Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
OPTImization of the automated Fitting to Outcomes eXpert with language-independent hearing-in-noise test battery and electro-acoustical test box for cochlear implant users (OPTI-FOX)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Belgium,Netherlands,Netherlands,Germany,Spain,Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2010-11-01
End date: 2012-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1747897.4
EU funding (EUR): 1274928.8
Participants: 11
Project status: CLOSED

Patients suffering from sensori-neural hearing loss caused by damaged hair cells in the cochlea and diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, are potential candidates for cochlear implantation. Today, there are a number of important limitations with respect to the optimal use of these devices in deaf patients. Firstly, cochlear implant speech processors need to be adjusted so that sounds perceived by the patient are representational and at a comfortable level. Manual fitting, currently the norm, is technically demanding and time consuming and clearly suboptimal, as it involves only two of the many electrical parameters in the speech processor. Secondly, manipulation of the implant settings is based on subjective judgments of the patient , which are often inconsistent and do not reflect the outcomes on psychoacoustic measures. For the last few years, experts in the field have expressed the need for a new fitting process that optimizes the patient’s hearing in a more efficient and accurate way. For this to happen, the fitting procedure should change from a comfort-driven approach to an outcome-driven one. It should also address as many electrical parameters as possible. Ideally, a cochlear implant should come with an assisted or (semi-)automated fitting procedure in which a large number of parameters may be adjusted, based on measured psycho-acoustic feedback from the implant user. Such an assisted fitting process would drastically reduce the number of man-hours of fitting during the lifetime of the device with qualitative with qualitatively better outcomes. The main objectives of the proposed research project are therefore (i) to turn an existing theoretical automated fitting model into a clinical application by means of various techniques from statistics, machine learning and optimisation; (ii) to develop an evaluation tool to measure functional hearing capacities, in casu the ability to understand speech-in-noise, representative for day-to-day listening situations.

Keywords: rehabilitation hearing impaired - cochlear implantation speech processor - psychoacoustical hearing assessment
Technological platform to develop nutritional additives to reduce methane emissions from ruminants (SMETHANE)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Spain,United Kingdom,Belgium,France,France,France,Spain,United Kingdom,Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2010-12-01
End date: 2012-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1045768.92
EU funding (EUR): 795500.0
Participants: 10
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal aims to provide a technological platform for SME’s to develop and progress further knowledge on the successful use of nutritional additives to reduce methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants: SMEthane. CH4 is the second most important greenhouse gas, after CO2. At a global scale, livestock farming contributes up to 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions. The inhibition of CH4 formation by ruminants has long been an objective of ruminant nutritionists, but a number of barriers to the development of novel dietary additives have been identified. SMEthane is designed to remove the restriction that SME’s face in successfully developing and marketing novel compounds, in particular plant extracts. We will establish research and development platforms to allow SME’s to determine: the means of delivery of such compounds in the diet, knowledge of the dose response curve for such compounds under different production systems, the persistence of the inhibitory effect of such compounds on CH4 production over long periods of time and the potential ‘side effects’ such as change in flavour of the final animal product. SMEthane Research Consortium combines the capabilities of five major research and educational organizations from 4 European countries plus 6 enterprises with long experience in developing nutritional additives. The governance structure of the project has been established to ensure effective direction and management that maximizes the expertise and facilities available at each RTD to better meet SMEs’ needs. Training and dissemination plan considered within SMEthane aim to provide training for the SME sector and its customer through different workshops based in key areas relevant to the development and usage of novel dietary additives to decrease CH4 emissions. An Exploitation and Dissemination Team will be responsible for decisions on knowledge management issues such as patenting, licensing and other exploitations of the project results.

Keywords: methane,rumen,additives,livestock,greenhouse emissions,in vitro,in vivo
Development of Thermal Storage Application for HVAC solutions based on Phase Change Materials (HESTOR)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Estonia,Spain,Spain
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2010-11-01
End date: 2012-10-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 801227.11
EU funding (EUR): 557940.42
Participants: 6
Project status: CLOSED

The Hestor project aims to develop novel process and equipment for storing and using natural thermal energy for improving the performance of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. The integration of existing Thermal Energy Storage (TES) solutions with HVAC systems is not a cost-effective solution compared to HVAC systems using primary energy due to large investments in initial capital costs for the end user and therefore market expects more suitable solutions with return of investments less than 5 years. The use of primary energy from the other hand has to be reduced in order to cut CO2 emission.

Keywords: pcm containerisation,thermal energy
Development of cost-effective, water based power take-off system for marine energy applications (AQUAGEN)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Greece,Portugal,United Kingdom,Denmark,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Denmark
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2011-01-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Duration (months): 39.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2346533.2
EU funding (EUR): 1736950.6
Participants: 10
Project status: CLOSED

The group of SME participants in the AQUAGEN project aims to address a major market opportunity by developing a power take-off (PTO) system targeted at marine energy applications, with the potential to significantly improved reliability and efficiency of around 20%, and with less 25% of O&M costs, when compared with currently available solutions. Since it is a water-based PTO system, the risks of oil leaks in the ocean will also be fully eliminated. The system and components developed will have a broad range of applications, from wave energy, as the main application area, to water desalinization and small hydro power generation, and will therefore benefit a European value chain of SMEs specialised in engineering and green energy generation. To achieve our objectives, we need to develop new scientific knowledge in: design of innovative system components such as a variable speed generator, an adaptative blade turbine, elastomeric structures and the overall hydraulic system; protective coatings for marine environments; modeling the ageing of elastomeric structures; and wireless controlled monitoring of offshore moving equipment. Due to the technical challenges of testing the system, there was a conscious decision to hold the activities of AQUAGEN during a 39 month period. Whilst the SMEs form a supply chain for the manufacture of the ultimate PTO system we have neither the facilities nor the resources to undertake the necessary R&D. The Research for SMEs funding instrument provides the ideal solution, allowing us to outsource the R&D to four RTD Performers – VP, NTNU, UM and CMG. The Foreground Intellectual Property (FIP) generated in the AQUAGEN project will be owned and exploited by the SMEs, envisaging several market segments and a geographical distribution of non-exclusive licenses for markets outside Europe. If the project meets its targets the SMEs will benefit from sales and licensing of the FIP to several millions of €'s.

Keywords: elastomeric structures,fluid dynamics
Ultrasonic detection and removal of fouling inside industrial and domestic pipes (ULTRACLEANPIPE)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: United Kingdom,Spain,Greece,Spain,Denmark
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2010-12-01
End date: 2012-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1429502.0
EU funding (EUR): 1133000.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

Fouling, as defined in this project, is the presence of unintended and unwanted deposits on the inside walls of industrial plant such as pipes, storage vessels, reactor vessels etc. Its occurrence is widespread though all industries, particularly oil and petrochemical pipelines, petrochemical plant, other chemical plant, pharmaceutical production, food processing as well as in plumbing systems throughout the domestic and industrial sector. Fouling shortens the plant life, increases the need for periodic cleaning and pipe replacement. It also causes contamination of the end products which is especially serious when the fouling involves bacterial biofilms and the products are intended for direct human consumption. In addition pipe blockages, deformation, rupture or corrosion cause by a build up of fouling can lead to major incidents such as explosions involving with threats to human life and plant destruction involving loss of product and jobs. In domestic pipes fouling causes taps and valves to seize up and leaks to occur which leads to expensive plumbing costs in replacement parts, high labour costs, expensive repairs from flood damage and disruption to domestic life. ULTRACLEANPIPE offers a novel solution to the general problem of identifying and then removing fouling in industrial plant as well as domestic plumbing. The system prototype will be designed for application to small bore pipes that arise in the food processing and pharmaceuticals production industry as well as in plumbing systems. This focus is taken because (i) small bore pipes are obviously much more prone to than large ones and (ii) contamination of products intended for human consumption is a problem of the highest order. However it is important to emphasise that the ULTRACLEANPIPE principle can be applied to all kinds of fouling in all industry by the use of a range of ultrasonic probe designs and operating frequencies

Keywords: plumbing systems,domestic and industrial sector,periodic cleaning,pipe replacement,contamination,bacterial biofilms,removing fouling,food processing
Combined anode and cathode process to treat landfill leachate (CLEANLEACHATE)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Netherlands,Czechia,Spain,United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2010-12-01
End date: 2012-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1172705.4
EU funding (EUR): 900777.0
Participants: 6
Project status: CLOSED

Waste disposed of in landfill sites degrades over time and produces a liquid waste stream called landfill leachate. The volume of leachate produced is increased by rainfall. It cannot be directly discharged to water courses as it contains many hazardous pollutants and therefore must be retained for treatment. This proposal contains details of the approach we will take to develop an automated, modular, mobile leachate treatment system. The treatment will be carried out directly in an advanced oxidation process that uses reactions at both the anode and the cathode of a new form of electrolytic cell that we will develop. Whilst current treatment methods can be expensive to install and maintain, may involve the use of chemicals and require permanent positioning at the landfill site, our apparatus will allow new treatment strategies to be used by the landfill operators. The automated, mobile system will offer a flexibility of operation that is not currently available. Cost savings will be made due to the reduced treatment time of our system, using reactions at the anode and cathode rather than the anode only. Additional savings can be made by the use of renewable energy to power the process. Electricity is the only resource required, hence wind or photovoltaic generation of power would allow operating costs to be minimised. With over 150,000 landfill sites across Europe, and an estimated annual spend of € 10-17 billion on leachate treatment, there is already a large market available. It is expected that leachate treatment will become a bigger industry as environmental Directives, aimed at improving the quality of EU water, are implemented. Landfill leachate producers will not be the only waste stream producers that could benefit from our apparatus. Other industries such as food production, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals will also be able to see financial and environmental benefits of treating their waste streams using technology developed in the CleanLeachate project

Keywords: anode,cathode,boron doped diamond,electrolytic,electrolytic cell,oxidation,reduction
Development of a low FST and high mechanical performance nanocomposite foam core material for ferries and cruise ship superstructures” (NANOCORE)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Spain,Czechia,Greece,Spain,Spain,Italy,Portugal
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2013-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1235939.0
EU funding (EUR): 975240.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

The main scope of the NANOCORE Project is the development of a new and cost-effective production technology for sandwich structures foam core materials with non-toxic flame retardants and enhanced mechanical properties. The primary reason for this new material development is the to meet the current European requirements of the REACH -Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals- legislation and achieve low Fire, Smoke and Toxicity (FST) values, according to the SOLAS reglations. The technology developed during the project will be directly and easily transferable to other polymer-based materials, such as bulk thermoplastics, thermosets, composites and other foams, enabling them to meet the REACH requirements. In fact, the use of the technology is not expected to be restricted purely to the shipbuilding industry; we anticipate that all application of plastic materials requiring FST properties can be met by the NANOCORE technology.

Keywords: anocomposite foam core
New concept and technology for high energy rock fall protection fences (ABSORBNET)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: France,Spain,Spain,Italy,Estonia,Germany
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2011-01-01
End date: 2012-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1123185.69
EU funding (EUR): 883301.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

The ETAG27 has been endorsed in January 2008 by EOTA. This document defines the technical performances a rock fall protection kit has to meet to get (CE) marking on the product. The rock fall protection market is growing rapidly (+17% p.a.) due to the new consciousness of safety, not only for existing infrastructures, but also for future ones for whom safety is considered at conception stage.ETAG27 will be fully applied from 2014. At this time only certified rock fall protection kit will be authorised to be retailed. ETAG27 raises a technical issue in the case of high energy rocks. Only two models for low energy rock fall protection have been approved by EATO in November 2009 such a time gap proofs the technical challenge issued by ETAG27 and it is clear that strong R&amp;D effort is necessary to obtain high energy products which can meet the requirements.So a new solution is needed to create a new rock fall protection kit based on a new concept to get enhanced performances by specific innovations specially optimised for rock fall protection context: New optimised absorbing material.New set-up processing for materials.New optimised net weaving.Absornet will offer to the market a new generation of rock fall protection kits based on new knowledge technology. Moreover the net will be design to not only meet ETAG27 requirement but also to minimise the remaining stress on anchorages below a level that make installation of rock fall protection kit possible in every ground type. Such a new concept based solution will be a large improvement within the concerned market. The penetration impact is expected to by high thanks to the new technology but also to the ETAG27 application. The amount of research and development needed unfortunately over-passes SMEs potential (in term of knowledge, human resources and time), so the “research for the benefit of SMEs” program is completely adequate to our project.

Keywords: high energy rock fall protection fences
Design, development and evaluation of an orbital laser welding head (ORBITAL)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
Destination: Research for SMEs
Action type: Research for the benefit of specific groups
Countries involved: Spain,Germany,Italy,Spain,Germany,France,Germany
Call:  (FP7-SME-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2011-01-01
End date: 2012-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1366043.54
EU funding (EUR): 967276.0
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

The introduction of laser welding for the manufacturing of heat exchangers and steam generators can introduce some improvements in the manufacturing process such as the increase of the welding speed and of the quality level. Furthermore the automation of the process, involving the use of the laser welding technology, would permit to reduce the time between welding operations. Implementation of the laser welding process in industrial applications where orbital moving is needed involves the development of a special laser welding head. This is why a consortium of SMEs, consisting of companies with complementary expertises, have asked to LABOR, IWS-Fraunhofer and AIMEN to design and develop an orbital laser welding head for using in tube to sheet applications. The ORBITAL system consists in the design, development and construction of a new laser welding head adapted to the specific requirements of the orbital laser welding process and tailored for tube-to-sheet joints used in the production of heat exchangers. The system will be developed in order to enhance the characteristics of the laser welding process: high-speed welding, real-time control, easy automation, data exchange, accuracy. The ORBITAL laser welding system will be designed in order to satisfy the conditions of orbital welding applications, providing a good shielding gas atmosphere and a repeatable and robust positioning of the laser respect to the tubes to be welded thanks to a mechanical finger inserted in it. In order to achieve the objectives, it will be necessary to develop the three following technical aspects: an optical path in order to focus the laser on the workpiece, an electro-mechanical system in order to move and control the speed and path of laser beam around the tube circumference with a high positioning accuracy, and a control system that will be able to control the different parameters of the welding head and all the laser installation in order to perform the welding process.

Keywords: orbital laser welding process,tube-to-sheet joints,heat exchangers
Research Infrastructures on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (RIEEB)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research Infrastructures
Destination: Support to policy development and Programme implementation
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Spain
Call:  (FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES-2010-1, 2010)
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2012-06-30
Duration (months): 15.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169061.0
EU funding (EUR): 120000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The main objective of this proposal is to provide a prospective and retrospective analysis of experimental research infrastructures on Energy Efficiency in Buildings related to their technical and socio-economical impact. These experimental research infrastructures, as being addressed by the Research Priorities for the Definition of a Multi-annual Roadmap and longer term strategy document elaborated for the EC by the Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB) PPP, shall contribute to (1) the implementation of Europe-wide harmonised and standardised labelling system in order to provide reliable measurement of energy performance of buildings, (2) cross national analysis of construction solutions to increase energy and thermal performance of buildings, taking into account the different climate conditions and local building practices, (3) validation of design and assessment models through analysis under real conditions and different climate conditions, in order to carry out benchmarking analysis to increase reliability of simulation software and labelling and (4) increase the cross-national contacts activities of the industrial construction sector by providing a unified, European-wide network of experimental facilities to analyze, improve and show the thermal and energy performance of building elements. By first identifying the European Experimental Research Infrastructures on Energy Efficiency and then analysing their scientific and socio-economic impacts, we shall be able to provide optimization strategies in order to get the maximum impact of these infrastructures.

Keywords: energy efficiency,research infrastructure