Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Observing the Mechanisms of Earthquake Nucleation (OMEN)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Earth System Science
Panel description: Physical geography, geo logy, geophysics, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, climatology, cryology, ecology, global environmental change, biogeochemical cycles, natural resources management
Countries involved: Italy
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2030-03-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2143975.0
EU funding (EUR): 2143975.0
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Earthquakes are one of the most expressive phenomena of our planet, able to suddenly reshape the surface of the Earth and affect countless lives every year. Any effort towards earthquake forecast and hazard mitigation must rely on a profound comprehension of seismogenesis. However, earthquakes are phenomena that emerge from a complex, dynamic system of mechanisms that operate at inaccessible depths within the Earth. The impossibility to directly observe the birth of an earthquake (i.e., the “nucleation”) frustrates our effort to have new breakthroughs on their physics. The overarching goal of OMEN is to directly observe the mechanisms of earthquake nucleation to allow for a step-change in our understanding of seismic slip and its potential precursors. OMEN will overcome the current experimental approaches that rely only on the indirect measure of sample properties and/or use of rock-analogue materials. With an innovative rock-deformation apparatus and the use of transparent high-tech glass, I will be able to simulate and, for the first time, film the birth of earthquakes in natural fault rocks at hypocentral conditions. This method, in combination with several investigation techniques (visible and infrared footage, acoustic emissions, deep learning-assisted image analysis etc.), will offer unprecedented detail on the processes during the preparation and propagation of seismic slip. In particular, I will shed new light on how the complexity of natural rocks affect the dynamics, resulting into the formulation of a new, more reliable physical framework for the description of earthquake nucleation. Laboratory and theoretical results will be upscaled to nature thanks to the integration of microstructural and field studies of natural faults. OMEN is the unique opportunity to open a literal window into the dynamics of earthquakes, shifting the paradigm from an empirically quantitative documentation to a direct and truly quantitative observation.

Keywords: rock mechanics,earthquake,nucleation,fault,friction,experiments,fabric,machine learning,video footage
COMMERCIALIZATION OF NEW ORGANIC BIOFERTILIZER BASED ON PROCESS OF NITROGEN FIXATION BY CYANOBACTERIA (ALGAENITE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Accelerator
Destination: Other destinations
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: Israel
Call: EIC Accelerator 2024 - Short application (HORIZON-EIC-2024-ACCELERATOR-01, 2024)
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 7000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 7000000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Growponics developed Algaenite under the SME instrument phase I grant and the EIC Accelerator grant, addressing the global challenges associated with nitrogen-based fertilizers. Our liquid bio-fertilizer replace traditional fertilizers produced through the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. The technology contributes significantly to the reduction of resources depletion, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. Algaenite involves large-scale cultivation of cyanobacteria in controlled environments, harnessing solar energy to fix atmospheric nitrogen, producing ammonia, in a biological way. Ammonia is the main raw material for fertilizers. At the EIC project end in 2023, Growponics’ resulting high-quality liquid bio-fertilizer, demonstrated success in hydroponic greenhouses, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers. Growponics' achieved noteworthy milestones, starting with initial batch cultivation to the completion of a fully automated photobioreactor (PBR) unit with 160 columns, installed in the Israeli pilot facility. The downstream process evolved to anaerobic digestion, producing a high-grade liquid bio-fertilizer with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Commercially, Growponics established a strategic partnership with the Danish company Nordicflexhouse ApS, serving as its EU office for commercializing Algaenite. These steps will facilitate the penetration into European and global markets. Growponics is now requesting equity funding to bring the Algaenite cutting-edge technology to Europe, focusing on maximizing the potential of its fully automated PBR to generate the highest price-effective organic fertilizer, enabling the production of high-quality crops for human consumption. The commitment to scalability, sustainability, and efficiency remains at the core of Growponics’ mission. Growponics aspires to minimize environmental impact, optimize resource utilization, and contribute positively to the broader ecological landscape globally.

Keywords: cyanobacteria,biological nitrogen fixation,organic fertilizer,hydroponics,green ammonia
Optimised Runway Centreline Interception (ORCI)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Theme: Public-private partnerships
Destination: Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Partnership: SESAR (JU-JTI)
Countries involved: France,Spain,Portugal
Call: ATM Excellent science and outreach for connected and automated ATM (HORIZON-SESAR-2023-DES-ER-02, 2023)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2026-11-30
Duration (months): 30.0
Total project cost (EUR): 819493.75
EU funding (EUR): 819493.75
Participants: 4
Project status: SIGNED

ORCI will explore innovative AI-based solutions to help increase runway throughput using advanced automation support tools in the TMA domain. Specifically, the objective is to provide key information to Air Traffic Controllers in final approach sectors, to support informed decisions on when to issue vectoring instructions to aircraft for optimal spacing between consecutive arrivals during medium, high, very high-density and increasingly complex TMA airspace operations. To achieve this objective, the project will develop an AI model that is trained using radar surveillance data and ATC voice communications between pilots and controllers. During the project, Barcelona and Lisbon approach operations will be assessed. This will include interviews with ATCO experts from the respective ANSP partners, as well as in-depth analysis of local arrival characteristics (e.g. geometries, procedures, etc.). In addition, high amounts of radar surveillance and voice communications data will be collected and processed, to support and guide the training and testing of the AI models. The validation of the AI model will be supported by Human in the loop and Fast Time simulation techniques (using the RAMS Plus tool) to ensure that the performance of the AI model is evaluated in a realistic and controlled environment, and to get some initial human performance and safety related feedback. The successful implementation of the AI model is anticipated to optimize delivery of vectoring instructions, leading to enhanced capacity, efficiency, environmental performance, and overall improvements to arrival air traffic management that are consistent with SESAR performance targets. Additional benefits also extend to optimization of the runway throughput by reducing both ATC workload and the potential for human error. The expected solution could also be extended to incorporate the use of time-based separation for arrivals and digitally shared trajectory information coming from the flight-deck

Keywords: ai based solutions,atc decision support tools,airport capacity,runway throughput
MSCA4Ukraine (MSCA4Ukraine)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: MSCA other
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Ireland,Belgium,Germany,United States,France
Call: MSCA4Ukraine (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-UKRAINE-IBA, 2024)
Duration (months): 65.0
Total project cost (EUR): 10000000.0
EU funding (EUR): 10000000.0
Participants: 5
Project status: SIGNED

The MSCA4Ukraine scheme will provide support to displaced researchers from Ukraine through dedicated fellowships to enable them to continue their work in safety, and to facilitate their reintegration into Ukraine if conditions for safe return are met. In so doing, the scheme will contribute to sustaining the Ukrainian academic and research sector in the face of the Russian Federation’s invasion, help to combat permanent brain drain, and facilitate the continued functioning of the sector in collaboration and exchange with the international research community. In implementing the MSCA4Ukraine scheme the project partners will draw heavily on their organisations’ extensive expertise and experience in (1) implementing fellowship schemes for researchers at risk and/or schemes for all researchers, (2) advising and matchmaking between researchers at risk and host institutions, and (3) leveraging and mobilising vast Europe-wide and global networks to act in support of researchers at risk and to promote higher education values, including academic freedom. The MSCA4Ukraine scheme will consider excellence and good practice in fostering research and supporting researchers, as demonstrated in the MSCA, and in fellowship programmes offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, in full consideration of the exceptional conditions that researchers from Ukraine face. Awards and selection procedures will be fit-for-purpose and inclusive, enabling all qualified researchers from Ukraine to apply.

Keywords: ukraine,researchers at risk,training,career development,fellowships
enhanCed glObaL quantificatiOn and underStanding of nitrouS oxide emissions from Agricultural soiLs (COLOSSAL)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Denmark,United States
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 309951.36
EU funding (EUR): 309951.36
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

Agricultural soils are the primary human-induced source of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas and the most significant damaging substance of the ozone layer. Climate change and the projected increases in food demand, agricultural land area, and fertilizer use are expected to increase N2O emissions over the coming decades. However, the actual magnitude and the key-influencing factors remain highly uncertain. COLOSSAL will develop an innovative models-driven framework to improve global quantification and understanding of N2O emissions from agricultural soils. First, I will produce comprehensive databases of N2O emissions and crop productivity at site- and regional-scale, establishing the foundation for subsequent steps. Second, I will use an advanced terrestrial biosphere model for a mechanistic-based quantification of global N2O emissions from agricultural soils, covering historical and current time periods. Third, I will implement interpretable machine-learning models to unravel the key drivers and estimate N2O emissions globally, including plant-soil-atmosphere interactions and management practices. Finally, I will unfold future N2O emission scenarios by incorporating climate change projections and mitigation practices into the terrestrial biosphere model informed by interpretable machine-learning models. COLOSSAL, stemming from 3 leading multi-disciplinary research groups, will take place during the 2-year outgoing phase at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology including an 8-month secondment at Boston College (USA), and 1-year return phase at Aarhus University (Denmark). Overall, COLOSSAL will advance our understanding of N2O emissions from global agricultural soils, contributing decisively to the design of more effective strategies for mitigating worldwide greenhouse gas emissions in the future.

Keywords: nitrous oxide,emissions drivers,crop production,climate change,models framework
TowaRds AdvaNced multidiSciplinary Fault ObseRvatory systeMs² (TRANSFORM2)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Research infrastructures
Theme: Research infrastructures
Destination: Development and infrastructures
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Greece,Italy,France,Romania,Czechia,Türkiye,Poland,Slovenia,Switzerland
Call: Research infrastructure concept development (HORIZON-INFRA-2024-DEV-01, 2024)
Start date: 2024-12-01
End date: 2027-11-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2997874.75
EU funding (EUR): 2997874.75
Participants: 17
Project status: SIGNED

Near Fault Observatories (NFO) are natural laboratories undergoing active, and complex geophysical processes at, or in proximity to, densely populated urban areas. NFOs bound relatively small areas and are ideal sites for in-depth monitoring and advanced research. Six NFOs in Europe, have been identified by the European Plate Observing System as long-term Research Infrastructures; three additional NFOs are in observer status. NFOs target the enhanced understanding of the mechanics of earthquakes to unravel the anatomy of complex seismogenic faults. This can only be achieved by the acquisition of continuous, long-term, high-resolution, high-quality, and high-density multidisciplinary data, and the application of consistent, high quality and state-of-the-art data processing. TRANSFORM² has the ambitious goal of improving and transforming the existing NFOs, by integrating cutting-edge methodological and technological solutions, paving the road for the next generation NFOs across Europe. This will be achieved through the development of four ‘concepts’: I) Innovative sensors - new generation of sensors in basic and applied research related to earthquake processes; II) Elevated detectability - novel automatic workflow for enhanced detectability and characterization of earthquakes; III) Early warning - new platforms for supporting decision-makers during earthquake alerts: IV) Test-bed - next generation of accessibility for testing and development of new cutting-edge sensors and algorithms. A focus will be on bringing transformative concepts such as Machine Learning and fiber optic cable sensing to the NFO community. Breakthrough ideas will be explored and addressed with focus on analytical and feasibility control detecting weaknesses and missing elements that will be resolved within the project. Awareness and engagement of stakeholders as well as societal needs will be a priority. Issues concerning NFO funding and sustainability will be addressed.

Keywords: near fault observatory,seismicity,earthquakes,faulting,solid earth,early warning,test bed,machine learning
Phenomenology of B-meson semileptonic inclusive decays: from the Standard Model to the New Physics (PHOBIDE)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Physics
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2024-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 226629.12
EU funding (EUR): 226629.12
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Semileptonic B-meson decays proceeding via b→c and b→u transitions are processes widely studied in the Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics. Measurements from B factories and the LHC have been used to determine |Vcb| and |Vub|, two of the elements of the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa matrix and, as such, crucial input parameters of the SM. There is a long-standing tension affecting both |Vcb| and |Vub| determinations from inclusive and exclusive decays and significant hints of lepton flavour universality violation in semileptonic B meson decays with tau leptons in the final state and rare decays mediated by the b→s transition. Their possible origin from New Physics (NP) beyond the SM has been broadly scrutinized in the context of exclusive decays. However inclusive B meson decays have never been used as competitive probes of NP. In this project we will establish the theoretical foundation for the study of non-standard interactions in inclusive semileptonic decays driven by b→c and b→u transitions. We will perform a comprehensive model-independent analysis of the constraints on NP from this class of decays, including for the first time all available data on kinematic differential distributions. We will investigate the implications for viable scenarios of physics beyond the SM and present their interplay with the exclusive modes. Disentangling low-energy non-perturbative effects from NP effects is challenging and requires addressing new issues, making the proposed action interdisciplinary and innovative. The researcher Matteo Fael has a broad experience in the theory and phenomenology of inclusive B-meson decays while the supervisor Gian Francesco Giudice is a world-class expert in flavour and collider phenomenology, development of NP models and study of their implications for particle physics and cosmology.

Keywords: bottom quark,semileptonic decays,heavy quark expansion
Anyon box in bilayer graphene (ANYONBOX)

Framework: Horizon Europe — 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: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2025-STG, 2025)
Start date: 2026-02-01
End date: 2031-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2127371.0
EU funding (EUR): 2127371.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Protecting quantum information from environmental interference is essential for advancing quantum technologies. However, reading a quantum state or performing gate operations inevitably involves a coupling to the environment, leading to significant loss of coherence. To address this, the non-local degrees of freedom of topological phases of matter have been proposed for quantum information storage and manipulation. Prototypes of such phases include certain fractional quantum Hall states, found in 2D systems under a strong magnetic field, where pairs of quasiparticles, called non-abelian anyons, share a non-local degree of freedom known as the topological charge. However, detecting the topological charge remains a major experimental challenge due to the narrow energy range over which these states are realized in conventional semiconductor-based platforms. The ANYONBOX project will leverage the recently discovered properties of bilayer graphene, which supports unprecedented robust candidate states for non-abelian anyons, to evidence the topological charge and its potential for quantum information. We will take advantage of the unique electrostatic control achievable with van der Waals heterostructures to isolate anyons confined within electrically tunable potential wells: the anyon boxes. The thermodynamic response when a single anyon is added to the box will be accessed with unmatched resolution through a groundbreaking combination of quantum capacitance and thermal noise measurements. The realization of anyon boxes in bilayer graphene will uncover the elusive topological charge, enabling the measurement of its coherence time, and ultimately, its coherent manipulation through controlled exchanges of the anyon positions, known as non-abelian braiding. ANYONBOX will provide a radically new way of encoding quantum information, opening a new platform for topological quantum information processing with built-in protection against decoherence.
Leveraging Polymer Therapeutics as Nanomedicine for Local Glioblastoma Immunotherapy (GLIOMERS)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Prevention,  Diagnosis and T reatment of Human Diseases
Panel description: Medical technologies  and tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, therapeutic approaches and interventions , pharmacology, preventative  medicine, epidemiology and public health , digital medicine
Countries involved: Italy
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2024-STG, 2024)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1498175.0
EU funding (EUR): 1498175.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Research focusing on cancer immunotherapy has provided little progress toward improved survival rates for patients with glioblastoma (GBM), a poorly immunogenic tumor. Clinical trials for GBM immunotherapy primarily focus on the systemic administration of therapeutics; however, they have shown limited therapeutic success. The blood-brain barrier, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), the extracellular matrix, the highly invasive/proliferative nature of GBM, and intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity represent challenges to immunotherapy success. Administering polymer therapeutics as a class of biodegradable nanomedicines for localized treatment − a concept I pioneered − represents a less explored area that may fulfill the potential of GBM immunotherapy while reducing doses and adverse systemic effects. GLIOMERS aims to design an immunomodulatory brain-penetrating polymeric drug delivery system that will exploit its intrinsic therapeutic effect by synergizing with conjugated chemotherapeutic agent(s) to directly stimulate antitumor immunity. By encompassing different biomaterials properties, hybrid nanocarriers will be developed using a synthetic microfluidic-assisted approach based on chemically stabilized self-assembled hyaluronic acid – as immunomodulator – with complementary poly-L-lysine to support brain penetration. I will capitalize on the properties of this new class of nanocarriers by conjugating chemotherapeutics re-purposed for immunotherapy. This approach will allow not only the local spread of the drug within the GBM, but also an additional rewiring of immunosuppressive TIME with an enhanced T cell-mediated immune response. GLIOMERS will provide an innovative advance in the design of translational nanomedicines for local brain delivery, contributing to enhanced immunotherapeutic efficacy for GBM treatment.

Keywords: nanomedicine,glioblastoma,polymer therapeutics,local treatment,immunotherapy