Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
A rapid, low-cost, cervical cancer screening platform (HoloCyt)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Supporting innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2017-01-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cervical cancer causes 13.000 deaths and 34.000 new cases in the European Union. 200M tests are performed worldwide per year representing a $3,4B market. Today two tests are performed to diagnose cervical cancer. Firstly, a cervical smear is analysed by a pathologist via a visual subjective inspection using traditional microscopy. This is an 8-step process performed by several persons at different locations. Secondly, if positive, a molecular 4-step HPV test is performed. Results are available after 3 to 4 weeks causing anxiety and frustration for the patient. Typical instruments are expensive and have high related operational costs. Ovizio has designed a direct read vial allowing for the sample to be directly analysed without manipulation. The technology automatically generates objective data, identifying cells, detecting malicious cells and combines cytology and HPV in one test. This is a 3-step process: 1. sampling, 2. analysing, 3. report generation. The test is performed on a small low-cost device giving results in minutes rather than days allowing for near patient testing. A proof of concept and alpha prototype have been built with basic software algorithms. Several test have been performed at hospitals in Belgium and France resulting in two scientific publications and enthusiasm from key opinion leaders. The breakthrough technology transforms microscopic images into actionable data, corresponding to a market need of faster and improved testing, allowing healthcare organisations of member states to reduce costs and improve testing ratio’s. The company has a team that has done it before completed with highly skilled subject experts in the field and has launched 3 products laying the foundations for this project.

Keywords: imaging diagnostics near patient personalised medicine
Surface Promoted Enhanced Transport of Li-ions (SUPER-Lion)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-03-15
End date: 2018-11-14
Duration (months): 20.0
Total project cost (EUR): 144000.0
EU funding (EUR): 144000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

As a rechargeable energy source lithium ion batteries (LIB) with a solid-state electrolyte is a highly desired option compared to LIB with liquid electrolytes due to several advantages, such as improved safety and extended lifetime, in addition to enabling devices with both high energy and power densities. However, despite an extensive research effort in this field development of all-solid-state batteries have not yet started to reached its full potential, largely because of the lack of suitable electrolyte candidate materials that offers both high ionic conductivity and good electrochemical stability. We propose, within SUPER-Lion, the use of a novel nano composite electrolyte (NCE) that would enable solid-state LIB to reach their full potential, achieving both high ionic conductivities, combined with good mechanical and electrochemical stability. The NCE consists of a nanoporous insulator that provides both mechanical stability and a high effective internal surface area. The internal surface of the nanoporous matrix is coated with nanometer thin layers of a lithium salt that supply the necessary Li+ ions. The enhanced ion transport at the interface between the surface of the insulator and the lithium salt is exploited to make a NCE with high ion conductivity. By exploiting the effect of nanoconfinment the ionic conductivity of such interfaces can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude through an effect described as superionic transitions. The NCE will be manufactured through the combination of atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD). Due to the self-limiting nature of the ALD/MLD technique it is perfect for deposition of thin layers where uniformity, subatomic thickness control and high quality films are of utter most importance. The ALD/MLD technique also enables the NCE to be deposited on 3D structured electrodes with high aspect ratios, thus enabling a further increase in the power and energy density of all-solid state batteries.

Keywords: lithium ion batteries,solid state,composite materials,electrolyte,thin films,ionic conductivity,atomic layer deposition
Microbiological fluorescence observatory for antibiotic resistance tracking (MuFLOART)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Panel description: Ecology, biodiversity, environmental change, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, microbial ecology, marine biology, ecophysiology, theoretical developments and modelling
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2018-PoC, 2018)
Start date: 2018-10-01
End date: 2020-03-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149249.0
EU funding (EUR): 149249.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The accurate quantification of microbial populations is critical for understanding how microbes evolve and adapt to stressful environments. This, in turn, can help improve rationales for drug deployment aimed at minimising the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Working on ERC-funded research into how microbial communities optimise their virulence traits and mediate drug-resistance, our team identified a need for a low cost photometry device capable of high-throughput quantification of microbial phenotypes such as microbial growth rates and metabolic efficiencies; microbial dose responses and susceptibility to antibiotics; antibiotic interactions datasets; microbial individuality and heterogeneity data and population mean gene expression profiles for fluorescently labeled genes. There are multiple positive consequences of having these capabilities at low cost: we can create high-throughput data pipelines for microbiology research, particularly for evolutionary studies or phenotypic screens; we can improve the dissemination of high-quality phenotypic data analysis algorithms (such as synergy tests for antibiotics) and so provide standardisation for those phenotypic assays; schools can benefit from the low-costs laboratory hardware and bring data analysis for microbiology into their mathematics, biology or computer science teaching; our lightweight devices with small footprints can be used to access geographically hard-to-reach areas where drug resistance phenotyping could be conducted using either battery or solar power. We are, therefore, now in the process of creating two prototypes that can perform these functions and we are seeking funding to finalise their design and field test the devices in three different settings: a partner research laboratory studying microbial evolution, a hospital research laboratory studying antimicrobial resistance and finally schools in a top-10 deprived area of the UK that cannot afford biotechnology equipment for teaching science.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance,low cost spectrophotometry,microbial evolution,optimisation algorithms,high throughput data analysis,science education,microbiology research
Machiavelli and Machiavellism in Japan: 1868-1968. For an Intellectual History of Realism from its Outskirts (Makyaverri)

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: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-09-01
End date: 2022-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 196707.84
EU funding (EUR): 196707.84
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project studies the fortune in the modern and contemporary Japanese culture (1868-1968) of the notion of Machiavellian realism—the representation of Machiavelli as the father of modern Realpolitik. The analysis will focus, in particular, on the relationship between realism and conflict, which has been fundamental in the nineteenth and twentieth century historiography on Machiavelli as well as in the Japanese discourse on national identity. The inquiry will not address the Japanese interpretations of Machiavelli as an isolated case, but will explore their relations to the wider consideration that the Italian thinker enjoyed in the West, especially in the US and Italy. Through the study of the transfers, exchanges, and interactions between the Japanese interpreters and their European and American colleagues, we aim at sketching a global history of Machiavellism and modern realism from the eccentric perspective of Japan. Our expectation is that, by doing so, we will be able to question some of the fundamental assumptions lying behind the conception of realism as it established itself in mainstream modern politics. In the proposed project, supervision by an expert in Machiavelli and a theorist and methodologist of Global Intellectual History will help the experienced researcher, who has a background both in early modern Italian thought and Japanese intellectual history, to produce a truly global reflection without loosing theoretical depth and historical accuracy. The final goal is to reach out to a wide audience of academics, non-academic experts of foreign policies and interested laymen, showing the potential for intellectual history to contribute to extra-academic debates on global politics. Training will not only focus on specific skills and knowledge within the fields of Renaissance Studies and Global History, but also in the writing and management of research projects, allowing the experienced researcher to step forward with his career towards tenure track.

Keywords: global intellectual history,machiavelli,modern and contemporary japan,history of political thought
Quantum Spectroscopy: exploring new states of matter out of equilibrium (QSpec-NewMat)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Spain,Germany
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2015-AdG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-10-01
End date: 2021-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2492500.0
EU funding (EUR): 1620000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

This project addresses the development of novel theoretical and computational tools that utilize the quantum nature of light to understand and control quantum phenomena in complex systems in and out of equilibrium. Some examples of these processes include exciton-exciton interaction, quantum coherence, assisted energy and charge transport, photochemistry, and new states of matter. The present project aims to build up the basic theoretical and computational machinery to allow quantum computations of the electronic and ionic dynamics of atomic, molecular or extended systems coupled to quantised electromagnetic fields and thereby set the stage for a new era in the first-principle computational modelling of light-matter interactions. To achieve this goal, we will combine the principles of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and quantum electrodynamics (QED) into a new quantum electrodynamical-DFT approach named as “QEDFT”. Insight, design and control define the scientific rationale of the project, which will focus on the discovery of the general principles that describe and control systems far from equilibrium and orchestrate the behavior of many electrons and atoms to create new phenomena/states of matter. Besides developing and implementing the new theory of QEDFT, we will investigate atoms and molecules with quantum optical fields; whether and how selected laser pulses drive molecules and solids into new states of matter that have no equilibrium counterpart. What happens when it enters these coherent states? The objective is to identify the spectroscopic fingerprint of those new states. Which states arise in the strong light-matter coupling regime? e.g. hybridized states such as photon bound states, exciton/plasmon-polariton states, so far still undiscovered states. The long-term goal is to deliver an all-out theoretical and computational toolbox for QED-TDDFT applicable to complex molecular systems (like presently approachable by DFT and by TDDFT).

Keywords: first principles modeling,tddft,non linear coherent spectroscopy,nanostructures 1d and 2d,decoherence and electronic correlation,optimal control theory,non adiabatic molecular dynamics
Challenging Computational Infeasibility: PCP and Boolean functions (PCPABF)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2018-ADG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2059375.0
EU funding (EUR): 2059375.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Computer Science, in particular, Analysis of Algorithms and Computational-Complexity theory, classify algorithmic-problems into feasible ones and those that cannot be efficiently-solved. Many fundamental problems were shown NP-hard, therefore, unless P=NP, they are infeasible. Consequently, research efforts shifted towards approximation algorithms, which find close-to-optimal solutions for NP-hard optimization problems. The PCP Theorem and its application to infeasibility of approximation establish that, unless P=NP, there are no efficient approximation algorithms for numerous classical problems; research that won the authors --the PI included-- the 2001 Godel prize. To show infeasibility of approximation of some fundamental problems, however, a stronger PCP was postulated in 2002, namely, Khot's Unique-Games Conjecture. It has transformed our understanding of optimization problems, provoked new tools in order to refute it and motivating new sophisticated techniques aimed at proving it. Recently Khot, Minzer (a student of the PI) and the PI proved a related conjecture: the 2-to-2-Games conjecture (our paper just won Best Paper award at FOCS'18). In light of that progress, recognized by the community as half the distance towards the Unique-Games conjecture, resolving the Unique-Games conjecture seems much more likely. A field that plays a crucial role in this progress is Analysis of Boolean-functions. For the recent breakthrough we had to dive deep into expansion properties of the Grassmann-graph. The insight was subsequently applied to achieve much awaited progress on fundamental properties of the Johnson-graph. With the emergence of cloud-computing, cryptocurrency, public-ledger and Blockchain technologies, the PCP methodology has found new and exciting applications. This framework governs SNARKs, which is a new, emerging technology, and the ZCASH technology on top of Blockchain. This is a thriving research area, but also an extremely vibrant High-Tech sector.

Keywords: computational complexity,hardness of approximation,inapproximability,unique games,analysis of boolean functions,sharp threshold
Exceptional Quantum Gravity (eQG)

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: Germany
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2016-ADG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-12-01
End date: 2024-11-30
Duration (months): 84.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1918750.0
EU funding (EUR): 1918750.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Motivated by the overwhelming success of symmetry concepts in formulating basic laws of physics, the present proposal (eQG) seeks to develop a new symmetry based approach to the problem of reconciling Quantum Mechanics and Einstein’s General Relativity into a consistent theory of Quantum Gravity, regarded by many as the greatest challenge of contemporary theoretical physics. The need for such a theory is most pressing for the resolution of black hole singularities and the Big Bang, but it is equally crucial to the search for a consistent UV completion of the Standard Model of Particle Physics and the unification of the fundamental interactions. eQG aims to tackle this problem from a new perspective, bringing together very different strands of development: on the one hand, by paying particular attention to recent advances in our understanding of cosmological singularities and the evidence for novel infinite-dimensional duality symmetries near the singularity that has emerged in supergravity and string theory, and to recent progress in formulating ‘exceptional geometries’ transcending Riemannian geometry; on the other hand, by exploiting insights from modern canonical quantisation towards a better understanding of the basic degrees of freedom and the dynamics of quantum space-time. The main focus of eQG will be the ‘maximally extended’ exceptional hyperbolic Kac–Moody symmetry E10, whose uniquely distinguished status makes it a prime candidate symmetry for unifying the known dualities of string and M theory, for a conceptually precise scenario of emergent (quantum) space and time near the singularity, and finally, for replacing supersymmetry as a guiding principle for unification. Consequently, the principal goal of eQG will be to explore how this symmetry can define a theory of quantum gravity, how it acts on its fundamental degrees of freedom, what the special features are of the quantised theory, and what physical predictions can be derived from it.
Ocean Reef Tower Oases: Feeding the World, Restoring the Oceans (ORTO)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Bulgaria
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-07-01
End date: 2018-12-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Meeting the 70% food gap predicted by 2050 will require new sustainable food production. Aquaculture has strong potential, but fragile marine ecosystems have been significantly damaged by human influence, including through Eutrophication. The resulting ‘dead zones’ reduce the already limited area of coastal waters available for current aquaculture approaches. Sea Harmony has produced ORTO (Ocean Reef Tower Oases), an integrated aquaculture concept adding automated harvesting and scalable production to the company’s patented “Pisa Reef“ vertical mussel reef technology. Pisa Reefs are ideal locations for mussels, which rapidly reverse Eutrophication, restoring deoxygenated “dead zones”, seeding robust food chains, and sequestering carbon as effectively as the same area of forest. Suspended between ocean surface and bottom at depths down to 100m, Pisa Reefs avoid problems from sea traffic, weather, surface pollution or bottom contamination with limit other aquacultures. This opens up exploitation of the vast area of the continental shelves. Continental shelf aquaculture has the potential to exponentially scale food production from today’s limited volumes. ORTO transforms Pisa Reefs into sustainable, efficient, low-carbon, multi-species aquaculture hubs: a game-changing approach that greatly expands markets and opportunities for Europe. Revitalising coastal waters and communities, we anticipate halving EU Mussel imports within 12 years of project start; earning us €256M in direct revenue and creating 272 jobs. In ORTO Phase 1 (6 months), we will: demonstrate Harvester and Mobile Production Unit prototypes; enhance IP strategy to foster innovation and global exploitation; improve market knowledge with better metrics, competitive analyses, and pricing; secure up to 5 commercial trials for phase 2 ecosystem production replication (at minimum viable size); perform detailed planning and secure co-financing for phase 2; and refine our analysis of opportunities and risks.

Keywords: eutrophication,reef,mussels
Brain inspired AI processing technology allowing for edge computing that transforms “non-smart chips” into “smart” chips (Synthara Edge)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2020-04-30
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Connected devices in use worldwide now top 17 billion, 7 billion of which are IoT devices. These devices rely heavily on cloud computing which is problematic for several reasons. The best solution to these challenges is to minimize transmission of data to the cloud, made possible by edge computing. However, because of the limited energy resources available for onboard electronics, especially with data intensive AI, edge computing presents difficulties. As each new IoT device requires a unique chip, development costs soar, not least because chip manufacturers typically lack this expertise in-house. Existing AI co-processing solutions offered by vendors need to become 5-10x more energy efficient to make IoT projects such as automotive or industrial smart sensing applications viable. We make high-performance ""non-smart"" chips smart by using an edge-based AI processing solution that once integrated allows an IoT device to compute at the source - making the information collected meaningful without the need for the cloud. Our unique blend of technologies is protected by multiple patents and provides a solution that overcomes the challenges of edge computing. Importantly, our co-processor only computes when data is present, requires 90% fewer calculations, is up to 100x more power efficient in comparison with competing solutions and can be deployed quickly. Synthara edge will transform the market by providing an easily integrated solution to chip makers so that the data their solutions collect can be computed at the edge. By combining our AI expertise and chip production we will launch the IoT market into a new paradigm. This will commence with industrial, automotive and aerospace applications but will extend to others soon.

Keywords: co processor,iiot