Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Tailoring of Polar Topologies with Optical Pulses (TOPTOP)

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: Belgium,United Kingdom,Switzerland
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 175920.0
EU funding (EUR): 175920.0
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

The past decade has witnessed dramatic progress related to the emergence of different topological polar textures in oxide nanostructures such as vortices, skyrmions, merons, hopfions, among others. These exotic phases are opening new technological perspectives due to their exotic functional properties like negative capacitance, chirality or ultrafast dynamical response. In addition, the fact that these states are metastable and thus non-volatile, allows to consider them as multiweights, that one can exploit in artificial neuromorphic synapses. The main goal of the collaboration between the researcher and the host group is to perform first-principles based effective atomic potential simulations (retrieving all the structural degrees of freedom) of topological phases interacting with electric pulses from a truly quantum-mechanical point of view to tailor the resulting polar ordering. A key novelty of this proposal and the ambitious objective that it pursues, is to study and characterize, from a fundamental point of view, the phonon modes active in the different topological orderings to figure out the relevant modes to be excited and be able to design concrete pulses that provide a deterministic control of the resulting effect on the polar ordering of the material. Other current approaches to the problem only rely on the coupling between two or three modes with their interactions fitted from DFT. Therefore, a full atomistic view of the problem would be desired. Due to the promising technologically relevant results on the near horizon, a deeper and more advanced theoretical inspection without the omission of atomic degrees of freedom that might be relevant for the description of the material is needed with urgency. This project directly tackles these needs. Although being a theoretical work collaboration with leading experimental groups at UCL and UNIGE will be pursued in order to validate the theoretical model and increase the technology readiness level of the project

Keywords: ferroelectricity,topological phases,light matter interaction,optical excitation,dynamical responses,second principles simulations,neuromorhpic computing
The Paradox of Political Marginalisation: Young People and Political Power (YOPOW)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Panel description: Political science, international relations, law
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-08-01
End date: 2030-07-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499964.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499964.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Political marginalisation, understood as the systematic underrepresentation of social groups in political office, constitutes a major democratic problem. By betraying the ideal of equal voice, it biases political decision making, challenges democratic legitimacy, and ultimately risks creating political alienation and discontent. Yet, we fail to understand the persistence of the problem because extant research has not probed the underlying norms that exist in a society about what political power is, who can hold it, and how it can be exercised. Thus, while we know that members of underrepresented groups do not reach out for power to the same extent as others, we do not have a theory that can explain why the voices missing from politics seem to exclude themselves, while those already represented speak with great fervour. YOPOW breaks new ground in the study of political marginalisation by locating its roots in societal norms about political power that make a lasting imprint already early in life. The theoretical framework explains how societal norms affect young people through the messages they receive and internalise and the unequal experiences they have with political power. Methodologically pioneering, the project combines machine-learning techniques and in-depth interpretations to detect how societal norms pattern the meaning of political power across societies and social groups. Empirically, YOPOW generates the first-of-its-kind database of messages about political power directed at young people; insights into their beliefs about power expressed in their own words; and novel data on youths’ early experiences with political power in political youth organisations. This project will significantly improve our understanding of one of the most serious and persistent challenges for democracies of today and the future by exposing the societal norms that give rise to biased beliefs and eventually shape who is seen as fit for power among society’s youngest members.

Keywords: political marginalisation youth societal norms political power
Smart Nanoreactors for Enhanced Electrochemiluminescent Biosensing (NANO-BOOST)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Italy
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2025-STG, 2025)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2030-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498842.0
EU funding (EUR): 1498842.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is luminescence driven by electrochemical reactions, offering unparalleled spatiotemporal control and exceptionally low background noise compared to other optical methods. Over the past two decades, ECL has become a powerful analytical tool, revolutionizing areas ranging from fundamental research to clinical diagnostics, biosensing, and biological applications. Despite these significant advancements, understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind ECL remains a complex and ongoing challenge. Creating confined reaction environments at the nanoscale offer a promising tool to unlock new insights into ECL mechanisms. Key questions in this context are: i) Can we establish a connection between the design of nano electrodes and their nanoconfinement performance in ECL? ii) Can such a connection be a tool capable of simulating various ECL reactions to optimize reaction parameters? iii) Can this model help identify the optimal microenvironment to maximize ECL efficiency? NANO-BOOST will answer these questions by exploring the combined effects of nanoscale geometry and surface chemistry on ECL efficiency with the goal of developing advanced smart ECL Nanoreactors (ECL-NR). Using high-throughput nanofabrication techniques that enable precise control over surface topography and chemistry, NANO-BOOST will bridge the gap between material science and chemistry, creating new synergies to accelerate the discovery of new aspects of ECL mechanisms. NANO-BOOST will establish a definitive correlation between nanostructure design, nanoconfinement, and reaction parameters, thereby pinpointing the optimal conditions to maximize ECL efficiency within specific analytical contexts. These discoveries will contribute to the advancement of high-performance ECL sensing platforms with applications across various scientific domains, such as diagnostics, imaging, and bioanalytical research, consequently propelling early and precise disease detection capabilities.

Keywords: electrochemiluminescence,nanoelectrode,ecl imaging
Population Medicine and Sustainable Development: European Opportunities in collaborating with China to improving global health. (PoPMeD-SuSDeV)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Staff Exchanges
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Spain,Germany,Slovenia,China,Japan
Call: MSCA Staff Exchanges 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-SE-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 662400.0
EU funding (EUR): 662400.0
Participants: 9
Project status: SIGNED

The overarching objective of this Staff Exchanges (SE) program is to form an international network of organizations from Spain, Germany, Slovenia, and China, working on a joint research program in the fields of health, development economics, and anthropology. Population medicine is a new medical paradigm that aims to improve the aggregate and long-term population health by mobilizing available resources through various care responsibilities. The principles of population medicine are aimed at forcing doctors and physicians to shift from a reactive model that treats ill individuals to a proactive model that focuses on the population's health. This SE Program focuses on how economics, as a collection of theories, models, techniques, and values, might enable practitioners in providing better and more efficient treatment to the population they serve. The People’s Republic of China has become a global leader in large-scale preventive screening and the digitalization of healthcare, making essential strides towards a population medicine paradigm. 23 researchers will conduct 144 PMs of secondments in Training, Data Collection, and Research Work in the four countries to Develop an economic framework for population medicine, estimate the causal impact of renewable energy and digital telecommunications infrastructure on sustainable development outcomes, and conduct a social and cultural analysis of the effects of health and sustainable development policies on European immigrants in China. The results will enable European and international medical training institutions to develop better programs and solutions to target and improve the aggregate health of their respective societies. It will bring together these existing collaborating partnerships into an interdisciplinary consortium that synergizes the intersections of their complementary research lines of health, sustainable development, and cultural integration through the training and staff exchange programs.

Keywords: population medicine sustainable development anthropology
Towards observation-constrained UNderstanding and prEdicting of tropical Wetland mEThane emissions (TUNEWET)

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: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2027-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 230774.4
EU funding (EUR): 230774.4
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Tropical wetlands dominate wetland methane emissions globally and play a vital role in recent surges of atmospheric methane. Despite the importance of tropical wetland methane emissions in global methane budgets and future climate change, current knowledge about their magnitude, distribution and variations remains highly uncertain, which impedes effective climate strategies and actions. Through a synergy of biogeochemical (“bottom-up”) and atmospheric (“top-down”) methodologies, I propose the project TUNEWET (Towards observation-constrained UNderstanding and prEdicting of tropical Wetland mEThane emissions) to constrain tropical wetland methane emissions and their responses to climate change by integrating multiple data streams and modelling tools. I will carry out this research with Prof. Guy Schurgers at the newly founded Global Wetland Center (GWC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH). This project will gain new insights into the key processes regulating tropical wetland methane emissions and help resolve the largest uncertainty source in the global methane budget, thereby supporting science-based climate mitigation strategies.

Keywords: tropical wetland,methane emissions,climate change,flux upscaling,atmospheric methane inversion
Carbon Exoskeleton, a disruptive innovation for topology optimization in composites materials. (Carbo-Skeleton)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Accelerator
Destination: Other destinations
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: Italy
Call: EIC Accelerator 2024 - Short application (HORIZON-EIC-2024-ACCELERATOR-01, 2024)
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

As the demand for safety continues to rise in the Automotive, Motorsport and Aerospace sectors, stakeholders are eagerly seeking innovative processes and products to enhance component reliability and overall performance. These industries require components that not only meet stringent safety standards but also contribute to improved efficiency and durability. Our technology is able to address the core needs of key players in the above-mentioned sectors. With state-of-the-art technologies, customers often face challenges such as complex geometries, weight reduction, reliability, sustainability, manufacturing efficiency, and high manufacturing cost. Our innovative process, which includes an advanced software for automated carbon ribs positioning and a new approach to topology optimization in composite structures, allows us to deliver stronger, stiffer, and more reliable composite components. The unique positioning of carbon ribs on our water-soluble expandable mandrel results in significant benefits, including a 35% weight reduction, a 13% increase in stiffness, and a 15% reduction in production costs. This leads to a more efficient and sustainable manufacturing process. Taking into account the global composite material market size of €196bn, growing at an impressive average CAGR of 7.5% and a Serviceable Available Market of 63.5bn, the Carbo-Skeleton project, will allow Addyx to generate a cumulative revenue of €142m in the first five years after commercialization. Although Addyx has recently received external investments from Adler Group and Comec Innovative for a total share of 30%, the path from current TRL 6 to commercialization is still long and full of risks. Addyx is therefore requesting €8.5m to the EIC Accelerator Funding scheme through the blended finance option in order to complete the Carbo-skeleton project and impose Addyx as the leading company in the production of complex composite components.

Keywords: topology optimization,innovative carbon ribs
How is blood (re-)made? Regeneration of human hematopoietic stem cells after transplantation (RESTART)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention,  Diagnosis and T reatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies  and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions , pharmacology, preventative  medicine, epidemiology and public health , digital medicine
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2023-STG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2028-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

How hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) regenerate blood is a major unsolved question, frustrating their effective use for therapy. Every year, >40.000 patients receive an HSPC transplantation (HSCT), as a last-resort therapy for various diseases, including leukemia. However, ~40% of HSCT recipients die, due to poor outgrowth of the donor HSPCs, inflammatory complications or relapse. There is an unmet need for strategies to predict and prevent these adverse outcomes. In mice, single-cell methods have revolutionized our understanding of how hematopoiesis is organized, allowing us to control the outcome of murine HSCT in detail. In contrast, our understanding of human hematopoietic regeneration, and our ability to control this process, is lagging behind. As a clinician in pediatric HSCT and stem cell biologist, my mission is to change this. RESTART aims to comprehensively characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms guiding hematopoietic regeneration in humans. I have pioneered single-cell methods to study human HSPC biology. Here, we will apply state-of-the-art multiomics to dissect the identities and functional states of thousands of HSPCs and their surrounding niche cells in human bone marrow (BM). Embedded in Europe’s largest pediatric cancer center, we will apply these methods to a unique, longitudinal collection of BM samples of pediatric HSCT recipients and their donors, collected before and up to a year after HSCT. Our objectives are: (1) Dissect the cellular and molecular composition of the HSPC population during successful hematopoietic regeneration in human HSCT recipients; (2) Determine how HSCT-induced alterations in BM niche cells affect HSPC fate; (3) Leverage this information to identify and validate single-cell states or trajectories predictive of adverse HSCT outcome (graft failure, relapse). This study will contribute to improved survival of human HSCT recipients and to increased fundamental knowledge on human tissue regeneration.

Keywords: hematopoietic stem cells,tissue regeneration,pediatrics,children,single cell transcriptomics
Using first-principle modeling to study multipolar mitotic spindles in cancerous cells (TRIPOLES)

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: Croatia
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-10-01
End date: 2026-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 146049.6
EU funding (EUR): 146049.6
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Targeted Research Initiative for Pole Organization Leveraging Experiment and Simulation (TRIPOLES). The mitotic spindle is responsible for segregating chromosomes into two identical sets prior to cell division. Errors in the process can result in daughter cells having an incorrect number of chromosomes, a disorder referred to as aneuploidy. Cells with multipolar spindles, an aberrant spindle architecture marked by three or more spindle pole bodies rather than the typical two, are particularly susceptible to making the mistakes that lead to aneuploidy. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms involved in multipolar mitotic spindles or how cells regulate them. In this proposal, we will develop a new theoretical framework that models multipolar mitotic spindles with an unprecedented level of detail. The model will incorporate multiple centrosomes with microtubules emanating from them, explicit chromosome pairs with a severable link, and different species of motor and crosslinking proteins to generate forces. We will first use the model to recreate healthy bipolar spindles, then expand it to investigate tripolar spindle dynamics and how cells regulate excess centrosomes. Our model will use first-principle mechanisms, which will allow us to make predictions that can be tested in experiment by our collaborators. By using theory to motivate specific follow-up experiments in this way, we can uncover novel mechanisms involved in the regulation of mitotic spindles that would otherwise go unnoticed. Beyond three main research objectives, this proposal also includes measures for a two-way transfer of knowledge, effective communication and dissemination of results, and overall management of the project. The work done in this proposal has the potential to not only illuminate how cancer cells regulate their aberrant spindle geometries, but also provide fundamental insight into how healthy bipolar spindles transition into unhealthy architectures.

Keywords: cytoskeleton,microtubules,mitotic spindle,motor proteins,self organization
Building a Decolonized Ethics and Governance Framework for Just and Trustworthy AI in Healthcare (JustHealth)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Doctoral Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Italy,Netherlands,Belgium,South Africa,France,United States
Call: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2291574.24
EU funding (EUR): 2291574.24
Participants: 16
Project status: SIGNED

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has great potential in healthcare, but it also raises deep ethical concerns as it often discriminates vulnerable groups, amplifying systemic inequalities and preventing equitable access to healthcare. Trustworthy AI is not sufficient to avoid this risk. Bias-free AI systems can indeed still be deeply unjust, if they do not embed social justice principles; and the current ethics and governance frameworks that steer the design, development and use of AI tend to perpetuate forms of injustice both at the local and at the global level. Indeed, they mostly neglect the consideration of perspectives and values other the Western ones, especially those from the Global South (Colonialist AI). JustHealth aims at filling this gap by creating the first doctoral program in the EU and beyond to ensure social justice is adequately considered in the design, development and deployment of AI in healthcare. By integrating ethical, governance, engineering, clinical, and co-creation expertise, JustHealth will: a) elaborate a robust decolonized ethics and governance framework for AI in healthcare and tailor it for 2 paradigmatic use cases involving vulnerable people: freezing of gait (FOG) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), respectively affecting the older population of Western countries, and the younger population of countries in the Global South; b) test and validate the framework; c) investigate its transferability, also providing insights for sector-specific standards. The framework will contribute to the deployment of just and trustworthy AI systems that can effectively contribute to just healthcare both at local and global level. JustHealth will offer to 8 DCs an ambitious doctoral programme and exposure to leading EU, South African and US organizations, inc. not academic ones. The project will thus create a brand-new profile of responsible researchers, with a transdisciplinary expertise, and able to address the complex challenges posed by AI.

Keywords: trustworthy artificial intelligence,algorithmic fairness,social justice,decolonized ai,ai in healthcare