Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Modelling revolUtion for Complex flUid flow over Surfaces and walls (MUCUS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and processes engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2020-03-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499987.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499987.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Complex fluids transport and flow over surfaces governs the production of many European and global industries, along with natural hazards. Unability to predict and control such flows leads to technological barriers for novel applications (such as 3D printing, with groundbreaking potential from tissue engineering to sustainable foods). Traditional process industries waste energy when trying to improve mixing and prevent clogging (10% of the energy consumption of the world is estimated to come from handling of granular materials, of which complex fluids are an important part). These processes are extremely challenging to control, because theories for complex fluid flows have large gaps, in particular fluids with yield-stress (that flow when sheared strongly, but are solids otherwise). The MUCUS proposal will revolutionize the state-of-the-art understanding of complex fluid flow over surfaces, by simulations which were impossible until now. This will be achieved by our high-fidelity methods that for the first time enabled three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of turbulent yield-stress fluids, suspensions of tens of thousands of particles, and advanced dynamical analyses of complex flows. Processes designed for Newtonian fluids do not work for complex fluids, and there is an urgent need for improved theories and models. In 3D printing important questions relate to flow properties of the ink/gel before it dries and its yield stress. Very little is known about inertial, transient yield-stress fluid flow over surface hills, grooves and wettability patterns. MUCUS proposal aims to: i) reveal unique new insight of the inertial transport, mixing, spreading and impact of complex fluids on surfaces ii) create the first database in the field of yield-stress fluid simulations, experiments and their cross-validation, and iii) develop novel analysis tools, and couplings between micro- and macrostructure, to enable controlled design of complex fluids processes in the future

Keywords: complex fluids,wetting,flow instability,computational fluid dynamics
The ALICE fixed-target programme layout using bent crystals at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. (FIXEDTARGETLAND)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Other Widening
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Countries involved: Poland
Call: Widening Fellowships (H2020-WF-02-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-09-01
End date: 2022-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 149625.6
EU funding (EUR): 149625.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

ALICE in the FixedTargetLand. The LHC at CERN is the world largest and most powerful particle accelerator colliding beams of protons and lead ions. ALICE is one of detector experiments optimised for heavy-ions. A research potential of the CERN accelerator complex and infrastructure can be expanded by deflecting the LHC beam halo particles by means of bent crystals on a fixed-target placed inside the ALICE experiment. A fixed-target experiment at such a high energy offers many physics opportunities related to the the parton content of the nucleon and nucleus at high-x, the nucleon spin and the Quark-Gluon Plasma. Feasibility of beam halo deflection using crystal channeling has been experimentally demonstrated at CERN, for both proton and lead ion beams. There are two main objectives of the proposal. The first objective is to assess the feasibility and performance of the ALICE crystal-based fixed-target programme layout from the accelerator complex side, e.g. compatibility with the collimation, impact on vacuum, impedance, etc. The second objective is to calculate particles production within the target and response of the ALICE detector in order to evaluate the physics potential of the project. Accelerator and crystal parameters will be determined based on semi-analytical tools followed up by complete multi-turn tracking simulations using the SixTrack and BDSIM codes. The detector response and physics reach will be evaluated in collaboration with the ALICE experts, mostly from the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT). The proposal assumes a transfer of applicant's knowledge and experience obtained at CERN related to particle accelerators, collimation and crystals to an interdisciplinary project. In return, WUT is a partner providing the necessary expertise on particle physics and the ALICE detector. Moreover, WUT opens a possibility of a personal growth through teaching students, knowledge exchange and building a network for establishing an own research group.

Keywords: large hadron collider,alice,fixed target,bent cristals
Total Synthesis of Leucophyllidine (Leucophyl)

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: France
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-12-15
End date: 2017-12-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 185076.0
EU funding (EUR): 185076.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In the frame of this research program, carried out at the Institute of Molecular Sciences (ISM) at the University of Bordeaux (UB), we propose a strategy directed towards the first total synthesis of leucophyllidine, a cytotoxic alkaloid recently isolated from L. griffithii. From the retrosynthetic analysis of the target, two fragments where identified that will be prepared then connected in the last stage of the synthesis, following a biomimetic approach. The “North-fragment” will be synthesized relying on a coupling between a key-aldehyde moiety and tryptamine through a Pictet-Spengler reaction/lactamization cascade. The “South-fragment” will be elaborated using a Friedländer-type condensation between a piperidinone, and an ortho-aminobenzonitrile. The key-aldehyde and the piperidinone will be elaborated using a unified strategy, including a novel stereoselective free-radical carbo-oximation process, which will install quaternary centers present in North and South fragments. Incorporation of the vinyl motif on the naphthyridine ring, through a Suzuki coupling, should complete the synthesis of the south-fragment. Both fragments will finally be connected, following a biomimetic Mannich-type strategy, which should provide sufficient quantities of this potent anticancer agent and analogues for future biological screening. Key objectives of this research program are the development of an access to new plant anticancer drugs for potential clinical use and the training of future leading experts in the field of natural product–derived drugs discovery, a domain in which Europe must remain competitive in the 21st century as cancer-related diseases are rapidly increasing with population’s life expectancy.

Keywords: total synthesis of natural products,biomimetic synthesis,radical chemistry,asymmetric synthesis
Do plants cooperate in reproduction? The effect of sharing pollination services on plant reproductive strategies (KinCoop)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Global Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Spain,Switzerland
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-08-01
End date: 2018-07-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 272480.4
EU funding (EUR): 272480.4
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Although social interactions in non-sentient beings such as plants might seem unlikely, there are good reasons to expect them to be important. Because plant populations are very often strongly genetically structured, with neighbouring plants frequently being relatives, their behaviour is expected to have been shaped by natural selection within this social context. Plants interact very strongly with their neighbours, and there is an increasing body of evidence showing kin recognition and cooperation with relatives, e.g., warning against herbivore attacks and reducing resource competition. However, little is known about how plants behave in a social context in terms of their reproductive strategies. This is surprising, because reproduction is a key life-history trait defining gene transfer, and thus is closely linked to fitness and to the evolutionary potential that will eventually determine the functioning and dynamics of plant populations and communities. Neighbouring plants commonly facilitate pollination. Therefore, the resources invested in floral attractive structures for one individual can positively impact individual fitness, but also the fitness of neighbours, increasing both individual and group benefits. Thus, natural selection should be expected to favour plastic adjustments of the resources allocated to pollinator attraction to the surrounding social environment. I will test this hypothesis, assessing how different social environments might influence optimal allocation strategies and the effect this will have on mating patterns and plant fitness. To address this objective, I will use an interdisciplinary approach that combines theoretical modelling and empirical testing, bringing tools from the sociological sciences to the study plant ecology and evolution. My project will contribute to our understanding of how plants cooperate during reproduction to alter plant population dynamics, with potentially useful outcomes for crop efficiency.

Keywords: pollination ecology,facilitation
Genetic Determinants of the Epigenome (Gen-Epix)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Panel description: Genetics, epigenetics, genomics and other ‘omics studies, bioinformatics, systems biology, genetic diseases, gene editing, innovative methods and modelling, ‘omics for personalised medicine
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Advanced Grant (ERC-2015-AdG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-06-01
End date: 2022-06-30
Duration (months): 73.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499717.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499717.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Decoding of the genome during development and differentiation depends on sequence-specific DNA binding proteins that regulate transcription. The activity of transcription factors is constrained, however, by chromatin structure and by modification of histones and DNA, known collectively as the “epigenome”. Diseased states, particularly cancers, are often accompanied by epigenomic disturbances that contribute to aetiology, but despite much research the molecular determinants of chromatin and DNA marking remain poorly understood. A widespread view is that the epigenome responds to developmental decisions or environmental impacts that are memorised by the epigenetic machinery. Complementary to this “memory” hypothesis, there is evidence that the epigenome can directly reflect the underlying DNA sequence. We aim to explore genetic determinants of the epigenome based on our over-arching hypothesis that chromatin structure is influenced by the interaction of DNA binding proteins with short, frequent base sequence motifs. Prototypes for this scenario are proteins that bind to the two base pair sequence CpG. These proteins accumulate at CpG islands (CGIs), which are platforms for gene regulation, where they recruit multi-protein complexes that lay down epigenetic marks. By identifying and characterising novel DNA-binding proteins that sense global properties of the DNA sequence (e.g. base composition), we will address several major unanswered questions about genome regulation, including the origin of global DNA methylation patterns and the causal basis of higher order chromosome structures. Our research programme will advance genome biology and shed light on the role of epigenetic signalling in development. In particular it will explore the extent to which the epigenome is “hard-wired” by genes, with important implications for health.

Keywords: epigenetics,dna base composition,dna methylation
Unravelling the Mechanosensitivity of Actin Bundles in Filopodia (BUNDLEFORCE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions
Panel description: Molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biophysics, synthetic and chemical biology, drug design, innovative methods and modelling
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2015-STG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-03-01
End date: 2021-08-31
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499190.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499190.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Eukaryotic cells constantly convert signals between biochemical energy and mechanical work to timely accomplish many key functions such as migration, division or development. Filopodia are essential finger-like structures that emerge at the cell front to orient the cell in response to its chemical and mechanical environment. Yet, the molecular interactions that make the filopodia mechanosensitive are not known. To tackle this challenge we propose unique biophysical in vitro and in vivo experiments of increasing complexity. Here we will focus on how the underlying actin filament bundle regulates filopodium growth and retraction cycles at the micrometer and seconds scales. These parallel actin filaments are mainly elongated at their barbed-end by formins and cross-linked by bundling proteins such as fascins. We aim to: 1) Elucidate how formin and fascin functions are regulated by mechanics at the single filament level. We will investigate how formin partners and competitors present in filopodia affect formin processivity; how fascin affinity for the side of filaments is modified by filament tension and formin presence at the barbed-end. 2) Reconstitute filopodium-like actin bundles in vitro to understand how actin bundle size and fate are regulated down to the molecular scale. Using a unique experimental setup that combines microfluidics and optical tweezers, we will uncover for the first time actin bundles mechanosensitive capabilities, both in tension and compression. 3) Decipher in vivo the mechanics of actin bundles in filopodia, using fascins and formins with integrated fluorescent tension sensors. This framework spanning from in vitro single filament to in vivo meso-scale actin networks will bring unprecedented insights into the role of actin bundles in filopodia mechanosensitivity.

Keywords: mechanotransduction,actin cytoskeleton,filopodia,actin bundle,formin,fascin,microfluidics
The first off-grid water desalination system 100% powered by renewable energies (W2W - Water to Water)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2, 2019)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 52.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3350678.25
EU funding (EUR): 2345474.77
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Water scarcity is probably one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. According to the United Nations, it affects more than 40 percent of the global population, and by 2050 more than 5 bn people could suffer water shortages. Europe is not an exemption, as one third of European countries have relatively low availability of water. In Mediterranean area there is both a severe lack and great demand for water. However, climate change and growing water demand is projected to increase water shortages in other EU regions. The ocean is seen as a promising source for providing drinking water to the more than 40% of EU population living in coastal areas. However, traditional technologies for water desalination are highly energy demanding and the capital and operation costs are not affordable for small to medium-sized applications. W2W-Water to Water is a state-of-the-art desalination system that tackles these two challenges. It has been originally conceived to be used with renewable energies (intermittent power) and to provide clean water from seawater or brackish groundwater. It is easily scalable, mobile and rapidly deployable even in remote areas. It is highly versatile, and it adapts to be used in multiple applications such as: drinking water delivery in low-income and developing countries, humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations or to support the water distribution in intense touristic areas during the dry season. We are Rainmaker, a Dutch SME focused on developing sustainable and decentralized water purification technologies to produce clean water. We have planned the activities required to build, install and validate the first W2W industrial unit, providing around 80 m3 of clean water daily. The market deployment of W2W will start in 2021 and by 2025, we expect having installed 200 units worldwide. This will make Rainmaker grow up (18 new jobs) and will place Rainmaker at the forefront of sustainable water supply.

Keywords: water desalination,water sanitation,water scarcity,sustainable tourism,decentralized,desalination,wastewater recycling,off grid,membrane distillation,water management,humanitarian
The Human Face of AI: a novel platform to build social conversational robots for education, healthcare, retail other verticals (Furhat Robotics)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-01-01
End date: 2018-04-30
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Furhat is a social robot that interacts with people just like people do. Furhat is an award-winning novel type of computer-to-human interface that is based on years of R&D on social artificial intelligence. Furhat's body uses a translucent mask and a back-projected state-of-the-art animation system. The animation comes from a small projector located in the neck via a set of mirrors, and by mapping a computer animation that exactly fits the mask, it creates the illusion of a moving and living being. Furhat has a built-in framework for multi-party dialogue management that enables complex interactions—speech, gaze movements, head pose, facial expressions, and gestures in response to events. Furhat can interact with several users at the same time and detect their gestures & expressions. Furhat Robotics is a spin-off company from KTH Royal Institute of Technology based on 15 years of research in human-computer interaction, spoken dialog systems, and 3D animation. Furhat is developed by a team headed by a former Disney Imagineer, and includes renowned scientists, and entrepreneurs, that left companies such Disney, Spotify & Klarna, and universities such as Yale, CMU & KTH to work on it. Furhat has a strong early market traction—50+ customers globally are using it in education & training, therapy & social care, customer service & entertainment. The annual market for social robots is forecasted to reach €2bn by 2025 with applications in multiple verticals (healthcare, education, public service, research, consumer & personal robots). To maximize our opportunity, we will focus on development of the generic Furhat platform, leaving implementation & commercialization of specific solutions to 3rd party developers & researchers. In this Phase 1 project we will carry out a market assessment & identify 2-3 most promising verticals for commercialization of the Furhat platform. We are aiming at commercialising ~100,000+ Furhat robots by 2023, generating €28m+ in annual revenues.

Keywords: social robot,artificial intelligence,animation,human computer interaction
Photonic Wafer-Level Integration Packaging and Test (PhotonicLEAP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: Photonics (cPPP)
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Ireland,Germany,Ireland,Switzerland,Belgium,Netherlands
Call: Disruptive photonics technologies (H2020-ICT-2020-2, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5945017.5
EU funding (EUR): 5945017.5
Participants: 8
Project status: SIGNED

PhotonicLEAP will develop a disruptive wafer-level PIC module integration, packaging and test technology which can be scaled from low to very large volumes. PhotonicLEAP will use this disruptive technology to produce a revolutionary Surface Mount Technology (SMT) PIC package, which for the first time incorporates multiple optical and electrical connections. SMT is the most widely used, cost-effective and standardised package in the electronics world and PhotonicLEAP’s standardised SMT approach is set to follow, becoming a new global standard for cost-effective PIC packaging and high-throughput PIC testing. PhotonicLEAP will also develop standardised packaging design rules formalised into a Process Design Kit (PDK), providing users with easy access to the project technology through Open Access and commercial PIC design software tools. The project will validate these technologies through two state-of-the-art demonstrators, including a high-speed optical communication module and a portable medical device for cardio-vascular diagnostics. PhotonicLEAP’s approach will reduce the cost of PIC production by over 10 times, revolutionising existing applications and creating completely new markets. The project workplan includes high-quality measures to Exploit and Disseminate PhotonicLEAP’s results, including management of IP and research data, and to Communicate project activities to different target audiences. A key exploitation measure involves technology transfer to the flagship European PIC Packaging Pilot Line, PIXAPP, which has an extensive and growing user-base across multiple markets. PhotonicLEAP will be delivered by a highly experienced consortium with an unmatched record of excellence in developing and delivering many world firsts in PIC packaging, test technologies and advanced services. The consortium brings a wealth of interdisciplinary skills and state-of-the-art infrastructure to deliver on the project’s ambitious objectives.

Keywords: wafer level,surface mount technology,integration,packaging,test,pics,micro optics,electronics,thermal,standard designs,process design kit,open access,pilot lines,existing and new markets