Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Developing a novel hybrid AM approach which will offer unrivalled flexibility, part quality and productivity (OpenHybrid)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology
Theme: Technologies for Factories of the Future
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Germany,Italy,Germany,Switzerland,Belgium,France,France,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Novel hybrid approaches for additive and subtractive manufacturing machines (H2020-FOF-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2016-10-01
End date: 2019-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 6643718.75
EU funding (EUR): 5133381.25
Participants: 14
Project status: CLOSED

The OPENHYBRID project will overcome the technical and commercial barriers of current hybrid manufacturing systems to deliver a single manufacturing system capable of undertaking a wider range of processes in a seamless automated operation. The new system will offer unrivalled flexibility in terms of materials, including the ability to switch between powder and wire feed-stock within a single part. Moreover the process can be fitted to a diverse range of platform to produce parts from 2cm to 20m in length. The capability of the OPENHYBRID approach will be validated through the production of industrial demonstrators from the power generation, automotive and mining equipment sectors

Keywords: hybrid additive manufacturing,near net shape,metal deposition,automotive,power generation
Exploring the shell structure of exotic Sn isotopes with an Active Target (MagicTin)

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: Belgium
Call: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2016-01-01
End date: 2017-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 172800.0
EU funding (EUR): 172800.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The MagicTin proposal aims at the use of a new generation active target detector (ACTAR) to study the shell evolution in exotic Sn isotopes. The goal of this project is to commission the ACTAR demonstrator, optimizing it for the neutron-rich beams produced at the forthcoming second generation radioactive ion beam facilities. Worldwide, the availability of exotic ion beams is providing new insight on the evolution of nuclear shells far from beta stability, advancing our understanding of the nuclear force. Measuring transfer reactions, in particular 134Sn(d,p)135Sn, will allow to search for signatures of the existence of a new sub-shell closure at N=90 and to study, in this very neutron-rich region, the nucleon-nucleon interaction in the nuclear medium coupled to the continuum. Experiments where conventional techniques cannot be employed due to low-beam intensities will become feasible using the ACTAR device. This consists of a time projection chamber where the gas is used both as target material and as reaction products detector. Thanks to the fact that the interaction point lies inside the gas volume, very low detection thresholds can be obtained. Detection efficiency is also remarkably improved and this is essential when dealing with low intensity exotic beams. The beneficiary institution is deeply involved in the ACTAR development and the supervisor is managing an ERC project that aims at coupling ACTAR with gamma-ray detectors. Through the MagicTin project, the experienced researcher will have the possibility to learn the ACTAR technology, deeply contributing to the setup of the device for the exotic Sn physics case. Moreover, the experienced researcher (ER) will exploit his experience on scintillators to contribute in the development of the gamma-ray detectors. The ER will be also in charge of a commissioning experiment with the 120Sn stable beam: this task will allow him to re-enforce his research independence and maturity.

Keywords: nuclear shell model,radioactive ion beams,active target,scintillation detectors
Circuits of Visual Attention (Daphne)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Panel description: Nervous system development, homeostasis and ageing, nervous system function and dysfunction, systems neuroscience and modelling, biological basis of cognitive processes and of behaviour, neurological and mental disorders
Countries involved: Austria
Call: ERC Starting Grant (ERC-2017-STG, 2017)
Start date: 2017-12-01
End date: 2022-11-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1446542.0
EU funding (EUR): 1446542.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The evolutionary arms race has optimized and shaped the way animals attend to relevant sensory stimuli in an ever-changing environment. This is a complex task, because the vast majority of sensory experiences are not relevant. In humans, attentional disorders are a serious public health concern because of its high prevalence, but its causes are mostly unknown. In this proposal, I will explore the neuronal mechanisms used by the nervous system to attend visual cues to enable appropriate behaviors. We will combine cutting edge imaging techniques, optogenetic interventions, behavioral read outs and targeted connectomics to study the neuronal transformations of the mouse Superior Colliculus (SC), an evolutionary conserved midbrain area known to process sensorimotor transformations and to be involved in the allocation of attention. First, this work will reveal a detailed description of visual representation in the SC, focusing on understanding how defined retinal information-streams, like motion and color, contribute to these properties. Second, we will characterize sensorimotor transformations instructed by the SC. The combination of the previous two objectives will determine mechanisms of visual saliency and sensory driven attention (“bottom-up” attention). Finally, we will explore the neuronal mechanisms of attention by studying the modulatory effect of higher brain areas (“top-down” attention) on sensory transformation and multisensory integration in the SC. Taken together, this proposal aims to understand principles underlying sensorimotor transformation and build a framework to study attention in health and disease.

Keywords: visual system,sensory transformations,sensorimotor integration
Predictive Haptic COding Devices In Next Generation interfaces (ph-coding)

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: Sweden,France,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking (H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01, 2018)
Start date: 2019-01-01
End date: 2022-09-30
Duration (months): 45.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2988285.0
EU funding (EUR): 2988285.0
Participants: 4
Project status: CLOSED

PH-CODING founds the next generation ultra-intuitive user interfaces, through a new branch of neuroscience and providing the first exploitation of its underlying predictive coding principles in technological solutions for human haptic interactions. The main scientific hypothesis is that any haptic interaction involves a very large number of widespread skin sensors whose signals have a relationship that is intrinsically modulated by the contact with the environment and the skin mechanics. Combined with predictive actions, the brain is thus able to generate highly enriched percepts of the interactions that we make, which yields an essential part of the brain’s development of the concept of contingencies and a rich and stimulating understanding of the physical world. Failure to reach a corresponding level of responsiveness is likely a main reason why current user interfaces in VR systems and remote control become understimulating and disinteresting to most users. PH-CODING will: Characterize the brain’s computational mechanisms for reading out sensor population code’s generated in different skin tension states in experiments with dedicated haptic interfaces Develop a predictive coding model to extract stable haptic percepts through active interaction despite variability in the sensory signals, and demonstrate it in a robotic implementation Design and fabricate a soft artificial eSKIN based on bendable electronics integrating a variety of micro-/nano-sensors, with the capacity to ‘perceive’ multi-dimensional user input Demonstrate the transmission of ultra-rich haptic information generated in a man-to-eSKIN contact to a remote user via novel active haptic interfaces Carried out by leading neuroscience, nanotechnology and robotics groups and an SME at the forefront of haptics technology, this ground-breaking research will usher a new generation of passive and active devices enabling human-like, robust and rich interaction with objects, devices and robots.

Keywords: haptics,perception,touch,user interfaces,autonomous robots,consciousness,brain functional models,neocortex
Stacking of ecosystem services: mechanisms and interactions for optimal crop protection, pollination enhancement, and productivity (EcoStack)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
Theme: Sustainable agriculture and forestry
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Germany,Spain,Spain,Germany,Germany,Germany,Spain,Italy,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Serbia,Bulgaria,Finland,Poland,Sweden,Finland,France,Denmark,United Kingdom,Portugal,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Functional biodiversity – productivity gains through functional biodiversity: effective interplay of crop pollinators and pest predators (H2020-SFS-2017-2, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-10
End date: 2024-03-09
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10050109.75
EU funding (EUR): 9963866.0
Participants: 24
Project status: SIGNED

EcoStack will provide European farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to maximise ecosystem services for the production of crops, while minimising environmental impacts of agriculture and ensuring the profitability of farming. The objectives will be achieved by stacking ecosystem services to enhance synergistically the effective interplay of the service providers. Previous attempts at achieving this have been ineffective due to uncertainty of pollinator and natural enemy exchange between crop types and habitats, as well as the reluctance of growers to establish refugia for natural enemies and pollinators. In EcoStack we will focus on the management of beneficial organisms within the field, rather than trying to manage the external influx. We will make full use of increased knowledge of interactions between trophic levels (microbe-plant-herbivore-natural enemy / pollinator), and will manage and assess functional biodiversity benefits at different levels (within and between species, fields, landscapes), and stack them for maximizing farmer benefits and system resilience. Our research covers: conventional and organic cropping systems; arable, horticultural and permanent crops; pastoral and mixed systems, and all pedoclimatic production zones of Europe. Specific focus is on oilseed rape, wheat, and potato; field tomato; orchards (olive, fruit trees) and vineyards, and grassland/pastures. Advanced molecular and other technical tools are used to determine source populations of beneficial organisms, and to monitor and record movements and interactions. A comprehensive work-package will address relevant socio-economic questions including farmer uptake, and a specific tool will be developed based on precision agriculture data to allow farmers to link inputs (including functional biodiversity) to output (yield maps), based on data from their own fields. We have access to comprehensive farm networks covering all of Europe, for implementing and demonstrating our results.

Keywords: barcoding,biocontrol agents,ecosystem service dynamics,endophytes,farm networks,herbivores,interaction,landscape,microbes,plant defense priming,pollinators,socioeconomics,sustainability
Worldwide unique biofeedback system for non-invasive vertigo therapy and fall prevention (EQUIVert)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Germany
Call: SME instrument (H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1, 2019)
Start date: 2019-08-01
End date: 2020-01-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Vertigo (dizziness) is the second most common symptom in medicine, causing 30% of all people worldwide to be treated at least once in their lifetime. It is caused by a disturbance of the balance organ in our inner ear and has a significant impact on our everyday life, making many activities very hard or even impossible. However, through effective balance training, the human brain is capable to compensate for the wrong sensory information and can ultimately overcome vertigo. Unfortunately, current treatment options show severe shortcomings regarding costs, availability, and effectiveness of training. To overcome this problem, GED has developed EQUIVert. EQUIVert is the personal balance trainer for the home and professional use. It is a headphone with integrated position sensor and gesture control. It provides real-time acoustic biofeedback through sound to give the user conscious access to the otherwise unconscious combination of balance and depth sensitivity. EQUIVert is a complete system and ready to use. All exercises and training programmes are already preinstalled in the audio guide and it dynamically adapts the exercises to training progress and individual form. The major benefits for the users are the low purchase price, the effectiveness of the training, the ease of use, and the possibility to train anytime and anywhere. With over 100 million potential patients in Europe and the US, of which most are not or not properly treated right now, EQUIVert has a huge market creating potential. GED is planning a parallel market introduction, addressing private patients with an individual training device and healthcare physicians with a diagnosis support device. Following the already ongoing registration as medical device, EQUIVert will initially be introduced into the Central European market, shortly followed by an expansion across Europe and the US. A total of 22 new employees and an accumulated turnover of EUR 16 million is foreseen until the end of 2024.

Keywords: vertigo,vestibular disorder,dizziness,balance,treatment,training,biofeedback,meniere,ageing,elderly,care,fall,prevention,risk,assessment,geriatrics
Acoustic Blood Cells Sorter (ABC-S)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Theme: Treating and managing disease
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: France
Call: Supporting innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector (H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2018-02-01
End date: 2021-11-30
Duration (months): 46.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3951479.75
EU funding (EUR): 3951479.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Blood transfusion is central to public health: globally, 45 million people are transfused each year with Labile Blood Products (LBP). Blood Banks produce the LBP from donated human blood, which makes it a highly valuable resource. Today, blood banks face two major concerns: 1) increase in blood processing cost, due to ever increasing regulatory requirements; 2) therapeutic quality of their LBP. No disruptive innovation appeared on the market of blood fractionation devices for more than 30 years. Aenitis Technologies develops and designs innovative patented devices for continuous, contactless and pressureless cell sorting, using acoustic forces (acoustophoresis). The Aenitis’ ABC-S project (a follow-up of SME Instrument – Phase 1) will be a game changer: it proposes a completely new blood fractionation approach based on acoustophoresis that simplifies the LBP production process, while increasing the LBP quality. Indeed, our approach allows a drastic process optimization, which does not increase the platelets’ activation level, thus making the platelets more efficient and expanding their shelf life. ABC-S is a revolution in the market of blood processing devices. We already obtained the support from 2 major blood banks – the French Blood Agency and Héma-Québec in Canada, documented by letters. Thanks to this SME Instrument project, by 2024, we aim to sell to blood banks worldwide via distributors, generate sales over €52M, and hire a team of 48 direct collaborators. We have already prepared the access to the European market with 2 global market leaders and distributors that confirmed ABC-S high potential (cf. Appendix): Fresenius Kabi, n°1 world actor in whole blood fractionation devices and Macopharma, n°3 world actor in whole blood fractionation disposables. ABC-S will be on the European market at the end of the project before to tackle the global market.

Keywords: blood cells,acoustic technology,fractionation,labile blood products
Functional and Molecular Characterisation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BRECASTEM)

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-2016, 2016)
Start date: 2017-03-01
End date: 2019-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Every organ harbours adult stem cells which have the potential for long-term replication, together with the capacities of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. These stem cells function in tissue homeostasis and contribute to regeneration in response to injury. In addition, many cancers are caused by transforming mutations occurring in tissue-specific progenitor cells. These transformed stem cells harbour long-term proliferative potential and the ability to regenerate tumours consisting of phenotypically heterogeneous cell types. The identities of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that give rise to breast tumours are incompletely understood. The mammary gland is composed of a complex cellular hierarchy, which undergoes most of its development postnatally. To achieve this great plasticity, both stem and progenitor cells play a pivotal role in the extensive tissue remodelling occurring during puberty and pregnancy. Deregulation of stem and progenitor cells is a key event in mammary carcinogenesis. Recently, the host laboratory identified a rare unipotent progenitor cell population in the adult murine mammary gland characterized by the surface protein leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 6 (Lgr6). Oncogenic mutations in Lgr6-positive cells led to the formation of luminal mammary gland tumours, and contributed to tumour aggressiveness and maintenance. Conversely, depletion of Lgr6-positive progenitors in mouse luminal breast cancer dramatically impaired tumour growth and morphology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms driving these observations are unknown. The aim of this project is the characterisation of Lgr6-positive breast cancer stem cells, using functional and molecular approaches. We will characterise the molecular differences between cancer stem cells and non-stem cells, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic strategies to eliminate breast cancer stem cells.

Keywords: breast cancer,stem cells,lgr6,tumour initiation,drug resistance
Medium Voltage Direct Current Electronic Transformer (EMPOWER)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Consolidator grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Systems and communication engineering
Panel description: Electrical, electronic, communication, optical and systems engineering
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-2018-COG, 2018)
Start date: 2019-06-01
End date: 2024-05-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2198145.0
EU funding (EUR): 2198145.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

More than a century ago, the invention of alternating current (AC) transformer has made AC the preferred choice over the direct current (DC) technologies. Line AC transformers are bulky but simple and reliable devices, made out of copper and iron, providing voltage adaptation and galvanic isolation in AC power systems. Currently, DC technology is increasing its presence in AC power systems, enabled by progress in semiconductor devices and power electronics based energy conversion. DC power distribution networks can effectively support energy transformation and high penetration of distributed energy resources and energy storage integration (both increasingly being DC by nature) in future energy systems. Despite this shift towards the DC power distribution networks, DC Transformer, offering AC transformer like features (and beyond) does not exist, either conceptually or practically. To enable the next (r)evolution in power systems, the EMPOWER project will develop the DC Transformer, a novel, flexible, highly efficient, compact, and reliable conversion principle for seamless energy routing in high-power DC distribution networks. Through a holistic approach, novel concepts, integration and optimization, we will demonstrate new design paradigms for galvanically-isolated power conversion. Our approach relies on resonant conversion utilizing high-voltage semiconductor devices in combination with high-frequency magnetic materials. We propose a new approach for the DC Transformer, avoiding active power flow control and instead utilizing control effort for the safety and protection. The DC Transformer will unify functions of a power converter and a protection device into a single power electronics system, improving drastically the conversion efficiency, reliability and power density in future DC power distribution networks. The success of this project will place Europe at the edge of reliable, efficient and safe energy distribution and transmission technologies.