,France,Czechia,United Kingdom
Call: Gender-based violence including sexual harassment in research organisations and universities (H2020-SwafS-2020-1, 2020)
Start date: 2021-02-01
End date: 2024-01-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3198540.0
EU funding (EUR): 3198540.0
Participants: 10
Project status: SIGNED

UniSAFE has a double objective. First, to produce robust and knowledge on gender-based violence (GBV) in universities and research organisations. Second, to translate the knowledge into operational tools and recommendations for universities, research organisations and policymakers to reduce GBV. UniSAFE examines the mechanisms of GBV, its determinants, antecedents and consequences, by proposing a multi-level research design to collect, analyse, and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data: 1.Prevalence and impacts of GBV are analysed via a survey implemented in 45 RPOs in 15 member states, and via a Europe-wide survey of Marie Curie Fellows. 2.Organisational responses and instruments are analysed via case studies, interviews, and a strategic mapping of the 45 RPOs. 3.Legal and policy frameworks are analysed via extensive mapping by national experts in 30 EU Member States, Associated Countries and Third Countries. An ambitious and holistic 7P model, covering prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision of services, partnerships and policy, is used to collect and analyse data on each level. The model is better suited to collect data, analyse their relations, and translate findings into operational tools than the conventional 3P model or the Istanbul Convention 4P model. The same 7P model is used to co-design a comprehensive set of measures and tools to be applied inside universities and research organisations and by other stakeholders, including policymakers and RFOs. UniSAFE relies on a strong multi-disciplinary consortium of 10 European partners. Its strength is based on the partners’ in-depth knowledge and extensive track record in researching GBV, translating academic insights into operational tools, including the GEAR-tool, disseminating knowledge, including a direct link to the Gender Equality Academy, developing policy recommendations at the EU level, and empowering stakeholders to exploit project results, with a carefully designed impact plan.

Keywords: sexual harassment,research organisations,universities,operational tools,prevalence,prevention,protection,prosecution,provision of services,partnerships,policies,institutional change
High-throughput directed evolution to engineer thermostable therapeutic proteins (HTS-STABTHERAPRO)

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: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-08-01
End date: 2020-10-22
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project will establish a novel high-throughput directed evolution platform for evaluating large libraries of therapeutic protein (TP) variants for increased thermostability, slower global or local unfolding rates, and minimised aggregation propensity. This will require several recent advances to be coupled into a single system. Directed evolution can be carried out by encapsulating single plasmids, each encoding a unique protein variant, into droplets of an emulsion, then using cell-free expression to generate the protein in each droplet. This project will extend this approach to incorporate non-natural amino-acid fluorophores into the protein to create a FRET-based signal that would give a direct report on protein expression levels, and then also on the stability (denaturation) of the protein (FRET-loss) upon stimulation by heating. Such heating will initially be applied to droplets in bulk for defined periods of time to allow global unfolding and aggregation, and then recooled prior to FACS sorting for variants that best retain the FRET signal. Aggregation under native (low temperature) conditions is known to be linked to local protein unfolding events that are relatively rare. To extend the screening approach for directly evolving slower local unfolding events, a fast IR-induced temperature-jump perturbation will be used to cause only local unfolding prior to FACS sorting. Such a platform would be used to directly evolve TPs with increased thermostability (slow global unfolding), and then slower local unfolding, which will combine to decrease aggregation propensity. An enzymatic system (bovine enterokinase) will be used initially to establish and validate the set-up, taking advantage of the simple fluorescent assay for enzyme activity. Once established, the set-up will then be applied to therapeutic antibody fragment proteins, using FRET to screen for retention of folded structure upon heating.

Keywords: directed evolution,therapeutic proteins,fret,high throughput screening,microfluidics,thermostable protein,antibody fragments