Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF LIGNIN-DERIVED END-PRODUCTS VIA DEPOLYMERISATION REACTIONS (SPLENDOR)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Circular Bio-based Europe
Action type: Innovation actions
Partnership: CBE (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Belgium,United Kingdom,Finland,Sweden,Germany,France,Netherlands
Call: Selective and sustainable (co)-production of lignin-derived aromatics (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024, 2024)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2028-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 9194802.0
EU funding (EUR): 7318641.0
Participants: 12
Project status: SIGNED

SPLENDOR aims to demonstrate a groundbreaking one-step depolymerization technology that efficiently converts lignin from black liquor, a pulping industry byproduct, into valuable aromatic chemicals, without the need for pre-treatment, additional chemicals, or catalysts. This process integrates seamlessly into pulp mills, enhancing scalability and cost-efficiency. It achieves complete conversion of lignin into bio-aromatic monomers, dimers, and oligomers, while recycling inorganic chemicals back to the mill in a zero-waste approach. SPLENDOR will optimize the conversion of black liquor into high-value aromatic chemicals like vanillin and syringol using advanced analytics and microkinetic modeling to manage lignin variability. The long-term continuous operation of the hydrothermal depolymerization process will be performed to address engineering challenges. Separation and purification technologies will be designed and integrated to ensure a 99% product recovery, optimized for further valorization. A 250 L/h prototype will operate for six months in an operational pulp mill, providing data for future scale-up to a 5000 L/h plant. The project will also develop four industrial applications - fine chemicals, waterproofing coatings, plasticizers for tires, and fuel components - and showcase their market potential. SPLENDOR supports a circular economy by converting black liquor into high-value bio-based chemicals, improving resource efficiency, and boosting the European chemical industry's economic viability. By reducing reliance on fossil-based chemicals and integrating production at the lignin source, SPLENDOR enhances European competitiveness and reduces transport-related emissions. The project complies with EU safety regulations and REACH standards, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and environmentally friendly products. Upon commercialization SPLENDOR is expected to save over 800,000 tons of CO2 annually, advancing Europe’s climate goals and circular economy targets.

Keywords: black liquor depolymerization,hydrothermal processing,integration in pulp mill,separation and purification,high value bio aromatic product development
Music as an invitation: liveness in digital piano performances through participating audiences (KDR - UiB)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Norway
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-05-01
End date: 2025-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 226751.04
EU funding (EUR): 226751.04
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This research investigates participation in digital musical performances as a way to enhance a sense of liveness - i.e., the feeling of being connected to other people. For the last 18 months, digital concerts have become the norm due to the restrictions on social interaction during the pandemic. Yet such digital events often challenge the relationship between performer and audience by compromising the experience of liveness. Using Participatory Action Research methods, I will work with women and girls to collaboratively create online piano performances where I am the main performer. Audience feedback and my own reflections as the performer, supported by literature review, will inform knowledge about the intensification of the relational and affective aspects of the music experience and its impact on the sense of liveness. My dual expertise as a musician (pianist) and qualitative researcher are essential here, as they allow me to undertake research both on and through the topic. By focusing research on audiences of women and girls I aim to address the specific lack of opportunities for these groups and challenge the traditional obstacles to participation in classical music. In this way the project will contribute to positive change towards more inclusive music practices for the post-pandemic and digitalised world. Research outputs will be a series of digital concerts which will be streamed via YouTube and music festivals, reflective short essays, two articles to be published in peer-reviewed journals, a technical handbook, and a book of personal reflections integrating researcher and audience perspectives. This research aims to innovate through applying ideas and methods from areas such as music performance, digital technologies, participatory arts, and gender studies. This project will enable me with skills and competencies to become an innovative and socially engaged performer and academic who is a leader in my field and an inspiration for future generations.

Keywords: music performance,piano,piano recital,digital concerts,liveness,audience participation,modes of listening,embodied listening,social acoustics,girls empowerment
EASY LISTENING: Optimizing the consequences of effortful listening in occupational settings (EASYLI)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Netherlands,Denmark,Germany,Italy,Poland,United Kingdom,France
Call: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-02-01
End date: 2028-01-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2052639.26
EU funding (EUR): 1677556.8
Participants: 15
Project status: SIGNED

Disturbing noise is the most frequent workplace complaint. Noise and high levels of listening difficulty and effort lead to stress and fatigue, which are further linked with mental health problems, productivity loss, increased sick leave and early retirement (annual burden 476-580 billion Euros in Europe). In demanding or noisy work situations, or for people with impaired hearing, high effort may be needed to maintain performance. This can have adverse consequences such as stress and fatigue. However, applying effort to listening leads to positive consequences as well (good work performance, pleasure, safety, societal participation). In EASILY, our stance is to optimize the ratio between the costs and benefits of effortful listening (listening value) in order to understand and reduce its socioeconomic burden. As we lack tools to measure listening value, EASYLI will train 6 research fellows to develop and apply an innovative, interdisciplinary toolbox of ambulatory and laboratory measures of listening effort and listening value. They will gain inter-sectoral knowledge, apply real-time acoustic scene analysis, virtual acoustics, and physiological and subjective measures in laboratory and real-life occupational conditions. With this approach, EASYLI aims to detect fatigue early, and examine how individualized interventions (e.g. machine learning-based speech enhancement algorithms, hearing aids) optimize listening value. EASYLI consists of 5 academic partners and 4 non-academic partners representing hearing-aid and communication systems industries, audiology, and occupational sectors with challenging acoustic environments. The EASYLI doctorate programme will train a new generation of leading entrepreneurial scientists, and will stimulate employment by developing tools that allow early identification and prevention of listening related fatigue and stress.

Keywords: listening effort,occupational settings,communication systems,physiological measures,ema,hearing difficulties,hearing aids,listening value
Creating Inclusive Learning Environments, Socially and Physically for all Children: An Affordance-Based Approach (Social Inclusion)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 187624.32
EU funding (EUR): 187624.32
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

21st-century European society is dynamic and heterogeneous, characterised by cultural diversity resulting not only from migration but also widening acceptance of diversity in sexual orientation, gender cognitive, motor and neural capacities. Architectural and urban designers, educational institutions, and local agencies are called to offer a healthy, inclusive and permanently adaptive environment for all members of this society. The present study aims to develop an intervention model for advancing social interaction and inclusiveness in schools, schoolyards, playgrounds and similar parts of the built environment. It follows an affordance-based approach that supports a better understanding of the fit between the built environment and the people who use it to inform inclusive design approaches. Using a bottom-up approach based on stakeholders’ input, we integrate insights from different disciplines to develop, test and apply an intervention model based on information synthesised from behaviour mapping, tracking, observations, and questionnaires. This multidisciplinary approach delivers a comprehensive, multifaceted perspective on individual behaviours, physical activities, social interactions, and space usages for creating inclusive social settings. Designers, schools, and local authorities can use the intervention model to improve facilities, activities, and spaces, so all children feel safe, accepted, and free to participate, increasing social, mental, and physical health.

Keywords: learning environment,social activity,social interaction,affordances,inclusiveness
Efficient water splitting via a flexible solar-powered Hybrid thermochemical-Sulphur dioxide depolarized Electrolysis Cycle (HySelect)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Clean Hydrogen
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: CLEANH2 (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: Germany,Greece,Finland,Italy,Austria
Call: Efficiency boost of solar thermochemical water splitting (HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022-1, 2022)
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3982105.0
EU funding (EUR): 3982104.5
Participants: 7
Project status: SIGNED

HySelect will demonstrate the production of hydrogen (H2) by splitting water via concentrated solar technologies (CST) with an attractive efficiency and cost, through the hybrid sulphur cycle (HyS). The HyS consists of two central steps: the high temperature -yet below-900C -decomposition of sulphuric acid forming sulphur dioxide (SO2) and the subsequent low temperature (50-80C) SO2 depolarised electrolysis (SDE) of water to produce H2. HySelect will introduce, develop and operate under real conditions a complete H2 production chain focusing on two innovative, full scale plant prototype core devices for both steps of the HyS cycle: an allothermally heated, spatially decoupled from a centrifugal particle solar receiver, sulphuric acid decomposition-sulphur trioxide splitting (SAD-STS) reactor and a sulphur dioxide depolarized electrolyser (SDE) without expensive Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). Furthermore, a heat recovery system will be integrated to exploit the temperature difference within the cycle and boost the overall process efficiency. In the course of the work, non-critical materials and catalysts will be developed, qualified and integrated into the plant scale prototype units for both the acid splitting reactor and the SDE unit. Experimental work will be accompanied by component modelling and overall process simulation and culminate with a demonstration of the complete process integrating its key units of a 750kWth centrifugal particle receiver, a hot particles storage system, a 250kWth SAD-STS and a 100kWe SDE into a pilot plant. Testing for a period of at least 6 months in a large-scale solar tower, driven with smart operation and control strategies, will establish the HySelect targeted efficiency and costs. Finally, an overall process evaluation will be carried out in order to assess the technical and economic prospects of the HySelect technology, directly linked to the know-how and developments of the sulphuric acid and water electrolysers industries.

Keywords: concentrating solar technologies,hydrogen production,solar sulphuric acid splitting,sulphur dioxide depolarized electrolysis,system plant integration
Dissection of the Interactome and the Regulatory Network of the Dual-Function Transcription Factor Ying Yang 1, a Master Regulator of Plant Stress Responses and Development (DIRE-YY1)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Germany
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): 189687.36
EU funding (EUR): 189687.36
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Climate change and increasing exposure to environmental stress make adaptation and defence responses to one of the most significant factors for crop yield and quality. At molecular level, stress-inducible master regulators and key transcription factors translate the stress-signalling into defence and developmental responses at the level of chromatin and gene expression. The dual function transcription factor YIN YANG 1 (YY1) is evolutionary conserved between animal and plant kingdom. In Arabidopsis, the ABA-inducible YY1 is a negative regulator and key component of ABA responses, contributes to the plant resistance to fungal infection and UV-B radiation, and controls flowering time. Some stress related functions of YY1 are conserved between Arabidopsis and Populus tree. Published and the preliminary data indicate that the stress-inducible YY1 in Arabidopsis is a hub that converts stress-signals into defence and developmental responses through interaction with transcription and epigenetic factors controlling common target genes. However, neither the protein-protein interactome nor the direct target genes of YY1 were intensively investigated. On the level of protein-protein interactome of YY1, the comparison of published YY1-Flag IP-MS data with the preliminary Y2H screen data did not find any overlap, although both groups of YY1 interaction candidates contained transcription and epigenetic regulators. These findings and theoretical considerations suggest that large parts of the 'dark interactome' of YY1 wait still to be discovered. Regarding the direct target genes, the proposed ChIP-Seq approaches are the first attempt to study YY1-DNA binding at a global scale. The anticipated results will have a deep impact on understanding of the complex protein-protein interactome of YY1, will identify the direct target genes of YY1, and will contribute to the development of applied approaches in crop plants that could benefit from optimised stress responses orchestrated by YY1.

Keywords: epigenetics genetic analysis transcriptional gene regulation environmental stress root development
Empowering Active Distribution Networks: A Sensor-Aided State Estimation Framework (SaSEF) Integrating Dynamic DER Models for Enhanced Grid Resilience and Flexibility (SaSEF)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-05
End date: 2028-01-04
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 260347.92
EU funding (EUR): 260347.92
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Distribution networks (DNs) are overwhelmed by rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar power on homes, and high-power loads, such as chargers. Most such systems are not under the control or even monitored by grid operators, and their state estimation (SE) is still too inaccurate due to limited data and unproper model. This project develops a sensor-aided state estimation framework (SaSEF) for DNs. The core innovation lies in sensor design, DER dynamic modelling, and state estimator development. First, a contactless sensing prototype with threshold-free event-triggering will be developed to capture the DERs’ dynamic data while addressing the data scarcity and privacy in dynamic state estimation. Then, we will develop a dynamic model of DERs under different control scheme and control switching. After that, we will design a state estimator to incorporate the sensing data and dynamic DERs model. The SaSEF will demonstrate its performance on a hardware-in-loop platform. This project will support the European Union's goals for grid modernization and digitalization, enabling distribution networks to operate as active, self-aware entities. The expected outcomes will also inspire novel applications in monitoring and protection, enhancing distribution networks resilience and flexibility and guaranteeing the last mile to energy users. Additionally, this research will expand the fellow's expertise in advanced state estimation techniques and complicated networks analysis, while also inspiring innovative applications in distribution network monitoring, fault protection and proactive management.

Keywords: state estimation,power distribution network,inverter based resources,contactless sensing,event triggered sensing,data privacy,hardware in loop testing
Advancing Quantum Computers for (and with) Quantum Thermodynamics (QC4QT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Italy
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2025-05-31
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 188590.08
EU funding (EUR): 188590.08
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

While thermodynamics is one of the most well-established physical theories, there is much that remains to be worked out in its extension to the quantum realm. With the miniaturization of electronics down to the nanoscale, along with the emergence of quantum technologies, it is becoming essential to gain a better understanding of thermodynamics at the quantum level. The emergence of quantum computers (QCs) in the last decade provides a game-changing new tool for research into quantum thermodynamics (QT). Furthermore, still in nascent stages, QCs stand to gain vast improvements in performance from new insights derived from QT. An elegant synergy therefore exists whereby (i) QCs can be used to improve the fundamental understanding of QT and (ii) principles from QT may be used to improve the reliability of QCs. Inspired by this synergy, this proposal includes two thrusts to advance progress along these two fronts. For the first thrust, I aim to develop new algorithms packaged into well-documented, open-source software for simulating thermal properties and behaviors of quantum systems on QCs. This work will culminate in attempting the first-ever experimental validation fluctuation relations (theoretical pillars of QT) for open quantum systems on a QC. For the second thrust I aim to use the principles of QT to implement an algorithmic cooling scheme that can improve the overall performance of qubits for any desired application on a QC. This work will culminate in attempting the first-ever experimental demonstration of algorithmic cooling on a QC. The proposed research requires an interdisciplinary approach encompassing quantum information and computation; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; and computational science (CS). The complementary expertise and experience of the experienced researcher (in QC and CS) and the supervising host (in QT) will foster a productive two-way transfer of knowledge and facilitate the success of the research goals.

Keywords: quantum computation,quantum algorithms,quantum thermodynamics,statistical mechanics
Maximising value of construction Waste and CO2 capture for low-carbon CEMent: In situ hydration imaging with SYNchrotron X-ray (Syn4WCO2-Cem)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2027-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194074.56
EU funding (EUR): 194074.56
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Portland cement (PC) production is responsible for 7% of global CO2 emissions, and construction and demolition waste represent the largest waste stream in the EU, accounting for over one-third of all waste. These factors pose significant threats to sustainable development. To address these challenges, the Syn4WCO2-Cem project aims to align with the European Green Deal by promoting a circular economy within the construction sector. The primary objective of the project is to treat recycled concrete powder (RCP) by capturing CO2 from cement plant flue gases and to develop low-carbon cement composites using carbonated RCP (CRCP). One of the main challenges of low-carbon cement is its slow hydration kinetics within the first three days, which impedes the development of early strength. Currently, the particle dissolution rates in PC-CRCP blends and their C-S-H gel shell feature are not well understood. Gaining insight into the interactions between these parameters and strength-enhancing admixtures is crucial for accelerating the hydration process in a more mechanistic and scientifically grounded manner, rather than relying on the current trial-and-error approaches. The project seeks to address this critical knowledge gap by training fellow at the host institution (UMA) and utilizing advanced X-ray tools, including laboratory and synchrotron-based in situ X-ray imaging and diffraction, to visualize the hydration process of this low-carbon cement family. This comprehensive approach will help clarify the underlying mechanisms of the slow hydration process and develop effective strategies to accelerate it. The interdisciplinary innovation in this project will ensure that this low-carbon cement can achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional PC-based binder while maintaining competitive performances. The project offers a unique opportunity for fellow to gain a competitive edge in the emerging field of “sustainable and green building materials”.

Keywords: portland cement hydration recycled concrete carbonation synchrotron 4d x ray imaging microct