Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Nanostructured van der Waals materials for enhanced light emission (BrightNano-vdW)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Career Restart panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2019, 2019)
Start date: 2020-10-05
End date: 2023-10-04
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 319400.64
EU funding (EUR): 319400.64
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

This research proposal aims at exploring the potential of atomically-thin van der Waals (vdW) materials as highly efficient single-photon and nonlinear light sources towards their implementation in optical devices. In the context of nano-optics, an important element towards the development of practical photonic-based technologies is the achievement of bright and stable light sources as well as a precise control over quantum emitters. So far, the development of photonic devices is limited by a number of issues which can be addressed by the use of two-dimensional (2D) vdW materials. They present interesting excitonic properties such as strain-induced localization of emitters and inherent optical nonlinearities but the low quantum yield hinders their use in optical devices. Therefore, there is a real need to enhance the photoluminescence of vdW materials. One way to address the low quantum yield is by utilizing nanostructures to increase their emission rate. This project will be carried out with Dr Sapienza at the Imperial College London in collaboration with a secondment host, Prof. Tartakovskii at the University of Sheffield. My experience with nanoscale hotspot manipulation for fluorescence enhancement and the activity of the hosts with quantum emitters and vdW materials will permit a collaborative and interdisciplinary research programme at the interface between 2D materials and nano-optics. If successful, this proposal will allow me to advance my career in the field of nanophotonics and participate in diversifying the achievements of the host groups in nonlinear optics and plasmonics. Furthermore, the potential outcomes will provide a major step towards the implementation of vdW materials in photonic devices, thus establishing European leadership worldwide in the scheme of nano-optics and quantum research.

Keywords: light enhancement,single emitters,nonlinear optics,van der waals materials
Molecular Bioengineering in health ERA chair (MOBILIsE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Spreading excellence and widening participation
Programme: ERA chairs
Theme: Attracting and mobilising the best talents
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Portugal
Call: ERA Chairs (H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020-6, 2019)
Start date: 2021-01-01
End date: 2026-06-30
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2478155.0
EU funding (EUR): 2478155.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

MOBILIsE aims to recruit an outstanding Researcher to act as the ERA Chair Holder to the National Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB). She/he will establish a new research direction in Molecular Bioengineering focused on precision medicine, namely in targeted therapies and molecular diagnosis, and create a synergic and cohesive research environment among key stakeholders (academy, research institutes, clinicians and industry) in the Porto region: the MOBILIsE hub. The MOBILIsE project will boost the translation of the design of new molecular targets to the application of diagnostic tools and therapies targeted to the major health challenges, with particular focus on cancer, infection, neurodegenerative diseases, and tissue repair/regeneration that have been explored at the institute. INEB is already recognized for its fundamental work in protein/cell-materials interactions and in the development of nanotechnology tools for targeted controlled drug delivery. Yet, the potential and projection at international level of cross-disciplinary research, like the application of nanomedicine to cancer and neurologic disorders, is still limited. This has a major impact on funding attraction, transfer of technology, and translational potential of the research developed. Hence, this project will hire an expert in Molecular Bioengineering to install an internationally competitive research group focused on precision medicine. The group will exploit nanotechnology tools to discover new molecular targets that can be explored in the design of new diagnostic and/or therapeutic systems. The MOBILIsE project will promote the integration between biomedical engineering, biology and medicine, by focusing on (vital) interactions at the molecular level with impact on human health. Ultimately, MOBILIsE aims to establish a Molecular Bioengineering research group that will facilitate critical institutional structural changes to maximize the high potential for research excellence at INEB.

Keywords: molecular bioengineering,nanomedicine,precision medicine,targeted therapies,molecular diagnosis,biomaterials
Mitochondrial Adaptations associated with Thermophily in Ants (MATA)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Reintegration panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Denmark
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-07-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 207312.0
EU funding (EUR): 207312.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Thermal tolerance is one of the most central traits that, in insects, correlate with distribution. With global temperatures projected to increase worldwide, much effort has been recently put into deciphering the physiological mechanisms constraining heat tolerance plasticity in ectotherms. However, we still know very little on how evolutionary pressures may have shaped physiological traits to enhance thermal tolerance in land insects. This is especially true in the case of mitochondrial functions, which have been repeatedly highlighted as central for ectotherms to survive exposition to non-optimal temperature regimes. Considering this central gap in our knowledge, we propose here to explore the mitochondrial adaptations associated with thermophily in insects, inside a consistent study system made of pairs of thermosensitive versus thermotolerant closely related ant species. Using this phylogenetic framework, we will (I) compare how temperatures affect specific steps along the mitochondrial Electron Transfer System (ETS) involved in respiration, (II) assess the impact of temperatures on mitochondrial ATP and ROS outputs, and (III) track adaptations in membrane composition and metabolic profiling associated with increased mitochondrial resilience to temperatures. Overall, this project thus proposes to explore important yet unanswered aspects of insect thermal biology that is located at the frontier of our current understanding of ecophysiology.

Keywords: ecophysiology,insects,insect thermal biology,ants,respiration,mitochondria,metabolism
U-space for UAM (Uspace4UAM)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research
Action type: Innovation actions
Partnership: SESAR (Art-187)
Countries involved: Austria,Germany,Spain,Germany,Spain,Spain,Poland,Czechia,Czechia,Czechia,United States,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: U-space capabilities and services to enable Urban Air Mobility (H2020-SESAR-2020-1, 2020)
Start date: 2021-02-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 23.0
Total project cost (EUR): 5254910.35
EU funding (EUR): 3999966.38
Participants: 14
Project status: CLOSED

Aiming to bridge the gap between development and deployment, this VLD project will tackle issues of operational concepts, regulation, and standards, while building confidence in a safe and orderly integration of UAM in every days air traffic. It will do this with a consortium of forward-looking cities and ANSPs, national regulators and EASA, a well experienced UTM provider, as well as eVTOL manufacturers, research centers, and technology providers. A series of well defined, iterative and multi-national demonstrations, both with drones and UAM vehicles will be conducted. They will cover different use cases, including mixed operations, to allow the project to derive critical enablers for a wide set of UAM service applications that can be applied all over Europe. Uspace4UAM will build on the CORUS project results and on operational and business experience already gathered in operational drone service implementations in Europe. it will study safety cases and their impact on system requirements, and look at how regulation and standardisation can be set up to support innovators to build a sustainable business case while operating safely in a multi-modal transport network. This project is set to deliver results that are of real interest to “early movers”, enabling them to bring a real market impact in the next few years. In order to prove that this will be achieved, and that indeed the project has laid a bridge between development and deployment, the project is set to deliver a number of commercial contracts for the provision of fully automated drone services, and present solutions to identified gaps towards fully autonomous Urban Air Taxi services.

Keywords: u space,urban air mobility,flying taxis,air taxi,drones,autonomy,demonstrations,smart cities,uam conops,safety,certification,regulatory needs for uam
Ultra-low cost & ultra-high efficiency AI processor for enabling fast and cost-effective deployment of edge-computing applications (Reexen)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2020-01-01
End date: 2020-04-30
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Since the breakthrough application of Deep Neural Networks algorithms (DNNs) to speech and image recognition, the number of applications that use DNNs has exploded, achieving the highest accuracy in a myriad of contexts (health, robotics, finance, gaming, etc.). However, their superior accuracy comes at the cost of high computational complexity. Current approaches to solve this challenge are cloud-based, incurring in high power consumption and high latency, given their communication needs. Although cloud approaches are suitable for some context, they are suboptimal for real-time applications running on embedded or mobile devices (with limited battery capacity and requiring fast responses). REEXEN appears to bring a solution to this challenge: an extremely efficient AI processor (a semiconductor chip) specifically designed for supporting DNN-based edge applications. By exploiting state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies in mixed-signal circuits and in-memory processing, REEXEN obtains the best power-efficiency when executing DNN algorithms, in terms of maximum throughput per energy unit consumption (30 TOPs/W). By reducing the "distance" between data generation (sensors), data storage (memory) and data processing (core processor or nucleus), and by eliminating A/D conversions, REEXEN also achieves minimum latency (<10ms) and fabrication area, thus also reducing the overall cost of production. REEXEN completely aligns with the EU approach to AI, as an enabling technology that will allow the development of current industry-transversal smart services and the implementation of future new ones. Our company is 100% focused on developing next generation of ultra-low power neural network processors. From the successful results of our early prototyping for audio applications, REEXEN project will attract the best talent and additional financing to build the business around our technology and increase our company size, international presence and job generation.

Keywords: chip,neural networks algorithms
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA WITH AND FOR SOCIETY: Leveraging digital innovation for a greener and healthier Europe (ENLIGHT RISE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Science with and for Society
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Estonia,Ireland,Belgium,Slovakia,Sweden,France,Netherlands
Call: Support for the Research and Innovation Dimension of European Universities (Part II) (H2020-IBA-SwafS-Support-2-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2024-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2487073.75
EU funding (EUR): 2487073.75
Participants: 9
Project status: SIGNED

ENLIGHT is a European university Network to promote equitable quality of Life, sustainability and global engagement through Higher education Transformation. It brings together 9 comprehensive, research-intensive, new flagship universities with a strong reputation. ENLIGHT strives to transform the way in which we address global societal challenges by developing new models and methodologies for education and research adapted to the complex sustainability issues facing cities and communities today.; ENLIGHT focuses on five flagship challenges: Health & Well-being, Climate change, Energy & Circular Economy, Digital Revolution and Equity. With ENLIGHT RISE (Research and Innovation agenda with and for SociEty) we will support ENLIGHT in its R&I dimension, to deploy a comprehensive joint transformation agenda, in synergy with the educational component, in partnership with surrounding ecosystems, and with the overarching goal of serving our societal missions. The objective is to become more competitive and innovative together, leveraging and synergizing our respective strengths and capitalizing on our innovation potential and partnerships with our surrounding ecosystems to jointly promote a greener, healthier, more equitable and sustainable Europe. To reach these goals, ENLIGHT RISE will 1- establish a longer term business model for joint R&I actions, 2- identify strong research synergies with high innovation potential 3- enable the sharing of and optimize capacity or digital research infrastructures, while benchmarking and optimizing the societal impact of digital innovation/artificial intelligence, 4- reinforce cooperation and co-creation with the business sector and civil-society, 5- mainstream and incentivize open science practices and public engagement, 6- improve the attractiveness of researchers’ careers, and 7- develop and formalize methods towards an impact-driven R&I agenda.

Keywords: randi agenda observatory synergies innovation district digital infrastructures responsible ecosystem early career development society public engagement open science open data frontiers and impact
Artificial Motor Proteins: toward a designed, autonomous protein motor built from non-motor parts (ArtMotor)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Synergy grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Germany,Australia,Sweden
Call: ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2020-SyG, 2020)
Start date: 2021-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 9999892.5
EU funding (EUR): 9999892.0
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

Molecular motors and machines are essential for all cellular processes that together enable life. Built from proteins, with a wide range of properties, functionalities and performance characteristics, biological motors perform complex tasks and can transduce chemical energy into mechanical work more efficiently than human-made combustion engines. Sophisticated studies of biological protein motors have led to much structural and biophysical information and the development of models for motor function. However, from the study of highly evolved, biological motors it remains difficult to discern detailed mechanisms, for example about the relative role of different force generation mechanisms, or how information is communicated across a protein to achieve the necessary coordination. A promising, complementary approach to answering these questions is to build synthetic protein motors from the bottom up. Indeed, much effort has been invested in functional protein design, but so far, the ‘holy grail’ of designing and building a functional synthetic protein motor has not been realized. The purpose of ArtMotor is to design and build functional, synthetic protein motors capable of moving and transducing energy, based on existing, non-motor protein modules of known molecular function. Harnessing the synergy of expertise in computational protein design, structural and molecular biology, and single-molecule detection, we will use a two-pronged approach to (a) construct relatively simple protein motors that will require external control, while (b) construct, step by step, an autonomous protein motor capable of moving along a track. Such a functional, synthetic protein will constitute a ground-breaking advance in synthetic biology, physics and engineering. In addition to gaining new insights into mechanisms of energy transduction in proteins, we will also inspire other, complex protein designs that may lead to advances in fields from enzyme design to nano-engineering.

Keywords: protein design,protein engineering,artificial molecular motor,molecular motor,molecular machine,synthetic biology,single molecule approaches
Phase-Change Materials and Switches for Enabling Beyond-CMOS Energy Efficient Applications (PHASE-CHANGE SWITCH)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Novel ideas for radically new technologies
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Switzerland,Switzerland,France,United Kingdom
Call: FET-Open research and innovation actions (H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2017-01-01
End date: 2020-11-30
Duration (months): 47.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3883412.5
EU funding (EUR): 3883412.0
Participants: 6
Project status: CLOSED

The proposal PHASE-CHANGE SWITCH addresses the need for combined energy efficiency and extended functionality with the engineering of new classes of solid-state Beyond CMOS switches exploiting the abrupt phase-change (Metal-Insulator-Transition - MIT) in materials and at temperatures that make them interesting for electronic circuits and systems by their performance, energy efficiency and scalability. The proposal includes disruptive research contributions on the whole value chain, from novel phase-change materials to new device and circuit architectures together with their scaling and integration on silicon and GaN platforms. On materials alloying and straining techniques in phase-change systems are used for the engineering of the transition temperature and the ON and OFF bandgaps (conductivity) of VO2. A significant advance is the three-terminal energy efficient phase-change electronic switch with deep-sub-thermionic average slope (<10mV/decade at room temperature), operating at sub-0.5V voltage supply, with ON current better than silicon MOSFET and OFF current comparable with tunnel FETs, surpassing the state-of-the-art. The proposal focuses on smart design and exploitation of the unique properties of the phase-change VO2 beyond CMOS switches, by targeting with the same technology platform: (i) von-Neumann steep-slope logic devices and circuits, to extend CMOS with novel functionality and energy efficiency, (ii) uniquely reconfigurable energy efficient radio-frequency (RF) circuit functions from 1 to 100GHz, (iii) unconventional scalable neuristors exploiting the hysteretic RC switching behaviour for neuromorphic computation, and, (iv) disruptive classes of solid-state ionitronic devices for neuromorphic computation, exploiting non-volatile memory effects. The proposed research is expected to create new applications and markets and reinforce the leadership of European industrial players in the field of energy efficient IoT and high frequency communications.

Keywords: steep slope switch,phase change material,metal insulator transition,energy efficient circuits,beyond cmos,neuromorphic computing,reconfigurable rf circuits
Understanding genetic hubs in rice inflorescence architecture to increase grain yield (GainGrain)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Individual Fellowships (IF)-Reintegration panel
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Spain
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-05-01
End date: 2021-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 160932.48
EU funding (EUR): 160932.48
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

GainGrain addresses grain (fruit) production in rice, which is one of the most important cereals species, a major staple food and the most important model plant for the wide and important phylogenetic group of monocots. GainGrain intends to improve yield by dissecting the regulatory mechanisms that control the branched inflorescence architecture of rice, aiming to both identify new functions and analyze the regulatory networks of conserved transcription factors. This will enable us to determine, and eventually optimize, rice inflorescence morphogenesis. Nevertheless, GainGrain is designed to transfer the knowledge and molecular tools obtained in rice to other crops, not just other cereals but even eudicot crops. Identifying and understanding the role of molecular networks, their direct targets and interactors, and their involvement in regulating the number of inflorescence branches and flowers in each species, would provide evolutionary and developmental insights and new major targets for crop yield improvement.

Keywords: oryza sativa,crops,branching,inflorescence,inflorescence meristem,evo devo,monocots,eudicots,crispr,dcas9