Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Roots of Communication (RoCS)

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: Social Sciences and Humanities
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2022-03-01
End date: 2024-02-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183473.28
EU funding (EUR): 183473.28
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The ability of the human species to share information with others is unique due to the fascinating expressivity of human communicative actions. The primary aim of the present proposal is to investigate the biological basis of this ability to reveal 1) the evolutionary foundations and 2) the neural underpinnings of it, which makes humans able to understand the meaning of communicative signal sequences. To test the first question, I will investigate whether a non-human animal species can recognize and prefer acoustic signals that are indicative of communicative information transfer in domestic chicks. To examine the second question, I will conduct two EEG experiments with young human infants to find specific neural markers of communication and to prove that communication can elicit high-level inferences about agency. In all experiments, I will rely on my recent results published in high-ranked, multidisciplinary journals, which show that the variability of signal sequences in turn-taking interactions is interpreted by human infants as indicative of communicative information transfer – even if the signals and the communicators are unfamiliar to them. The Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences and the supervision of Professor Vallortigara offers the perfect infrastructure and professional background to investigate both the comparative and the psychophysiological questions of the proposed project at the same time. Thus, the examination of the neural underpinnings of the sensitivity to communicative information transfer and the evolutionary ancient cognitive mechanisms behind it will enable to understand the biological foundations of human communication, which is not possible without testing non-linguistic and pre-linguistic participants. The findings of the present proposal can be highly relevant in cognitive and comparative psychology, linguistics and pragmatics and in applied sciences such as natural language processing, pedagogy or communication studies.

Keywords: developmental psychology,comparative psychology,preverbal infants,domestic chicks,communication
Preventative OperationaL procedures for space weAtheR threats to CrItical InfraStructure (POLARIS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Ireland
Call: Critical infrastructure protection topic 7: SME instrument topic: “Protection of Urban soft targets and urban critical infrastructures” (H2020-SMEINST-1-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2014-12-01
End date: 2015-05-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Protection of critical infrastructure in particular in the areas of energy/transport and communication grids is now crucial within our highly technical dependent societies. The scope for this project is to focus on the development of a commercial service offering to operators of such critical infrastructure which provides preventative operational procedures tailored to their individual needs. The operational procedures are based upon threat assessments received from external sources and in this proposal we are focusing on the initial threat detection which shall be incorporated into the service which is based upon Space Weather analysis. Space weather can have detrimental, and in some cases catastrophic, effects upon critical infrastructure on which we depend as part our daily lives. Adverse space weather has dramatically different effects on these the services provided by such critical infrastructure based on the underlying technologies in use and there location. For example a power transmission network operator in high latitudes and a traffic flow monitor network operator is low latitudes have completely different preventative operational procedures and space weather concerns. An operator therefore needs to understand the impact for their facility on a threat, an expert analysis and interpretation on a received threat and be informed in terms the operator understands on the steps required to prevent the threat escalating to become a major issue. Currently only global forecasts and information on the type of space weather events are available, missing the vital links between space weather and the operational procedures to mitigate the threat for a particular operator. We therefore propose to develop a system and a service offering titled, POLARIS, that will provide a single point of contact for the alerting alerting of threats, expert analysis and the issuing of operational procedures tailored to the needs of a particular urban critical infrastructure.

Keywords: space weather,critical infrastructure,preventive operational procedures
SKYOPENER - establishing new foundations for the use of Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems for civilian applications. (SKYOPENER)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Space
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Italy,Switzerland,Belgium,Switzerland,France,France,France
Call: EGNSS applications (H2020-Galileo-2015-1, 2015)
Start date: 2016-05-01
End date: 2019-06-30
Duration (months): 38.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4171487.5
EU funding (EUR): 1813729.0
Participants: 7
Project status: CLOSED

SKYOPENER will increase the use of Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for civilian applications by contributing to the European RPAS Steering Group's roadmap for the integration of civil RPAS into the European Aviation System. SKYOPENER will provide a whole operational process and a system that will demonstrate higher capability through Communication, Navigation and Surveillance innovations in RPAS. The SKYOPENER system will be designed, in the first instance, for specific operations for tactical RPAS, that are under 25kilos but subject to national aviation authority regulation, operating at Very Low Level of operation (under 500ft). SKYOPENER will include live trials in Switzerland for which we will gather stakeholders implicated in the operations of RPAS including RPAS operators, civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, RPAS manufacturers, satcom service providers etc. The newly developed system will be the result of the integration of a range of components which will combine technologies such as GNSS, satcom and security tools. GNSS will be used for the safety navigation of RPAS. The project will provide a command and control link that uses communication through multi-band satellite and radio and will address the redundancy issue of communication systems It will also feature a surveillance system with detect and avoid functions that will be based on GNSS, system wide information management and satcom. Such a system will be less costly, less complex, lighter and easier to roll out than those that are currently using mode-S transponders. SKYOPENER project brings together a seven partner team with a range of expertise and skills. Additionally we will include in the project a stakeholder group which will advise on the requirements of the project, witness the trial operations and support in the dissemination of results from the project. The range of partners, stakeholders and European associations give SKYOPENER a European scope.

Keywords: rpas,gnss,satcom
Upscale and demonstration of a integrated novel microwave pre-treatment system for efficient production of biogas from anaerobic digestion of pig manure to create a sustainable waste management system (biowave)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Ireland,Ireland,Romania,France,United Kingdom
Call: Fast Track to Innovation Pilot (H2020-FTIPilot-2015-1, 2015)
Start date: 2016-04-01
End date: 2018-07-31
Duration (months): 28.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1948920.0
EU funding (EUR): 1364244.0
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

Ashleigh Farms Limited are successful pig rearers for the pork meat industry. Currently they own over 1,500 sows that produce a combined total of 37,000 pigs per year. The pig farming industry is significant across Europe and it is increasingly becoming more and more difficult for pig farmers to be profitable and competitive. There are numerous legislations that are inhibiting the ability for pig farmers to prosper. Regulations and targets in place to control pollution and contamination are leaving pig farmers with less and less economical use for pig slurry. Pig herds are constantly growing and the slurry amounts are quickly reaching a crisis point. In order to improve margins and remain in business pig farmers require an innovative solution. We have developed a novel and innovative microwave pre-treatment technology that increases the compatibility of pig slurry for anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion of pig slurry is currently economically unviable as there is a requirement to add organic carbon sources in the ratio of 8:1. The microwave pre-treatment process converts hard carbon in the slurry, which cannot be digested by bacteria, into soluble carbon, thus increasing the total bio-available carbon in the slurry and improving the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio. Therefore the costs of using AD with pig slurry, are extremely high. Our innovative pre-treatment technology removes the need to add organic material and increases the biogas yield from slurry by 20%. This therefore provides farmers with a realistic solution to deal with the ever-growing amounts of slurry produced. With a payback of 4 years, our biowave system provides an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective method for pig slurry treatment that eases farmers’ legislative burdens. It helps reduce energy costs and helps to achieve the EU goal of sourcing 20% of all energy consumed from renewable energy.

Keywords: pigs,slurry,manure,biogas,microwave,anaerobic digestion,sustainable,energy,efficiency
Novel CO2 condensation and separation in supersonic flows contributing to carbon capture and storage (CCS) (NOCO2)

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: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2020-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 195454.8
EU funding (EUR): 195454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Environmental issue due to CO2 emissions has become global problems. This MSCA Individual Fellowship will bring the excellent young researcher, currently an H.C. Ørsted Fellow at the Technical University of Denmark, to investigate a novel CO2 supersonic separation technology contributing to carbon capture and storage. The researcher will integrate the visualising and measuring tests to study the complicated CO2 condensation phenomena, while a numerical model will be developed to predict the thermophysical behaviour of CO2 separation in supersonic flows. The project has been carefully designed to match the researcher's expertise in supersonic flows and the expertise of the host institute, the University of Nottingham in multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, and energy sustainable development. The objective is to propose and demonstrate the feasibility of CO2 separation in supersonic flows. In addition to the scientific goals, the Research Fellow will contribute his expertise on supersonic separations and multiphase flow corrosion, and will provide important training to EU researchers, industrial contacts and undergraduates by: hosting a series of seminars, lecturing at an industrial dissemination event, giving a special lecture on the fluid mechanics undergraduate course, and participating in outreach activities of the university. The researcher has 8 years experience on experimental and numerical studies for supersonic flows. Combining the host’s supervision on heat and mass transfer, the fellowship will provide him with perfect time to develop the proposed project on CO2 supersonic separation. The innovative research with its outcomes on journal papers and conference presentations, and the training on advanced expertise and soft skills, will enhance his future career to find tenure-track position in EU. The proposed project provides new guidance for CO2 treatment to mitigate carbon emission and contribute to the sustainable development of European society.

Keywords: carbon dioxide,supersonic,condensation,separation,separator,computational fluid dynamics,simulation,natural gas
Neuromuscular-Junction-on-a-Chip to study medication for Parkinson (NMJ)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Society and Enterprise panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-07-01
End date: 2021-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 184707.84
EU funding (EUR): 184707.84
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

While Europe is still missing publishing researchers working on brain-a-chip devices, scientists and pharmaceutical companies growing interests in investing in organ-on-a-chip devices urges because these lab-on-a-chip devices offer highly accessible systems for proof-reading and testing hypothesis-driven research. Chips allow ultra low-cost test benches for medication and offer flexibility to healthcare. This biotechnology set the first milestone for bio-prosthesis and in situ implants. In the scope of this H2020 MSCA Fellowship, I propose to elaborate a neuromuscular-junction-on-a-chip, induce Parkinson with the well known α-synuclein and proactively test medication proposed by Novartis and Glaxosmithkline on the chip. The proposed schematic is designed to bring closer academia and industry, research and innovation, from design to market. Elvesys, microfluidic center innovation in Paris is the beneficiary of this H2020 MSCA Fellowship. Elvesys team is creating a microfluidic valley in France, with the vision focus on Regenerative Medicine. During this project, I am aiming at improving Europe's stance as a leading organisation in bioengineering and an attractive destination for research.

Keywords: brain on a chip,blood brain barrier,neuromuscular junction
On-chip efficient storage of electrical energy with negative super-capacitance in 2D material systems (N-Supercap)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Systems and communication engineering
Panel description: Electrical, electronic, communication, optical and systems engineering
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2020-PoC, 2020)
Start date: 2021-03-01
End date: 2023-05-31
Duration (months): 27.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

We propose the combination of two performance boosters: (i) negative capacitance principle, exploiting ferroelectricity in doped high-k dielectrics, as developed and validated in 2D devices of our ERC Advanced grant Millitech, and, (ii) 2D graphene electrodes to enhance the performance of supercapacitors in on-chip 2D material systems, in an innovative device called N-supercap. While negative capacitance was until now explored mainly for digital and analog low power electronics, we propose to exploit NC in ferroelectric/dielectric/2D capacitors for on-chip energy storage to support autonomous sensory nodes. This will result in a versatile energy storage systems for IoT Edge AI systems, to enable a large scale deployment in tens of billions without maintenance costs, in a scalable and eco-friendly technology. The proposed PoC will serve as first step in the creation of startup that will aim at using such N-supercaps in various IoT node applications in environmental, industrial and healthcare monitoring. We have set a team of experts to exploit this technological breakthrough into the creation of a startup, based on a road to commercialization.

Keywords: energy storage on chip,supercapacitors,ferroelectrics,negative capacitance,high k dielectrics,graphene 2d electrodes
Protein Structure, Molecular Mechanisms and Human Genetic Disease: Beyond the Loss-of-function Paradigm (PROT-STRUCT-DISEASE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator 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 CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS (ERC-2020-COG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-06-01
End date: 2026-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 2000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

The ability to identify damaging genetic variants is central to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease. Computational phenotype predictors are widely used for prioritising likely pathogenic mutations, but their utility is limited by their accuracy. Conversely, experimental characterisation of variants is powerful but time consuming and difficult to perform on a large scale, limiting applicability in routine variant prioritisation. In this project, we will improve our ability to identify pathogenic variants through a combination of computational and experimental approaches. Fundamental to our strategy will be our consideration of alternate molecular mechanisms by which mutations can cause disease, in contrast to the current overwhelming focus on loss-of-function. First, we will use structural bioinformatics to investigate the different molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenic mutations, and learn how they are related to protein structure and phenotype. Next, we will perform deep mutational scanning (DMS) on at least 10 human disease genes, enabling us to measure fitness and elucidate molecular mechanisms for all possible single amino-acid substitutions. This will facilitate the direct identification of novel pathogenic variants, and allow us to evaluate the performance existing computational phenotype predictors. Finally, we will implement our own computational variant prioritisation pipeline and meta-predictor, using our new understanding of molecular mechanisms to integrate computational phenotype and stability predictors and DMS data with structural and other protein-level features. Crucially, we will demonstrate the utility of our approach in application to sequencing data from clinical and population cohort studies. Together, the knowledge we learn, the experimental data we measure, and the tools we develop will improve our ability to identify novel pathogenic variants, and thus diagnose human genetic disorders.

Keywords: structural bioinformatics,deep mutational scanning,computational phenotype prediction,mutations,dominant negative effect,gain of function
Understanding cellular mechanisms of human brain development using cerebral organoids (Spindle Brain Organoid)

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: Austria
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2017-09-01
End date: 2019-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 166156.8
EU funding (EUR): 166156.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The development of the human brain is a key and fascinating question in neurobiology. Studies in model organisms have provided enormous insight into basic mechanisms of neurogenesis, which relies on the balance between proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. Although human neurogenesis follows the same principles, human specific processes that lead to human brain expansion are largely unclear. In vitro models that recapitulate human brain development are invaluable tools to provide insight into human specific processes and brain expansion. In this application, I propose to use human cerebral organoids, a novel in vitro model system of human brain development, to investigate human specific mechanisms of brain development. Studies in primates suggest that the orientation of the mitotic spindle in neural stem cell divisions may be a key factor driving the expansion of the human brain. In order to gain insight into the role of spindle orientation in human brain development, I will use cerebral organoids to investigate how changes in spindle orientation affect proliferation of human neural stem cells and their differentiation into neural fates. To induce changes in spindle orientation in cerebral organoids, I will inactivate known regulators of spindle orientation. For this, I will establish an inducible loss-of-function system in human embryonic stem cells to inactivate such regulators in a controlled manner during the development of cerebral organoids. By using live-imaging techniques in such organoids, I will analyse how changes in spindle orientation affect the outcome of neural stem cell divisions. Then, by using immunohistochemical analysis, I will examine how changes in spindle orientation influence neuronal layering and cortical architecture. Overall, I expect to gain insight into the role of spindle orientation in human brain development and into the mechanisms underlying human brain expansion.

Keywords: cerebral organoid,spindle orientation,asymmetric cell division,neural stem cell,human cortical development,crispr cas9