Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
European Training Network to Accelerate the Development Chain of Nanostructured Polymers (TheLink)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Germany,Germany,Italy,Spain,Germany,Norway,Greece,Netherlands,Netherlands,United Kingdom,Portugal,United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN-ETN) (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2014-11-01
End date: 2018-10-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3794898.96
EU funding (EUR): 3794898.96
Participants: 15
Project status: CLOSED

Research and training in TheLink spans the material development chain for nanostructured polymers. These materials, including phase separated polymers and composites, are attracting scientific and industrial interest due to the outstanding properties and functionalities that can be achieved. However, to exploit the potential of these materials an in-depth understanding of the relationship between nano/micro structures and macro-level properties is required. TheLink aims to generate this knowledge on an interdisciplinary basis combining simulation, characterisation and processing. The recruited fellows will take nanomaterial development beyond “trial and error” towards a knowledge-based and industrially feasible approach. Three case studies (phase separated polymers and composites, separation membranes and self-diagnosing polymers) will be used to guide the research and to demonstrate the project developments. Careful attention will also be paid to broader market requirements and standardisation. High-quality individualised training in scientific and transferable skills, and a structured network program of training units, will provide the fellows with unique interdisciplinary competence in simulation, characterisation and processing, and move them from theoretical investigations towards industrial application and entrepreneurship. The active involvement of industrial partners, secondments in applied research and industry and a strong research and training emphasis on market requirements will furthermore provide them with the intersectoral experience needed for a career in the development of nanostructured polymers.

Keywords: simulation,modelling,characterisation,processing,nanostructured polymers,filter membranes,emi shielding,adhesives,conductive polymers,nanofillers
Advanced Design of High Entropy Alloys Based Materials for Space Propulsion (ATLAS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Space
Theme: Enabling European competitiveness, non-dependence and innovation of the European space sector
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Italy,Sweden,Netherlands,Netherlands,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness (H2020-SPACE-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2023-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2932749.5
EU funding (EUR): 2932749.5
Participants: 8
Project status: SIGNED

The development of next generation space exploration propulsion systems requires high temperature materials able to guarantee low density, high strength and ductility, oxidation resistance, good creep properties. High Entropy Alloys (HEA) are an excellent candidate due to their potential high specific strength and oxidation resistance at high temperatures and have been identified as possible replacement for superalloys in propulsion systems components. HEAs are relatively new class of materials and although since 2004 more than 600 HEA journal and conference papers have been published the whole HEA world still leaves un-answered questions. Therefore, in order to exploit these advancements on HEA, further work is needed. The main goal of ATLAS is to take over the present limitations and unsolved issues that limit the utilization of HEA through multidisciplinary materials design framework that advances the state-of-the-art of High Entropy Alloys and related materials compounds towards the practical needs (current and future) of the space propulsion industry. To achieve this ambitious result the following challenges will be addressed: defnition of an accurate material property database, design of the HEA, definition of Hybrid/Compound solutions with combination of HEA materials joined to Ceramics and/or Ceramic Matric Composites (CMCs) to create lightweight and temperature resistant functional materials, manufacturing of near-net shape manufacturing and materials integration/joining with Ceramics and CMCs. To produce the HEA materials and related compounds materials designed within the project two different additive manufacturing processes will be used from the production of coupons and samples to the final full scale demenstration, thus paving the path for the application of HEAs for the new generation of space propulsion.

Keywords: space propulsion high temperature materials high entropy alloys metal matrix composites ceramic matrix composites integrated computational materials engineering selective laser melting cold spray
Colour vision in the dark: ecological, physiological and structural basis of rod-rod colour opponency in the frog retina (COLOURFUL DARKNESS)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Most vertebrates, including humans, cannot ‘see colour in the dark’ because the retinal rod photoreceptors that mediate vision in dim light usually come in a single spectral flavour (“green”), precluding spectral comparisons. But frogs and some salamanders have an additional ”blue”-rod type, potentially allowing for purely rod-based colour discrimination. Using behaviour, I recently demonstrated that this is indeed the case: frogs do make spectral comparisons down to the absolute visual sensitivity threshold. However, the ecological relevance of nocturnal colour vision and the structure and function of the retinal circuitry underlying rod-rod spectral comparisons, and enabling the simultaneous preservation of sensitivity and spectral resolution, have not been explored. Thus, this proposal seeks to establish the purpose as well as the underlying retinal physiology and circuit implementation of frog colour discrimination near the visual threshold. For this, we will combine natural scene imaging, high-throughput multi-electrode array recordings from 1,000s of retinal ganglion cells and synaptic-resolution serial section electron microscopy of the blue-sensitive rod circuitry. This will enable unraveling which visual information is available to be used, and how it is processed, to reach the low-light limits of colour discrimination performance available to the vertebrate eye. Our research will also provide a link between the more intensely studied retinal circuits of fish and mammals, providing important insights about the evolution of vertebrate retinal networks’ architecture and computations. Finally, the topic of ‘colour vision in the dark’ is one that attracts considerable public interest, so this project will create valuable opportunities for public engagement with the research supported by the European Commission.

Keywords: retina,photoreceptors,colour vision
The role of Glial cells in the control of puberty (Glial-Puberty)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2018-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Puberty, a key developmental period when the reproductive capacity is attained and sexual and somatic maturation completed, is under the control of a complex series of regulatory mechanisms that are sensitive to endogenous factors and environmental cues. However, characterization of the neuro-hormonal basis of puberty remains incomplete. A wealth of evidence has demonstrated the existence of reciprocal communications between glial cells and neurons; glial cells having an essential role in regulation of the functional activity of the nervous system. In this context, it is well establish that glial cells play an important role in neuroendocrine regulation and participate in sexual differentiation of neuronal connectivity of brain regions involved in the control of puberty. In addition, preliminary studies have demonstrated that kisspeptins induce changes in markers of glial cell activity. Based on this preliminary data, the aim of this proposal is to provide better knowledge of the role of glial cells in the control of puberty and their interplay with kisspeptins, as major gatekeepers of puberty onset in mammals. To this end, we will used both Kiss1 KO and Gpr54-βgal models generated by the host laboratory, which will allow the study of direct effects of kisspeptins on glial cells. In addition, we will generate a mouse model with deletion of Gpr54 (kisspeptin receptor) only in glial cells, to define their precise role in the control of puberty. Implementation of this project will expand our knowledge of the mechanisms for the control of puberty and its deviations, whose prevalence has notably increased worldwide.

Keywords: health sciences,neuroendocrinology,puberty,hypothalamus,glial cells,kisspeptins,gpr54
Proof of Concept study for ERC NIPD discovered biomarkers (mR-NIPD)

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: Cyprus
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2015-PoC, 2015)
Start date: 2016-12-01
End date: 2018-05-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Scientific and medical evidence indicate that non-invasive prenatal testing, known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), is a safer alternative to invasive tests that might put the pregnancy at risk. Modern NIPT examine traces of fetal DNA in the maternal bloodstream to determine whether the fetus is at risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as, but not limited to, Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) and Edward’s syndrome (trisomy 18). In this ERC Proof of Concept Grant (mR-NIPD), we anticipate to correlate already discovered DNA biomarkers of the ERC NIPD (funded ERC) with biomarkers in mRNA transcripts. The method, directly related to the currently funded ERC, will use m6A-specific methylated mRNA immunoprecipitation combined with Next Generation Sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) on fetal and maternal mRNA samples. As a result, we aim to increase the number of fetal specific biomarkers and provide a novel, cost-effective non-invasive prenatal test that will be accessible to all pregnant women independent from social and economic status

Keywords: nipd,mr nipd,cell free rna,down syndrome,fetal epigenetic biomarkers,next generation sequencing,differentially methylated regions
Smart freight TranspOrt and logistics Research Methodologies (STORM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Belgium,Sweden,Finland,Czechia
Call: Advanced research methods and tools in support of transport/mobility researchers, planners and policy makers (H2020-MG-2020-SingleStage-INEA, 2020)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2023-08-31
Duration (months): 32.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1530141.25
EU funding (EUR): 1530141.25
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

Freight transport and logistics are in a period of transformation where the increased availability of digital technologies is rapidly transforming market structures and logistics business models, and the legislative and policy frameworks are moving towards the minimization of the environmental impact of transport. The rapid structural, organisational, and behavioural changes of the sector make existing data, models, and tools lag behind current developments. In response, the STORM project aims to study transformation and structural changes in freight and logistics business structures from different perspectives, focusing on the future challenges and needs of the sector by developing new methods and tools to support digitalization, sustainability transition, and future policy needs. STORM will create a unique platform for dialog with all relevant stakeholder groups to identify key elements for future horizons and directions for freight and logistics research, business and polices. The project will develop new generation, beyond current state-of-the-art transport data analytics, models and solutions through industry use cases and contribute to sector innovations and competitiveness. STORM output will be a toolbox bringing together tools and methods centring on Big Data, data fusion, and agent-based modelling applied to electrified freight transport concepts and new collaborative, digitised logistics systems. It responds to the emerging needs of transport researchers, planners, and policy makers and it will generate knowledge for the implementation of innovative transport policies. STORM will provide advanced methods and tools to enable new opportunities and business models for the sector through targeted information and knowledge sharing with structured support and collaboration in research, policy analysis, and transport planning, to fulfil the ultimate goal of facilitating the sustainable transformation for the business and future public policies.

Keywords: smart freight and logistics,big data,methodologies,concepts,technology
Higher Spin Quantum Gravity: Lagrangian Formulations for Higher Spin Gravity and Their Applications (HSQG)

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: Physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2020-12-01
End date: 2022-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 224933.76
EU funding (EUR): 224933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The research proposed here is principally aimed at deriving action for higher-spin (HS) gravity theories, to quartic order in fields, mainly focused in dimensions three, four and five, by using Noether method, adapted to HS systems. We will find out what are the conditions for the action for HS gravity to exist and what spectrum is allowed, what are the locality properties of such theories and what is the role of special dimensions. We will further explicate the role of the cosmological constant and parity odd structures in such theories. In particular, we will study the zoo of five dimensional HS algebras and their role in formulations of different HS gravity theories in five and lower dimensions. The result of this research will be the answer to long-standing questions of existence and uniqueness of action formulation for field theories with massless HS spectrum. The obtained information will have wide applications in Quantum Gravity. In particular, the knowledge of the action to quartic order in fields will allow us to compute the one-loop mass renormalization of HS fields and compare to known results in the conjectured dual CFT, thus providing a non-trivial check for the AdS/CFT conjecture.

Keywords: higher spin gravity,gauge symmetries,quantum gravity
Capturing and adding value to CO2 & hazardous waste to produce valuable aggregates for construction (Carbon8)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2018)
Start date: 2019-02-01
End date: 2019-05-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Carbon8 has developed Accelerated Carbonation Technology, ACT, a controlled, accelerated version of the naturally occurring carbonation process. It can be described as a CO2 capture and utilisation, or ‘CCU’, technology which captures CO2 to create a valuable, safe, carbon neutral or negative end-product which can be used as an aggregate by the construction industry. The technology is applicable to hazardous waste from industries including cement, steel and Energy from Waste. These wastes otherwise represent a problem for the waste producer and typically require pre-treatment before transportation to landfill – at a cost of up to 150 Euros per tonne. Carbon8’s technology has already been successfully deployed, under license by a waste management company, at large scale. This Phase 1 Project focuses on the identification of markets and suitable end-products for a small-scale version of the ACT technology - identified as more suitable to customer needs. The compact, containerized processing plant can be integrated into existing industrial processes, utilising CO2 contained in flue gas to treat the industrial waste. It represents a circular economy solution to both industrial waste and CO2 emissions. Carbon8 estimates that around 20% of the EU’s 143 million tonnes of reactive waste might be available. These waste streams would have the potential to capture 3.5 Mt of CO2 /year. There is interest from major cement producers: Heidelberg, Lafarge, CRH, and Cemex and from EfW operators, particularly in northern Europe where disposal options are limited and costs highest. By deploying smaller scale units with single waste streams, there is scope to fine tune the end product, an aggregate for the construction industry, with potential to ‘reverse-engineer’ a premium aggregate which can command a higher market value and further enhance the economic rationale.

Keywords: waste management,carbon storage,sustainable building materials
Continuous-flow Photoelectrochemical Cells for Carbon Dioxide Valorization (PEC_Flow)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Physical and analytical chemical sciences
Panel description: Analytical chemistry, chemical theory, physical chemistry/chemical physics
Countries involved: Hungary
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2019-PoC, 2019)
Start date: 2020-02-01
End date: 2021-07-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Technologies utilizing carbon-dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock to generate valuable products will play a key role in turning the chemical industry onto a more sustainable path. This project addresses the efficient utilization of solar energy and CO2 by introducing a novel technology to produces base chemicals and fuels from non-fossil fuel resources, using an original device architectures for the direct photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion of CO2 and H2O. During my ERC Starting Grant project we have identified 4 different approaches for PEC CO2 reduction: (i) direct PEC reduction (photocathode), (ii) direct PEC oxidation (photoanode), (iii) PEC reduction and oxidation (photocathode+photoanode tandem), (iv) buried light absorber + EC. In all cases we focus on membrane separated, zero-gap cells, where humidified CO2 can be used as input. This approach will open the opportunity to use industrial exhaust fume (rich in both CO2 and H2O) directly as feedstock for the generation of valuable chemicals. There are four main objectives of this project, which together ultimately result in a preliminary business plan and a roadmap to move PEC_flow cells to commercialization. These are to (i) Validate laboratory results from the ERC HybridSolarFuels Starting Grant, obtain operational parameters under realistic conditions, which can be used in modelling. (ii) Perform technoeconomic and life cycle analysis to select the optimal PEC cell configuration for future activities. (iii) Clarify IPR position and carry out market analysis (including stakeholder- and competitor analysis). (iv) Based on all the above, develop a business plan, which paves the road for future activities, ultimately leading to commercialization.

Keywords: solar chemicals,photoelectrochemistry,carbon dioxide utilization,reactor design
Unveiling down to 0-dimensional confinements in GaN devices for RF power application (UNOGAN)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-10-10
End date: 2022-10-09
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166320.0
EU funding (EUR): 166320.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

UNOGAN aims at developing a fundamental approach for quantitative assessment of polarization-induced 2D carriers (and their type) or junctions at the interface(s) and focuses on unraveling chemical and electronic properties of critical regions, for e.g., recessed surfaces of the gate, which is expected to shed a deeper insight into one of the severe challenges GaN industry is facing. Though successfully applied in narrow-bandgap semiconductors like Si, this SPM based approach currently face challenges of highly resistive wide band gap (Al,Ga)N. In the project, not only identification of the key issues but major improvements and even key instrumental development of E-SPM is proposed for such a rigid system, from which a correlated-analysis of spatially resolved local potential, charge and resistance in combination with computational methodology could be developed. This approach will lead to major advancements in the improvement of III-nitride based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) program of IMEC. Over the years, the applicant has gained significant experience in the electrical study of III-nitride materials through scanning probe, defect sensitive spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopies. UNOGAN research will channel this knowledge towards new horizons at the forefront of materials science, building a strong collaboration network involving well-established European laboratories and companies which are leaders in the field. The new skills acquired during the two-year project will serve him to boost his research career, gain independence and place the host institution as an international reference in nanoscale device characterization.

Keywords: gan power electronics,high electron mobility transistor,gan on si,traps,algan,gan mg,scanning probe microscopy,spreading resistance,kelvin probe,surface photovoltage,tunneling microscopy