Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Molecular dynamics of size sensing at the single cell level. (SizerSingleCell)

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: 2022-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Cells have strict control over their size to ensure proper cell physiology. They also have ways to correct for deviations, referred to as cell-size homeostasis, leading to a very narrow distribution in cell size at division. Although some of the genes involved in this process have been identified, the underlying molecular mechanism has remained elusive. One possibility is that the cell can “sense” its size through a protein whose concentrations are related to cell-size ‒ known as the sizer model. However, this would not completely explain the fact that diploid cells are approximately twice the size of haploids, suggesting that ploidy also plays a role ‒ something that has not garnered a lot of attention in the field. Live-cell fluorescence microscopy is well-suited to address these issues because we can directly visualize the dynamics and localization patterns of sizers, along with cell-size, and quantify these characteristics. I propose to develop a live single-cell fluorescence microscopy approach using a microfluidics device that allows mother cell lineages to be tracked across multiple generations, for use with haploid and diploid strains of the unicellular eukaryotic organism, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This will allow me to measure protein levels of sizer candidates and their localization, along with cell length, across single lineages. This information could reveal long-term dynamics and correlations between sizer candidates and cell-size, and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms governing cell-size homeostasis and the role that ploidy plays in governing cell-size control within eukaryotes.

Keywords: cell cycle,microfluidics,size sensing
Intercultural Democracies: insights from mining conflicts for environmental justice in plurinational Bolivia and Ecuador. (InterDemo)

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: Spain
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 158121.6
EU funding (EUR): 158121.6
Participants: 1
Project status: TERMINATED

Claims from hitherto excluded indigenous groups have led to the rewriting of constitutions in Bolivia and Ecuador to recognize intercultural democracy. At the same time, indigenous environmental justice movements have increased their contestation of hydrocarbon extraction – and recently mining – due to their socio-political and ecological impacts. Analysis of these movements to date has focused on the consequences of conflicts, but less so on their socio-political and ecological drivers. While evidence has demonstrated the role of an increasing social metabolism as a driver of extraction, less attention has been paid to power relations and competing socio-political forces. These deeply influence the possibilities for a democratic control of the extractive sector, a crucial factor for achieving environmental justice and sustainability. This research aims to unpack the power relations that lie beneath the biophysical flows of expanding resource extraction in the intercultural democracies of the Andes. Two mining-related conflicts in Cuenca Poopó (Bolivia) and Intag (Ecuador), where indigenous organizations claim greater environmental justice specifically through self-determination as part of intercultural democracy, will be analyzed applying mixed methodologies: quantitative analysis of biophysical flows and qualitative analysis of interviews and data. This research will potentially show how ecological and metabolic drivers limit indigenous groups’ democratic participation through multi-scale power relations around resource appropriation, thereby improving the understanding of the political dimensions of these conflicts and informing more sustainable policies for extractive sectors. Training at the host institution (ICTA) will facilitate this research by complementing the candidate’s knowledge of political theory with skills in metabolic analysis and the interdisciplinary approach to environmental justice that forms the basis of ICTA’s world-renowned research.

Keywords: political ecology,environmental justice,intercultural democracy,plurinational state,power relations,indigenous peoples,socio ecological conflicts,mining,latin america,sustainable policy
Collective effects and optomechanics in ultra-cold matter (ColOpt)

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: Physics
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Germany,Germany,Italy,Germany,Germany,Switzerland,France,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-01-01
End date: 2021-06-30
Duration (months): 54.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3893423.76
EU funding (EUR): 3893423.76
Participants: 12
Project status: CLOSED

The network “Collective effects and optomechanics in ultra-cold matter” (ColOpt) will train early-stage researchers (ESR) in fundamental science and applications in the areas of cold atom and quantum physics, optical technologies and complexity science to promote European competiveness in emergent quantum technologies. It consists of nine academic nodes and three companies from six European countries, supported by two partners in Brazil and the USA, five further non-academic partners and one public-private partnership. Collective, nonlinear dynamics and spontaneous self-organization are abundant in nature, sciences and technology and of central importance. Building on this interdisciplinary relevance, a particular novelty of ColOpt is the integration of classical and quantum self-organization. The research program focuses on collective interactions of light with laser-cooled cold and quantum-degenerate matter. We will explore innovative control of matter through optomechanical effects, identify novel quantum phases, enhance knowledge of long-range coupled systems and advance the associated trapping, laser and optical technologies, establishing new concepts in quantum information and simulation. ColOpt combines cutting-edge science with training in complex instrumentation and methods to the highest level of technical expertise, both experimentally and theoretically, and fosters the development of transferable skills and critical judgement. Each ESR will be exposed to a broad spectrum of experimental, theoretical and industrial environments, to obtain core competence in one of them and the collaborative experience and skills to thrive in a truly international and intersectorial framework. ESRs will develop the capabilities to analyse and understand complex interactions, and will gain awareness of societal and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities. Taken together, this will enable them to excel in a variety of sectors of our diverse and rapidly changing society.

Keywords: cold atom physics,self organization,collective light scattering,optomechanics,novel trapping,geometries,non equilibrium phase transitions,quantum simulation,quantum technologies
Strong Gravity and High-Energy Physics (StronGrHEP)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Research and innovation staff exchange
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Italy,France,United States,Portugal,Portugal,Japan,Canada,United Kingdom
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2019-12-31
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 288000.0
EU funding (EUR): 288000.0
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

This project explores strong-gravity phenomena involving black holes in the context of high-energy physics applications and astrophysical observations including gravitational waves. The proposed studies can be loosely classified into four groups with considerable overlap. (i) Fundamental fields in strong gravity. Fundamental fields coupled to curvature are essential for cosmological models, for explaining the nature of dark matter or to extend the Standard Model of particle physics. In addition, scalar fields are often used as proxy for other, more complex interactions. Through numerical, perturbative and analytical modeling, we will explore the dynamics and wave emission of neutron stars and black holes in dark-matter environments and infer bounds on axion-like particles. (ii) Stability of black holes. The physical stability of black-hole solutions with or without the presence of fundamental matter fields will be studied. Such solutions represent possible end states of the dynamical processes and their importance critically relies on whether they form long-term stable spacetimes. (iii) Modified theories of gravity. Modifications and extensions of general relativity are being explored for a variety of reasons ranging from cosmological observations to attempts to unify general relativity with quantum mechanics. We will explore observable effects of various such theories in astrophysical systems with a particular focus on gravitational-wave and electromagnetic signatures, that could allow us to test general relativity against modified theories of gravity. (iv) High-energy collisions. The gravitational interaction of ultrarelativistic collisions will be modeled numerically and perturbatively to probe the possibility of black-hole formation in the framework of TeV gravity scenarios.

Keywords: gravity,black holes,fundamental fields,computational physics
Detecting and ANalysing TErrorist-related online contents and financing activities (DANTE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
Action type: Innovation actions
Countries involved: Spain,Ireland,Italy,Italy,Spain,Austria,Spain,Italy,Germany,Belgium,Greece,France,United Kingdom,Portugal
Call: Law Enforcement capabilities 2: Detection and analysis of terrorist-related content on the Internet (H2020-FCT-2015, 2015)
Start date: 2016-09-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 6206216.25
EU funding (EUR): 4998527.88
Participants: 20
Project status: CLOSED

Money underpins all terrorist activities (without money propaganda, training, recruitment, and support are less effective or null). The disruption of terrorist financing activity is a key element in any fight against terrorism. DANTE will deliver effective, efficient and automated data mining, analytics solutions and an integrated system to detect, retrieve, and analyse huge amounts of heterogeneous and complex multimedia and multi-language (in five languages) terrorist-related contents from both the Surface and the Deep Web, including the Dark Nets. The ultimate goal is to discover (by “connecting the dots”), analyse and monitor potential terrorist-related activities and people, with focus on online fund raising activities, but also considering propaganda, training and disinformation. The challenging results of DANTE are achievable by exploiting, improving and integrating several existing data mining and analysis tools (mostly provided and owned by the partners; some already with high TRL). These tools and services will be further evolved and enhanced to be put at the service of the requirements provided by LEA partners (Guardia Civil, Policia Judiciaria, Home Office, Carabinieri). Thus, starting from lab and pre-prototype tools and methods, a market ready product with higher TRL will be the major outcome of DANTE. The presence of end user partners in the consortium will allow the validation/optimisation of the solution and boost of its adoption in their operational circumstances. The DANTE system will be validated and demonstrated in three pilots under the direct responsibility of the involved LEAs in their operational environments with the aim of detecting, analysing and monitoring terrorist-related contents for (i) propaganda (including recruitment, incitement, radicalization and disinformation), (ii) training and (iii) fund raising. DANTE surpasses the needs of the call for ensuring TRL6 of the projects results, by including components that will reach TRL7.
VECMAP IPM, a one-stop-shop for the sustainable prevention of urban pests of public health Importance (VECMAP IPM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Belgium
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2, 2018)
Start date: 2018-08-01
End date: 2021-07-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1600000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

You might assume that pest-borne diseases are relics that belong to the past, but you can’t ignore that mosquito’s, ticks, rodents, fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches and several other very well know pests are often bothering you. And surely you did not remain unaffected when the news about Zika virus, spread during the latest Olympic games, was threatening the future lives of unborn children. We currently witness important changes in ecology, climate & human behaviour that favour the development of urban pests. Global travel and trade, urbanisation and environmental challenges are causing pest related human diseases to emerge. Avia-GIS is aiming to prevent pests from disturbing our lives wherever we are! Most pest controllers still limit their interventions to reactive control using harsh chemicals in a ‘carpet bombing’ setting despite EU regulations 2014, imposing to revert to proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. Avia-GIS is a leading Belgian innovative SME established in 2001 who has built research and public authority trust over the past 17 years and developed a unique, disruptive software suite - VECMAP® - that will support society to overcome one of its important health threats, the spreading of Pests of Public Health importance. Avia-GIS grew steadily by 17% per year, having now an annual turn-over of 2M€ and employing 15 highly specialised staff members. With the help of the H2020 Instrument, we will be able to add IPM functionalities and bring VECMAP®IPM to the market. Within 5 years Avia-GIS will enable 3.200 SME pest controllers and 3.600 local authorities to shift to IPM strategies. With the grant we will raise revenue from 2 M€ to 22 M€ in 2023 and headcount from 15 to 58 in 2023 and contribute to the scaling of 7 resellers in Europe. The H2020 grant is an essential component of our second investment round that will allow us to attract the needed additional private investment money upon signature of the EC grant.

Keywords: integrated pest management
Strongly CORrelated Polaritons In Optoelectronic Nanostructures (SCORPION)

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: Netherlands
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2019-STG, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2025-06-30
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Polaritons, part-light part-matter quasi-particles, are formed when photons in a cavity couple strongly to excitons in semiconductors. Polaritons are interacting bosons which can undergo phase transitions driven by light. The hybrid nature of polaritons suggests that both light and matter become strongly correlated near the transition point. Correlated states of light in cavity arrays have been intensely investigated theoretically for over 12 years, but experimental progress has been limited by challenges in the integration of highly nonlinear materials with cavity arrays. Similarly, correlated states of matter (e.g. superconductivity) emerging near polaritonic phase transitions have generated strong theoretical interest in recent years, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. In this project, we will realize strongly correlated light-matter systems in order to solve optimization problems and induce superconductivity with light. We will achieve these goals using a single experimental platform comprising tunable cavities where semiconductors can be easily inserted and light-matter coupling can be tuned in-situ. In work package 1, we will measure photon correlations in multicavity systems simulating Ising models. We will use these Ising simulators to solve non-deterministic polynomial time (NP)-hard optimization problems, e.g. finding the ground state energy of a 2D Ising model. In work package 2, we will couple a polariton condensate to a two-dimensional electron system (2DES). We will optically drive this system across the polariton condensation threshold, and search for signatures of superconductivity in differential conductance measurements of the 2DES. We anticipate the results of both work packages to open a new frontier of condensed matter physics dealing with simultaneously correlated light and matter. Moreover, completely new types of optoelectronic devices controlled by light are likely to emerge.
Smart Specialization Strategy Tools with Big Data (SSST-BD)

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: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Finland
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-09-01
End date: 2021-10-03
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 190680.96
EU funding (EUR): 190680.96
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to develop novel scientific metrics approaches and automated tools for the analysis and management of the European Smart Specialization Strategy. The European Union (EU) has introduced Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) to increase the innovation and competitive potential of its member states by identifying promising economic areas for investment and specialization. While the evaluation of Smart Specialization Strategy requires measurable criteria for the comparison of rate and level of development of regional economic activities, policy makers lack efficient and viable tools for mapping promising sectors for smart specialization. To address this issue, the proposed action intends to develop automated knowledge-based management tools and planning approaches for S3. In particular, we plan to develop novel methods for measuring the competitiveness of regional industries and entrepreneurial activities in order to avoid duplication and fragmentation of innovation effort in EU and to help European regions identify a niche market of specialization in a global value chain. The research will also develop big data foresight tools for testing and evaluating new firm business concepts and assessing patent values based on weak signals of technological changes. In this way, we aim to examine which European regions in which sectors produce radical and disruptive innovations and in which areas they show potential of future specialization. Moreover, we will study the effect of local knowledge resources on generating radical and disruptive business opportunities. To summarize, the project identifies and addresses major gaps in smart specialization research and provides new tools for this strategic field of research.

Keywords: smart specialization strategy,innovation,foresight,entrepreneurship,regional development,big data,text mining,machine learning
BugBox: Mass Rearing & Production Technology to Produce Protein Powder & Other Sub-Products from Edible Insects (BUGBOX)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Estonia
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2019-12-01
End date: 2020-05-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

BugBox OÜ was founded in 2015 with the mission to provide a scalable fully automated mass rearing and production technology for the edible insect industry. The rapidly rising population has caused an increasing demand for meat and dairy products resulting in over-consumption and increasing need for land, water and energy resources. The resources must be used more effectively to ensure environmental sustainability. Rearing insects has a much smaller ecological footprint than common farming, making it a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way of producing protein. Currently there are only manual methods used for rearing insects, which are not capable to rear and produce the insect-based proteins cost-efficiently, in large-scale and high quality. BugBox is developing a fully automatic technology which will enable to produce insects in larger amounts and more cost-efficiently than today’s manual method. The key components of BugBox’s technology are: fully automated mass rearing reactor, sensors and IT-platform. BugBox’s technology will be over 200x more productive and over 10x more affordable than current manual farms. BugBox has carried out intensive research in entomology field and has currently a light prototype of a rearing reactor which needs to be tested and demonstrated in relevant environment (with different insect species, in different geographical locations and conditions). The objective of Phase 1 project is to assess the technical feasibility, scalability and economic viability of mass rearing and production technology by demonstrating the reactor in different environmental conditions. Target users of BugBox technology are: 1) farmers of edible insects; 2) producers of protein powders, oils and other sub-products; 3) food, snack and beverage producers.

Keywords: edible insects,mass rearing,fully automatic,production technology,environmental sustainability,insect based protein,protein powder