Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Digital Bridge: Optical Character Recognition for Early Printed Books in Latin (LatinOCR)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2014-PoC, 2014)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 148178.0
EU funding (EUR): 148178.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to provide the first viable and accurate solution for digitising early printed books in Latin using Optical Character Recognition. Our basic OCR package will be free and open-source, in order to ensure affordability, longevity, and openness for improvement (three failures of our commercial competitors). Our Company Limited by Guarantee will market costumisation, training, support, and further development tailored to specific collections of books (the standard failure of open-source solutions). Customisation services are essential in our market. Early printed Latin cannot be successfully digitised using standard OCR packages (whether open-source or commercial): these currently have an accuracy of no more than 15%. We plan to modify the open-source Tesseract engine, by training it to account for Latin grammar and early typography: this will increase its accuracy of recognition to about 80%. Customisation tailored to specific collections of books will further improve accuracy to about 95% to 98%. Our company will address the needs of libraries, digital publishers, researchers, learned societies, and private collectors of early books. Our commercialisation plan is modelled on that of other successful businesses based on open-source software. The demand for Latin OCR is strong, as publishers and libraries switch to digital publication and storage. From the invention of printing in the Renaissance until well into the 19th century, Latin was the European language of every intellectual discourse: the natural sciences, mathematics, philosophy, theology, law, literary criticism, geography, archaeology, music, medicine. The subsequent shift to using the vernacular languages was a seismic event. We are now experiencing a revolution of similar proportions: the advent of digital publication is bringing opportunities and risks whose outlines are still unclear. This project aims to offer a solid technical bridge between the digital future and the Latin past.

Keywords: open access,digital publication and storage,optical character recognition,early printing,latin,european intellectual heritage,free open source software,company limited by guartee
Expanding the Topological Frontier in Quantum Matter: from Concepts to Future Applications (TopFront)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: Israel
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2014-STG, 2014)
Start date: 2015-09-01
End date: 2021-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1463666.27
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Topological phases arise from a fascinating interplay between quantum mechanics and many-body physics. They exhibit an abundance of extraordinary properties, such as protected edge and surface modes, exotic particle statistics, and non-local correlations. These make them not only scientifically stimulating, but also appealing for ground-breaking future applications, such as quantum computing using non-Abelian systems. Their subtle nature often renders them hard to study theoretically, and even more so to detect and control experimentally. To date, only a small subset of them has been accessed in experiments. The purpose of this research program is to expand the scope of possible realizations of topological quantum matter, and to develop methods to detect, control and manipulate them. Two main research directions will be considered. The first will focus on utilizing defects to synthesize new non-Abelian systems. We will study the mathematical theory describing the defects, starting from microscopic considerations and aiming to achieve a unifying mathematical framework. New non-Abelian phases arising in networks of coupled defects will be explored. Protocols for controlling non-Abelian anyons and zero modes will be developed and optimized, aiming to minimize errors arising from imperfections in physical implementations. The second direction will explore the exciting possibility of inducing topological behaviour in non-equilibrium systems. Periodically driven systems, such as matter interacting with light, can exhibit anomalous topological phenomena with no analogue in static systems, which we intend to reveal and classify. We will study the unique many body physics arising from the interplay of topological Bloch-Floquet band structures, inter-particle interactions, and coupling to the environment. Finally, for both research directions we will consider possible experimental realizations in a variety of solid state and cold atom systems along with designated probes.

Keywords: topological phases,topological insulators and superconductors,topological quantum computation,dynamics of quantum many body systems
PHOtonic Transmitters for Optical Networks and Interconnects in energy-efficient datacentres, supercomputers and homes based on VCSELs (PhotoniX)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Nanotechnologies
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies, advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs (H2020-SMEINST-2-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2015-06-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2815700.0
EU funding (EUR): 1970990.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

To match the demand of the productivity of modern computing systems, which is growing three orders of magnitude per decade, the single interconnect channel bit data rate should double each 2.5 years and the number of channels per link increase 5-fold each 10 years. Until recently copper was the dominant interconnect technology ($120 billion). At higher frequencies the electromagnetic losses and cross-talk are drastically enhanced, and new technologies are required. Since 2012 60 thousands energy-efficient optical links made of multimode fibers (MMF) powered by Vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are used in a single rack of supercomputer. Due to its small size, circular surface emission pattern, low operating current and a narrow spectrum VCSELs result a low cost, energy-efficient optical modules. Bit date rates up to 14Gb/s over 100m are reached by the industry. Scaling of the device to higher speeds is challenging as the modulation bandwidth is increasing as a square root of the drive current, while the degradation accelerates exponentially. At higher pulse frequencies the transmission distance rapidly decreases with pulse broadening. The way to match the speed upgrade is to apply advanced nanotechnology concepts. - Properly designed ultrathin strained narrow gap insertions as gain medium drastically enhances the modulation bandwidth at the same current; - Introducing of strained barriers preventing the nonequilibrium carriers’ escape from the gain region allows further improvement of the modulation bandwidth and reliability. - Optical design by oxide-confined aperture induced diffraction allows single mode operation extending the transmission length, … VI-Systems GmbH was first to pioneer and ship VCSELs transmitters up to 40Gb/s over 100m, far beyond the limits at that time. 25Gb/s transmission exceeding 1 km of is achieved for parallel MMF links. VIS will commercialize its novel interconnect technology and extend it up to 50Gb/s per channel.

Keywords: vcsel,nano technology,photonics
Networks in Time and Space (NETS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Mathematics
Panel description: All areas of mathematics, pure and applied, plus mathematical foundations of computer science, mathematical physics and statistics
Countries involved: Switzerland,United Kingdom
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2015-CoG, 2015)
Start date: 2016-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 84.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1587602.0
EU funding (EUR): 838735.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

This research programme aims to develop a new theoretical framework for modelling and analysing spatio-temporal networks. The theory developed in this programme will underpin our ability to exactly specify the structured form of network behaviour in time and space. This will advance statistical methodology and theory, unifying results from stochastic processes with network theory to do so. New technical approaches to modelling will be proposed, as well as new asymptotic large sample scenarios. As a consequence of the methodological development, new analysis techniques for applications in real-world problems will be proposed that will improve our ability to make defensible conclusions from real data sets. Modelling network data and estimating such models is challenging, especially in a modern setting, because most observed networks are very large. This leads to computational and inferential challenges. However, handling sparse and large networks is not enough to be able to describe highly structured network data. Most networks are coupled with secondary structure, and possess patterned behaviour in time and space. Linkages between nodes are frequently added and removed over time, and implicit structure is generated from latent spatial patterns. The understanding of networks must be extended to encompass spatio-temporal patterns, to quantify such structural aspects of network data. This will require combining theory and methods from different parts of mathematics, and developing new statistical theory. This project therefore aims to a) model temporally evolving networks, b) understand the characteristics of growing and decaying networks, c) model and estimate spatial and temporal characteristics in networks and d) propose new models of spatial structure. These developments will combine to form a new theoretical framework for families of networks with a rich and complex structure.

Keywords: time series,random fields,stochastic processes,exchangeable networks,random graphs
Molecularly Engineered Materials and process for Perovskite solar cell technology (MOLEMAT)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator 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: Spain
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2016-COG, 2016)
Start date: 2017-11-01
End date: 2024-04-30
Duration (months): 78.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1878085.0
EU funding (EUR): 1878085.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Societal pressure to develop inexpensive yet efficient solar energy conversion requires a new approach. Recently emerged organic-inorganic perovskites, offer to harvest light at cost effective price. Perovskites hold merits to the existing materials, however, a fundamental challenge for high performance devices is to optimize the crystals for maximize charge carrier generation and minimize recombination losses. Their widespread use is, however, limited by insufficient stability, scalability and reproducibility. We have recently developed new concepts to fabricate efficient and stable perovskite solar cells at lab scale that are potentially up-scalable to industrial production. MOLEMAT will accomplish this by, pioneering innovative methods and will demonstrate that molecularly engineered materials enable the tuning of the charge transport and interface. Our interdisciplinary approach, combining materials science, chemistry, device physics and engineering, will not only lead to improvements in the performance and stability of perovskite solar cell beyond 24% at lab scale, but will also provide deep insights in the functioning of solar cells. The success of MOLEMAT will rapidly advance the field by enabling reproducible and stable performance adding a significant value with respect to current state of the art. However, for making it marketable product, several developments are required and the MOLEMAT targets will provide relevant answers to three key limitations: encapsulation, stability and cost competitive materials. MOLEMAT envisages the development of 30×30 cm2 modules, with a power conversion efficiency of c.a 18% and a lifetime of 10+ years. MOLEMAT is divided into two parallel research directions, a fundamental research line, dealing with rational design of materials and to gain its understanding. Simultaneously an applied research line targets the development of module by the identification of scale up process to pave the way for its industrialization.

Keywords: photovoltaics,perovskites,electro optical properties
Chasing pre-industrial aerosols (CHAPAs)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Earth system science
Panel description: Physical geography, geology, geophysics, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, climatology, cryology, ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemical cycles, natural resources management
Countries involved: Finland
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999704.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999704.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Aerosol particles affect the climate by scattering incoming radiation and by acting as cloud condensation nuclei; however, their net effect remains of highest uncertainty, specifically when quantifying their relationship to anthropogenic greenhouse gases. It has been estimated that 45% of the variance of aerosol forcing arises from uncertainties in natural emissions. This highlight the importance of understanding pristine preindustrial-like environments, with natural aerosols only. One of the great challenges in understanding preindustrial aerosols and their sources resides in identifying the processes by which new particles form and grow from oxidized vapours. We recently presented in Science the ground-breaking observation of purely organic nucleation. The existence of this mechanism was confirmed by laboratory experiments where we show that highly oxygenated molecules are able to form new particles independent of H2SO4. This finding sheds the light into the preindustrial era where the anthropogenic emissions were almost absent and H2SO4 concentration was rather minimal. The aim of my project is to provide unprecedented data to resolve the preindustrial nucleation mechanism. I will organize intensive long-term measurements in pristine preindustrial-like environments like the Arctic and Siberia. Using state-of-the-art chemical ionization mass spectrometry, I will retrieve the chemical cluster composition and the vapours concentration. Additionally, I am planning short intensive measurements at high altitude above the oceans. Finally, these measurements will be complemented by laboratory experiments needed to probe the observed mechanism and retrieve a parametrization that can be used in global modelling. The outcome of these field campaigns combined with laboratory experiments will provide extraordinary results in understanding pre-industrial aerosol formation, which will set the baseline for estimations of the impact of present and future aerosol on climate.
Demonstration of a fixation device for connective tissue (WASHER-CAP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Spain
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

ThThe present project arises as a result of detecting a great lack in the techniques and devices of reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee, unable to offer a good recovery of the functional capacity of the patient's joint after the operation. The number of ACL reconstructions is estimated annually in more than 420,000 in developed countries. Of these 420,000 reconstructions per year, more than 60-70% and experiencing rapid growth, are performed by arthroscopy and using soft tissue grafts, Semitendinosus Gracilis Tendon (STG). The remaining 30% is performed with a patellar tendon graft that was the "Gold Standard" technique but showed serious problems, since it requires damaging a healthy area of the joint to obtain the graft and this produces persistent pain over time. Although the soft material technique has shown better results in terms of recovery and decreases the problem of pain, it is also not able to return to the joint its full functionality, since there are no devices adapted to the particularities of this way of reconstruction. Currently, the same interferential screws are still used in both techniques. In this area, ABANZA TECNOMED has developed and patented WasherCap as a response to the problems identified in the field of devices of reconstruction of the ACL of the knee. It is a novel fixation device for connective tissue specifically designed for reconstruction of cruciate ligaments using fascicles of soft material. The degree of fixation provided and clamping area allows a maximum retention of the connective tissue and avoids slippage, enabling the patient to start the rehabilitation in a shorter period of time. WasherCap will allow the knee to be fully restored from the ACL injury, with full functionality, allowing an early recovery, guaranteeing a complete osseointegration of the implant and improving the quality of life and health of the patient after the intervention and achieving great savings for health systems.

Keywords: acl reconstructions,health,medical device,orthopedic sector,connective tissue,clinical trials,sanitary impact
Distributed and Massively Parallel Graph Algorithms (DistMaP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Panel description: Informatics and information systems, computer science, scientific computing, intelligent systems
Countries involved: Germany,Switzerland
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2019-11-01
End date: 2024-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498250.0
EU funding (EUR): 792000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

With the rapidly growing size of the data and the pervasiveness of distributed systems and networks, it is a certainty that distributed and parallel computations will play a vital role in the computations of the future. This project aims to advance our understanding of the foundational aspects of these areas. We tackle some of the central questions in distributed algorithms and massively parallel algorithms for graph problems, which require us to go well-beyond the current state of the art. Our research plan involves three directions: - Developing efficient and particularly polylogarithmic-time deterministic distributed algorithms for some of the central graph problems of the area. Our hope is to do this through a general derandomization method that removes the randomness from efficient randomized algorithms. This question underlies some of the well-known open problems of the area. - Developing improved and particularly sublogarithmic-time randomized distributed algorithms for some of the central local graph problems of the area, thus hopefully narrowing or ideally closing this decade old gap to the respective lower bounds. - Developing improved massively parallel algorithms for some of the fundamental graph problems, with a special focus on the challenging regime of lower memory machines, which remains widely open. Given the high risk nature of these questions, in each direction, besides our plan of attack on the bigger and more ambitious objectives, we also explain a number of smaller problems, which should be more feasible, and which would serve as stepping stones toward the bigger goal. Moreover, we are hopeful that the simultaneous study of distributed algorithms and massively parallel will lead to a strengthening of the connections between these two areas and would also bring the related scientific communities closer to each other.

Keywords: distributed graph algorithms,massively parallel graph algorithms,local algorithms,theory of distributed computing
User-oriented, secure, trustful & decentralised social media (EUNOMIA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Information and Communication Technologies
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Ireland,Italy,Cyprus,Greece,Romania,Portugal,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Future Hyper-connected Sociality (H2020-ICT-2018-2, 2018)
Start date: 2018-12-01
End date: 2021-11-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2938283.37
EU funding (EUR): 2454799.65
Participants: 12
Project status: CLOSED

EUNOMIA is a fully decentralised, intermediary-free and open-source solution for addressing three key challenges: which social media user is the original source of a piece of information; how this information has spread and been modified in an information cascade; and how likely it is to be trustworthy. Although its innovations are applicable across any social network, its design philosophy makes it ideal for evaluation on similarly open, decentralised and federated new social media networks, thus contributing against accumulation of power in the large social media intermediaries located outside Europe. EUNOMIA actively encourages democratic citizen participation in content verification by allowing voting on content trustworthiness and influencing the reputation of content generators and sharers. It combines information cascade verification with information trustworthiness scoring, benefitting from blockchain technology to ensure transparency of the scoring process and that information has not been modified in a cascade. It also places emphasis on ensuring that trustworthiness information is communicated transparently and accessibly. A General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant and ethically responsible digital companion running as a local app on the user’s device encourages the involvement of each user, while also carrying out the background processing for scoring and verifying content, and crucially for visualizing to the user. EUNOMIA uses social-science based co-design methodologies acknowledging and integrating users’ experiences of social media, specifically in how they use and trust the information they interact with. EUNOMIA’s versatility will be evaluated with large communities in social journalism and traditional media, as well as the largest user community of the most popular decentralised social media networks.

Keywords: social science based co design,trustful and decentralised social media,trustworthiness verification and scoring,reputation mechanism,blockchain,human as a sensor,digital companion,open source