Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Ultrafast atomic-scale imaging and control of nonequilibrium phenomena in quantum materials (FASTOMIC)

Framework: Horizon Europe — 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: Germany
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1572500.0
EU funding (EUR): 1572500.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Quantum materials (QMs) are of great importance for the development of future quantum nanophotonics and nanoelectronic devices. To harness their full potential and design novel functionalities, it is essential to understand how their macroscopic quantum states arise from the microscopic interaction between their charge, lattice, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom, and how they respond to external perturbations. While ultrafast techniques offer unique insight into microscopic interactions at global, macroscopic scales, they fall short of capturing the local response of a many-body quantum state directly at the atomic scale. In contrast, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) enables imaging of stationary quantum states with angstrom spatial resolution, revealing atomic inhomogeneities, local disorder, or how quantum phases can vary over angstrom scales. Such irregularities are ubiquitous in real devices, and can even be a key feature of technically relevant metastable phases. In these cases, the global understanding of the nonequilibrium response of a quantum state is not sufficient to fully capture its properties, and one must also understand the localized response directly at the relevant spatial - angstrom - scales. Yet, the study of atomically localized nonequilibrium dynamics in QMs has so far been out of reach. In this proposal, I will employ ultrafast Terahertz-lightwave-driven STM (THz-STM) to (i) explore the response of correlated electron states to global and local perturbations and as a function of their local environment, and (ii) induce new quantum properties by periodic driving with light to create Floquet topological states and study their topological properties at the atomic scale. FASTOMIC will bridge the gap between atomic real-space and ultrafast real-time investigation of condensed quantum matter, providing scientific insights and technological advances that go significantly beyond existing capabilities.

Keywords: scanning tunneling microscopy,ultrafast surface science,strongly correlated materials,floquet engineering,charge density waves,topological insulators,mott insulators
Realizing ambulatory shock-free termination of atrial fibrillation (Opto-AF-Therapy)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2024-POC, 2024)
Start date: 2025-05-01
End date: 2026-10-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 180000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of heart rhythm disturbance, progressive in nature and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thus, an effective and broadly applicable treatment to quickly restore normal rhythm at any time and place is highly desired. However, such therapy is lacking. In contrast to drugs and ablation, electrical cardioversion of AF is effective in broad populations of AF patients, but can only performed within hospitals because of the required patient sedation due to the use of high-voltage shocks. This undesired delay in treatment, huge hospital workload, and impact on patient mobility, further signifies the need for the development of new treatment strategies. To overcome these challenges and meet this need for new therapeutics, my group developed the concept of optoelectronic cardiac rhythm control. This approach is based on the paradigm that arrhythmia termination for restoration of normal rhythm can be achieved by appropriately timed generation of bioelectrical currents by the arrhythmic heart itself. To enable such shock-free and therefore pain-free AF termination, cardiac tissue will be optogenetically modified to express light-sensitive proteins. A small implantable optical defibrillator will trigger the release of light pulses by a multi-electrode LED array upon automated AF detection. Our recent results in rodents show that this indeed results in pain-free and immediate AF termination, thus overcoming the drawbacks of electrical cardioversion. To realize valorisation towards clinical exploration, Opto-AF-Therapy will focus on the optimization of the expression cassette for optogenetic modification of atrial tissue and conduct first proof-of-principle large animal studies. Complementary to these activities, my team will establish an IP strategy, file relevant patent application(s), conduct thorough market analyses and condense all findings into a business case to present to potential partners & investors.
Redefining the landscape of ammonia electrooxidation, utilising molecular electrocatalysts (Elmar)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: Sweden,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): 206887.68
EU funding (EUR): 206887.68
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Fuel cells represent highly efficient and non-polluting power devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical power. Ammonia, as a fuel, is considered a potent alternative to the commonly used hydrogen because it has a lower cost per unit of stored energy and benefits from a well-established production and distribution infrastructure. The electrochemical NH3 oxidation reaction (eAOR) typically relies on Pt-based electrocatalysts due to their low overpotential and remarkable selectivity for N2. However, their susceptibility to durability problems exacerbates their already high cost and limited availability. A few recent studies have reported molecular eAOR catalysts, but evaluate them under homogeneous conditions, which are rarely relevant to energy-related applications. To make feasible catalytic systems out of molecular catalysts, their heterogenisation on electrode surfaces is necessary. Within the MSCA postdoctoral fellowship 'Elmar', I aim to construct catalytic films for eAOR, by encapsulating non-noble metal molecular complexes in carbon-based supporting materials. Those hybrid electrocatalysts will undergo electrochemical assessment to determine their efficiency and durability, and will be compared to a reference Pt/C catalyst. The performance of each electrocatalyst will be optimized by tuning the micro-environment of the molecular complex inside the film, and rationalized based on spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical investigations. Overall, I aspire to establish an exemplary methodology for constructing, optimizing, and rationalizing electrocatalysts based on simple non-noble metal complexes. My ultimate goal is to create robust eAOR catalysts capable of competing with Pt-based ones. This endeavour can significantly contribute to the development of fuel cell technologies, that are expected to play an important role in the decarbonization of the EU’s energy system.

Keywords: ammonia oxidation reaction,molecular electrocatalysis,spectroelectrochemistry,molecular catalyst heterogenisation,fe macrocycles
Advancing Exciton Dynamics in In-situ/Operando Spectroscopic Study of Lanthanide-based OLEDs (EXD-LnOLED)

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: United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01, 2024)
Start date: 2026-04-01
End date: 2028-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 276187.92
EU funding (EUR): 276187.92
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

This research project, "EXD-LnOLED," aims to enhance the efficiency and functionality of lanthanide-based organic light-emitting diodes (Ln-OLEDs). OLEDs are efficient electroluminescent (EL) light sources for panel displays, light communication, and laser diode applications. To maximize efficiency, it is crucial to fully utilize excitons, which consist of 25% singlet and 75% triplet exciton states. Lanthanide complexes are ideal for OLEDs due to their unique optical properties, such as high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), color tunability, and narrow linewidths. This triplet sensitization allows for potentially 100% utilization of exciton energy, leading to cost-effective EL devices. However, despite their high PLQY of around 80%, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) in operational OLEDs is limited to about 10%, restricting practical applications. The primary objective of this project is to develop in-situ/operando spectroscopic techniques to study exciton dynamics and energy transfer within operating Ln-OLEDs. By using advanced methods such as ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved electroluminescence under in-situ/operando conditions, the research will uncover the mechanisms limiting current Ln-OLED efficiency. Additionally, the project will create innovative methods for detecting changes from electron injection, enhancing understanding of charge balance and dynamics in Ln-OLEDs. Ultimately, the project seeks to address efficiency challenges and achieve state-of-the-art Ln-OLEDs with the highest EQE. These insights will inform the design of high-efficiency devices, aiming for 100% exciton energy utilization, thus advancing energy-saving technologies and next-generation lighting solutions.

Keywords: light emitting diodes,electroluminescence,trivalent lanthanide complex,energy transfer,photophysical properties
Acceleration of market deployment (Green Graphene)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: European innovation ecosystems
Theme: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Destination: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Sweden
Call: Women TechEU (HORIZON-EIE-2021-SCALEUP-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-06-01
End date: 2023-11-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 107142.86
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Graphene has the potential to revolutionise the technology industry, but because the graphene market has problems producing large volumes of high quality graphene, that potential has not yet been realised. We have found a new way to make graphene, from biomass. Our patent pending process allows us to produce large volumes of a graphene with properties optimised for energy storage and other applications where the electrical properties of graphene is in focus. We produce a graphene powder with flakes that are larger and thinner than most of the mass-produced graphene found on the market today. This means that our graphene has high conductivity and a large specific surface area. The thinnes of our flakes also make them transparent. We call our graphene green because it is made from a renewable raw material (instead of graphite like most other graphene) and because we use no toxic chemicals in our production process. We have invested a lot in our thechnology, but we apply for this grant because we feel that it is time to focus again on the business side. This grant would be used to update our business model, perform an extensive market analysis including developing a pricing strategy and to do a IP strategy.

Keywords: business model,pricing strategy,ip strategy
Field-Theory Approach to Molecular Interactions (FITMOL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Luxembourg
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2021-ADG, 2021)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2027-11-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The quantum-mechanical theory of molecular interactions is firmly established, however its applicability to large molecular complexes is hindered by the rather high computational cost of quantum calculations required to achieve high accuracy. We propose a paradigm shift in the modeling and conceptual understanding of electrostatic and electrodynamic molecular interactions in many-particle systems from the perspective of (quantum) field theory. This development is critical to accurately and efficiently model increasingly intricate and functional molecular ensembles with millions of atoms subject to external excitations (static, thermal, and optical fields; variation in the number of particles; and/or arbitrary macroscopic boundary conditions). This molecular size covers a wide range of functional biological systems, including solvated protein/protein and enzyme/DNA complexes. The theoretical developments in this project will concentrate on two main fronts: (WP1) fundamental quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory of molecular interactions based on many-body oscillator Hamiltonians, (WP2) second-quantized field theory (FIT) approach to molecular Hamiltonians for modeling large-scale systems with 10^4-10^6 atoms. The applicability of these challenging developments to realistic molecules will be ensured by: (WP3) implementation of non-local machine learning force fields based on second-quantized matrix Hamiltonians for efficient molecular dynamics simulations of molecular ensembles, (WP4) implementation of QED/FIT methods in an open-source package FITMOL for increasing the accuracy, improving the efficiency, and enhancing the insight that one obtains from quantum-mechanical calculations of large molecules. It is my vision that revealing fundamental mechanisms of functional (bio)molecules with millions of atoms requires a radically new field-theory approach to molecular interactions. Achieving this goal will be the main breakthrough of the FITMOL project.

Keywords: quantum fluctuations,complex molecules,quantum field theory,machine learning
deepHelix: a massively scalable, AI-powered peptide drug discovery platform (deepHelix)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2024-POC, 2024)
Start date: 2025-03-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Peptide drugs potentially address limitations of both small molecules and antibodies. Small molecules struggle to target protein-protein interactions (PPIs), while antibodies cannot access intracellular proteins. In this project we will develop an AI-driven experimental platform to produce cell-permeable therapeutic peptides made entirely of natural amino acids. The platform will allow the rapid discovery of cost-effective, stable, cell-permeable, and high-affinity peptide binders for use as research tools, in diagnostics, and as therapeutics against intracellular proteins previously considered undruggable targets.
Paternalism and Psychological Interventions for Promoting Empowerment and Educational Integration among Minority Girls (MGEMPOW)

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: Netherlands
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2024-02-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 31.0
Total project cost (EUR): 215429.62
EU funding (EUR): 215429.62
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Ethnic minority women such as Roma and Arab-Muslim women are one of the most disempowered groups in Europe. They face both gender and ethnic discrimination already in schools, resulting in weaker academic motivation and achievement, which then negatively impacts their professional opportunities, societal status, and welfare of their community. The achievement gap is often explained through structural barriers (e.g., segregation, poverty), however less academic and policy-making attention is paid on the individual and psychological barriers, such as on the impact of educators’ prejudice. The goal of the project is to validate an unexplored aspect of prejudice among educators, which is especially likely to be directed at minority girls and diminish their performance, namely paternalism, which is identified here as educators’ benevolent yet patronizing attitudes towards students. Firstly, the fellow aims to test how educators’ paternalism impact discrimination in schools, and how it produces minority girls’ psychological barriers to achievement. Secondly, to develop psychological interventions for educators and for minority girls to reduce paternalism and its impact, with the overall aim to improve students’ academic trajectory, meanwhile empower them to challenge their group’s situation in society. The project is focused on Roma minority in Hungary, and on Arab-Muslim minority in the Netherlands. The project is composed of four research programs, testing 1) educators’ paternalistic prejudice and discrimination, and 2) minority girls’ internalized paternalism, psychological academic barriers and performance, and their group identification. Paternalism-specific psychological intervention programs 3) for educators and 4) for students are designed and will be tested for short–long-term impact. The fellow employs quantitative (correlational, experimental) research methods and uses self-report and behavioral measures of discrimination, performance, and empowerment.

Keywords: prejudice,prejudice reduction intervention,collective action
Embracing Immigrant Knowledges for Just Climate Health Adaptation (IMBRACE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Human Mobility, Environment, and Space
Panel description: Human geography, demography, health, susta inability science, territorial planning, spatial analysis
Countries involved: Spain
Call: ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2023-COG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2029-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1985268.0
EU funding (EUR): 1985268.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Climate change, human health and immigration are arguably the most prominent, enduring, and challenging issues of our times, with important implications for justice. Studies on the nexus of these issues have largely focused on climate change as posing challenges to health and thus acting as a push-factor for migration. However, our understanding of how climate is impacting the health of immigrants in places of migration destination is still poor. Further limiting our understanding of potential climate and health injustices, immigrant communities in Europe are far from homogenous, and are often racialized groups of great ethnic diversity. With IMBRACE, I examine what shapes immigrants’ climate health vulnerability and how their situated knowledges and practices can inform both their own response capacities and urban climate adaptation more broadly, towards more effective and just approaches. I focus on two types of climate impacts, chosen as most relevant for urban areas in Europe and with important implications for health: (a) increased and prolonged heat, and (b) intense rainfall and flooding. I employ a pioneering feminist political ecology approach that combines participatory ethnography, critical discourse and policy analysis, and transdisciplinary knowledge production. Focusing on 6 case-study cities in Europe– I systematically explore tangible and intangible factors and structural drivers of immigrants’ climate health vulnerability, centering and engaging with immigrants as expert knowledge-holders. Mobilizing knowledge that comes with and through immigration, I offer an intersectional justice perspective that considers class, gender, race, ethnicity, and other axes of power and oppression when designing and assessing urban climate and health adaptation policy. This novel, comparative, and in-depth study will open new paths for research at the nexus of climate, health, and immigration, leading to a shift in how we conceptualize and research climate justice.

Keywords: political ecology,climate justice,climate adaptation,medical anthropology
Domestic forests and wood culture in the continental Euro-Atlantic region (1300 – 1600 CE): explaining change and redressing biased perspectives (WoodCulture)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: The Study of the Human Past
Panel description: Archaeology and history
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2246000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2246000.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Woodlands in the continental Euro-Atlantic region became heavily exploited from the Late Middle Ages onwards. The timber demand of growing cities and fleets promoted changes in oak (Quercus sp.) forestry practices and long-distance timber trade, aiming to provide a fast and sustainable turnover of construction wood. Progressively, changes in timber-framed buildings and ship designs took place during the 15th and 16th centuries, concurrently with shifts in woodworking techniques. Whether and how these changes and shifts in wood culture were interrelated, is still a debated question. Dendrochronological datasets biased towards wood from old trees, limited archaeological records, and fragmented historiography have hampered thus far finding the answer. WoodCulture aims to explain changes on and redress biased perspectives about domestic forests, timber supply, building activity patterns and technological innovations in the continental Euro-Atlantic region during the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance (c.1300-1600 CE). I will retrieve the currently missing wood archive of young and fast-growing oaks from managed forests, along with its associated historical, technological and environmental context, combining isotope dendrochronology, archaeology and history with 3D scanning, AI and GIS. This ground-breaking interdisciplinary approach will provide a novel, empirically-founded narrative about changes in woodlands and interdependencies between timber products, construction designs and technological innovations in the continental Euro-Atlantic region. Moreover, it will reveal whether domestic forests became sustainable suppliers of construction timber at local/regional scales, putting the magnitude of timber trade into perspective. The developed set of tools will revolutionise fields of study beyond material heritage (history, archaeology, geography), allowing the systematic analysis of hitherto unstudied timbers in historic buildings and archaeological sites.

Keywords: dendrochronology built heritage shipbuilding forest history history of wood technology late medieval period continental euro atlantic region