Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Photosynthetic electron focusing technology for direct efficient biohydrogen production from solar energy (PhotoSynH2)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: The European Innovation Council (EIC)
Theme: EIC Pathfinder
Destination: Challenges
Action type: EIC actions
Countries involved: Spain,Sweden,Portugal,Italy,Netherlands
Call: Novel routes to green hydrogen production (HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2027-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4194947.63
EU funding (EUR): 4194947.5
Participants: 6
Project status: SIGNED

We propose a disruptive technology based on synthetic biology, we call photosynthetic electron focusing, for the efficient production of hydrogen using low-cost photosynthetic bacteria (cyanobacteria) genetically re-engineered to exclusively direct the solar energy to hydrogen. Through the development of new high-efficiency large-scale photobioreactors we will obtain an unprecedented increase in the energy efficiency up to ten-fold higher than current approaches. Our theoretical estimates for the production costs could be as low as 5€/Kg of H2, making our technology potentially comparable to current photovoltaic coupled to electrolysis. Our bacteria could be adapted and grown in sea water and wastewater. Moreover, it would not require using Critical Raw Materials or toxic processes. Our biological route involves using fermentation-like technologies, with expertise available in many sectors such as the food industry. It will also employ contained bioreactors, constructed with simple fabrication technologies, which are decreasing in cost (e.g., the cost of 3D printing materials is decreasing much faster than the cost of microfabrication). We will validate our engineered cyanobacterium in a custom 1,300 L photobioreactor, which will be able to produce validated innovative green H2 production technology. This proof-of-concept production will be located in a hydrogen industrial stakeholder to ensure the large-scale relevance of our production.

Keywords: synthetic biology,cyanobacteria,photobioreactors,biohydrogen,photosynthesis
Evolution and molecular mechanisms of adaptive organ allometry in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) (SalmoScales)

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: Life Sciences
Countries involved: Finland,Canada
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2026-08-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 293675.04
EU funding (EUR): 293675.04
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Species radiations can be driven by changes in body proportions (allometric changes), that is, natural selection acting on size and not in shape. Discovering the genetic and developmental basis of allometry has both fundamental importance for understanding the emergence of biological diversity, as well as in practical terms such as in understanding cancers. Only a few allometry mechanisms are known to explain adaptive differences in organ size within a vertebrate species. The SalmoScales project will fill this knowledge gap by discovering the molecular, developmental, and evolutionary mechanisms that give rise to allometry of reproductive organs in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Salmon show a fascinating adaptation of organ allometry associated with a trade-off in life history strategies; dwarf landlocked ecotypes prioritize egg size over egg number, and in consequence have ovaries that are 50% smaller compared to their sea-migrating congeners. The decreased ovary size in dwarf salmon provides a unique model to study how allometry emerges within a single species and interplays with life history strategy. Salmon reproductive development is governed by transcriptional regulators that include the genes vgll3 and six6. These genes are top candidates for mediating ovary allometry as my preliminary results suggest that vgll3 interacts with Hippo signaling pathway mediating organ size, as well as transcription factors controlling for germ cell development in salmon gonads. I will dissect the genotype-phenotype-fitness map of ovary allometry from the molecular to the species level with an integrative approach combining cellular genomics, gene editing, and a powerful quantitative genetics framework. The results will have applied significance in aquaculture to inform precision breeding for egg, brood and maturation characteristics, as well as in the medical field, where revealing the mechanisms that coordinate ovary growth and size are important to understand ovarian cancers.

Keywords: evo devo,life history traits,allometry,scaling,spatial transcriptomics,crispr cas9,g matrix
European Higher Education Institutions Network for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (Edu4ClimAte)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Destination: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Cyprus,Greece,France,Finland,Germany,Austria
Call: Capacity building to strengthen networks of higher education institutions and cooperation with surrounding ecosystems (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-05, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2026-09-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1999585.0
EU funding (EUR): 1999585.0
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region faces rapid population growth (currently about 400 million inhabitants) as well as political and socio-economic instabilities. These challenges, experienced by a part of the world that is already hot and arid, are exacerbated by droughts and the extreme weather conditions associated with rapid climate change. Extremes of temperature, in combination with increasing air pollution and windblown desert dust, could in the near future lead to intolerable conditions, ultimately compromising human habitability and promoting migration. Since climate change and air quality share many common sources, it appears logical to focus on the development of amelioration strategies that combine the goals of limiting climate change and reducing air pollution. It has been estimated that mankind may have a relatively small-time window - up to the middle of the century - in which to implement solutions to these challenges, particularly as far as climate change is concerned. Edu4ClimAte will engage Advanced Partners (from France, Austria, Germany, Finland) to strengthen the scientific excellence of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from twin islands of widening countries (Greece, Cyprus) with a view to establish a “regional hub of knowledge” in air pollution and climate change research and innovative solutions, engaging their respective surrounding ecosystems from the quadruple helix in addressing these societal challenges over the wider EMME. Edu4ClimAte will enhance local, regional, and international clusters led by its consortium with a view to build the foundation of an inclusive European Universities Alliance made of Advanced and Widening HEIs in Climate & Atmospheric Sciences to optimally support the current EU Green Deal ambition and its regional challenges, train and educate the next generation of researchers and innovators to achieve the EU long-term 2050 climate-neutrality objectives.

Keywords: climate change,instrumentation,environmental monitoring platforms,greenhouse gases,citizen science,air quality and pollution,atmosphere and climate models,environmental sciences curriculum
The Gene Therapy CoE at the Center of Portugal (GeneT)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Destination: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Portugal,Finland,United Kingdom
Call: Teaming for Excellence (HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-01-two-stage, 2022)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 14003705.0
EU funding (EUR): 14003705.0
Participants: 4
Project status: SIGNED

The main goal of the present project is the creation of a Gene Therapy research & innovation hub rooted in a Center of Excellence (CoE) located in the CENTRO (center) region of Portugal – the GeneT. This CoE will capitalize on the already existing RD&I capacity in the field at the University of Coimbra (UC) – the regional (and national) pivot of the innovation potential and knowledge transfer in Red Biotechnology – and act as an (inter)national enabler of scientific and business excellence in Gene Therapy innovation and manufacturing. Gene Therapy is the latest revolution in the treatment of severe human diseases with the highest curative and economic potential in the health sector. Extraordinary results have already been achieved in the treatment of a few neurological, ophthalmic, hepatic, oncological and hematological disorders with outstanding clinical and economic impacts. UC, notably its Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, has proven scientific excellence in specific areas of the field, and a matchless ecosystem to strive in this high added-value sector, which encompasses the Coimbra University Hospitals and the Biotechnology Park BIOCANT, recognized as the epicenter of the biotech industry in Portugal. To achieve its goal, the project will team-up with the University of Sheffield, home of the Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre, a UK pioneer hub dedicated to advancing the clinical development of new genetic treatments, and the University of Eastern Finland, which hosts the Finish National Virus Vector Laboratory with viral vector GMP production capacity and scale-up (key to gene therapy development). These two top European institutions are international references in the field at fundamental, translational and innovation levels. GeneT will thus become a beacon of excellent in Gene Therapy R&I, with enormous impact in the decrease of mortality and suffering, while contributing to the economic recovery and growth of Portugal and the EU.

Keywords: gene therapy red biotechnology frontier research manufacturing innovation investigator initiated clinical studies iics
Quantifying the resilience of vertebrates to changing climates worldwide (ClimRes)

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: Spain,United Kingdom
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 3
Project status: SIGNED

Climate change remains one of the most critical issues facing global biodiversity and has already had a widespread negative impact on substantial numbers of terrestrial species. Despite these negative impacts, not all species are expected to respond equally to a changing climate. Identifying species that are vulnerable to climate-induced population declines is therefore vital for conservation efforts. Life history and demographic differences between taxa are a key candidate for explaining differences in these responses, but we currently lack a clear empirical link between demography and climate vulnerability across species. The novel framework of demographic resilience provides a promising tool to predict how a species will respond to environmental change. However, there is a desperate need to apply the population-resilience framework to recently developed datasets gathering demographic data and population changes for thousands of species. In the current fellowship, using demographic and abundance data from vertebrates across the world’s ecosystems, I will develop quantitative tools to quantify which species are currently the most resilient to a changing climate. To achieve this, I will address the following three broad research topics: 1) Quantify species-specific population responses to the climate anomalies and species-specific demographic resilience across the terrestrial vertebrates, 2) Assess whether demographic resilience predicts population-level responses to climate change, and 3) Infer taxonomic groups that are most vulnerable to a changing climate and use this information to improve conservation assessments. This fellowship will bridge the gap between population demography and environmental change, improving our understanding of how human-induced climate change is reshaping the natural world.

Keywords: climate change,population ecology,demography,life history
Smart Farm and Agri-environmental Big Data Space (AgriDataValue)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Bio-Environment
Destination: Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Greece,France,Luxembourg,Romania,Italy,Germany,Belgium,Poland,Spain,Netherlands,Latvia,Lithuania,United Kingdom,Slovenia
Call: Upscaling (real-time) sensor data for EU-wide monitoring of production and agri-environmental conditions (HORIZON-CL6-2022-GOVERNANCE-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-02-01
End date: 2029-01-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 7145500.38
EU funding (EUR): 7145500.38
Participants: 31
Project status: SIGNED

Overirrigation and excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides increase yield cost, contaminate the aquifer and destroy the biodiversity, while suboptimal livestock production increases GhG emissions, contributing to the global warming. The solution on the triangle a) global food needs, b) competitiveness/farmers’ fair income and c) sustainable farming/protection of the environment lies in knowledge. Modern farms create a huge amount of data based on IoT sensors and drones, while vast EO data become available via Copernicus Hubs. AgriDataSpace aims to establish itself as the “Game Changer” in Smart Farming and agri-environmental monitoring, and strengthen the smart-farming capacities, competitiveness and fair income by introducing an innovative, intelligent and multi-technology, fully distributed platform of platforms. To achieve technological maturity and massive acceptance, AgriDataSpace adopts and adapts a multidimensional approach that combines state of the art big data and data-spaces’ technologies (BDVA/IDSA/GAIA-X) with agricultural knowledge, new business models and agri-environment policies, leverages on existing platforms and edge computing, and introduces novel concepts, methods, tools, pilots and engagement campaigns to go beyond today’s state of the art, perform breakthrough research and create sustainable innovation in upscaling (real-time) sensor data, already evident within the project lifetime. AgriDataSpace will be validated via 24 Use cases in 23 pilots in 9 countries, representing more than 181,000ha with 25 types of crops that span from southwest to northeast Europe, outdoor and greenhouse crops, organic and non-organic production, and more than 2,000 animals of 5 types. More than 4,200 farmers will provide insights and more than 89,000 will be directly informed. More than 1,600 sensors will be utilized and more than 4,500 additional sensors will be installed to measure (real-time) data, including more than 2,500 RFID tags.

Keywords: agri environment big data platform,decision support system,crop and livestock pilots,in situe processing of iot sensors data
Building twinning Actions in smart Aviation with eNvironmental Gains (BAANG)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
Programme: Widening participation and spreading excellence
Theme: Improved access to Excellence
Destination: Improved access to Excellence
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Czechia,Netherlands,Austria,United Kingdom
Call: Twinning (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03, 2021)
Start date: 2022-10-01
End date: 2025-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1275456.25
EU funding (EUR): 1275456.0
Participants: 4
Project status: SIGNED

The main objective of BAANG is to stimulate the scientific excellence and innovation capacity of the involved partners in the field of smart aviation with a positive impact on the environment. BAANG creates the scientific strategy that connects 4 disciplines - aeronautics, mechatronics, mechanics of materials and additive technologies. Through a broad portfolio of twinning activities, it brings scientific and technological innovation leading to the design of an aircraft structure changing its morphology. Current aircraft have limited ability to adapt the wings aerodynamic shape to adapt to critical flight conditions. That restricts the possibilities of minimizing the aircrafts drag according to the actual wing load or suppressing adverse aeroelastic effects such as gust loading. The new wing design uses 3D printed metamaterials and advanced simulation techniques leading to efficient wing adaptation. In addition, the integration of intelligent sensing materials ensures an advanced aircraft design that is capable of self-inspection operation, such as detecting structural defects. The successful introduction of shape changing, self-actuating structures in aviation aims to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, reduce material waste in manufacturing, save significant maintenance costs and improve structural health monitoring. The main objective will be achieved by creating a network of collaborating academics from three leading research institutions - TU Delft, ICL and TU Wien, with the widening BUT institutions and industry representatives. Intensive involvement of 9 young researchers from BUT and 2 young researchers from TU Wien and linking them with top scientific teams for a period of 3 to 6 months. We expect a 60% increase in the number of international project submissions. In addition, there will be greater visibility of scientific results - the H-index of the involved early stage BUT researchers will double in period after the project.

Keywords: 3d printed metamaterials,advanced simulation techniques,shape changing self actuating structures,efficient wing adaptation
The Cost of Uncertaincy - A Study on the Reform of the European Commission's Leniency Program (TCOU)

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: Economic Sciences
Countries involved: Spain
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01, 2022)
Start date: 2023-06-01
End date: 2025-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 165312.96
EU funding (EUR): 165312.96
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project will study the improvement in effectiveness of the European Commission’s leniency program in cartel detection post the 2002 reform, which improved the program’s transparency and reduced its uncertainty. Specifically, I aim to quantify the increase in number of leniency applications attributed to the feature of automatic amnesty using a structural approach. In addition, I am interested in finding out how firms with different characteristics, such as sizes, industries, compositions of management and board, respond differently to the reduction in uncertainty. The main objectives of the project include deepening the understanding of firms’ behaviors under uncertainty, bringing forth methodological innovations, informing on policy making and raising awareness of the general public. To achieve these objectives, I will employ innovative approaches that are multidisciplinary and go beyond the state of the art, while paying special attention to the of gender. I will actively engage in supervision and training provided by my host institution, construct and refine the theoretical model and empirical strategy in a timely manner, disseminate the research idea and findings through a professional network that I will actively expand, and engage with a broader audience outside of academia, including policymakers, business leaders and the general public. In the process of achieving these objectives, I will acquire and improve skills in technical aspects of economics research, data management and research management. I will also expand my professional network, improve domain translational expertise, which will enhance my career prospects in academia, the private and public sectors.

Keywords: empirical industrial organization,structural estimation,law and economics,antitrust,leniecy program
Data-Driven Agent-Based Models of Investors with Machine Learning (DataABM)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Finland,Denmark
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2023-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 215534.4
EU funding (EUR): 215534.4
Participants: 2
Project status: SIGNED

Image recognition or self-driving cars are just a few among many applications of machine learning (ML) methods. Given that we can train a cobot to mimic human behaviour, why not train a computer to mimic and simulate investor behaviour in stock markets? This would not only improve understanding about investor decision making and their interaction, but provide effective tools to predict investor behaviour on the microscopic level and simulate stock markets on the macroscopic level. The main objective is to create a data-driven Agent-Based Model (ABM), where agents' behaviour is governed by ML. Such models need appropriate data to be trained, which is possible thanks to a unique, big data set on investor level data accessible through the host. The objectives are: i) framework for data-driven ABM, ii) interpretable ML for ABM, iii) verification of the interpretability of data-driven ABMs using synthetic data, iv) training the data-driven ABMs using actual shareholder registration data, and finally v) analysis of investors’ decision-making mechanism. The objectives will be reached by using ML methods that achieve intrinsic interpretability with and without deep supervised learning. This research requires: a) strong numerical skills and experience with simulations, b) computer infrastructure allowing to carry out largescale numerical analysis for which the fellow and the host have complementary experience. The results will bring us closer to understanding the behavioural mechanism of market participants. The project does not just gain understanding, but introduces a data-driven approach to more realistic agent-based modelling, which is completely new. The outcome should focus the attention of regulators and policy makers, who are often unable to realistically predict the effects of considered economic measures. Finally, the project contributes to the ML literature on verification of interpretable methods with extensive data sets.

Keywords: agent based modelling,machine learning,behavioural finance