Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
RESilient transport InfraSTructure to extreme events (RESIST)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Israel,Austria,Germany,Spain,Italy,Italy,Germany,Greece,Belgium,Greece,Switzerland,Serbia,Belgium,Greece,Greece,Luxembourg
Call: Resilience to extreme (natural and man-made) events (H2020-MG-2017-Two-Stages, 2017)
Start date: 2018-09-01
End date: 2022-06-30
Duration (months): 46.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4956810.0
EU funding (EUR): 4956810.0
Participants: 19
Project status: CLOSED

The overall goal of RESIST is to increase the resilience of seamless transport operation to natural and man-made extreme events, protect the users of the European transport infrastructure and provide optimal information to the operators and users of the transport infrastructure. The project will address extreme events on critical structures, implemented in the case of bridges and tunnels attacked by all types of extreme physical, natural and man-made incidents, and cyber-attacks. The RESIST technology will be deployed and validated at 2 pilots in real conditions and infrastructures. RESIST will use risk analyses and leverage and further develop recent exploitable research results in robotics, driving under panic, sensing and communications, to dramatically improve the speed and effectiveness, while reducing the cost, of structural vulnerability assessment, situation awareness, response operations and increased users’ protection under extreme events towards a high level of resilience of the transport infrastructure at 3 levels: a) increased physical resilience of bridges/tunnels by robotic inspection and predictive analytics; b) restoration of services/routes back to normal quickly and permission of a continuous flow of passengers and freight across different modes of transport soon after an extreme event, which will be achieved by rapid and accurate robotic damage assessment after extreme physical events, cyber security solutions, alternative secure and continuous communication under emergency operations (including integration of terrestrial and satellite systems) and increased cross-modal flexibility; c) clear and effective communication of transport operators and users, emergency responders and the public in the vicinity, to minimise the impact of the disruption on people and businesses, by exploiting real-time data, available networks, social media and mobile technologies to allow for real-time emergency information dissemination.

Keywords: extreme events,risk management,resilience,prevention,response,mitigation,seamless mobility,bridges,tunnels
The novel wood-harvesting system for mechanical steep-slope logging (Timber Shuttle)

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: SME instrument
Countries involved: Austria
Call: Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors (H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017, 2017)
Start date: 2017-12-01
End date: 2018-03-31
Duration (months): 4.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Logging is a high-risk occupation, with a 2-8-fold higher rate of fatal incidents than construction or manufacturing (24-30 fatal accidents per 100,000 workers in Europe). Although this risk has been minimized with the mechanization of the harvesting process, mechanized harvesting is limited to slopes up to 50-60% (i.e. 30°). Therefore, forest stocks in mountainous areas still have to be harvested manually, which is less productive and more dangerous than mechanical harvesting. Thus, the forestry industry is in need of fully mechanized solutions that enable harvesting in steep slopes over 50%. At Konrad Forsttechnik GmbH we are specialized in the development of forestry equipment for logging in steep slopes, and Timber Shuttle is our latest development, and the response to these demands: its unique combination of innovative components (shuttle base, shuttle cart and tethering system) specifically developed for steep slopes enables a simple, secure and efficient solution to harvest trees in steep slopes up to 100%. With Timber Shuttle, only two people are required to run the operation, both operating from cabins in which they are protected from treefall or roll-over, and thus significantly reducing the potential for severe accidents. Compared to traditional tower yarder/skyline systems used in steep slope logging, Timber shuttle increases productivity by 40-50%. Our company is already well-known in the market, we hold a significant share in the global market for steep slope logging equipment, with an international distribution network which spans over 17 different countries, and 60% of our production being exported to major international clients e.g. Norway, Russia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Chile. Our goal with Timber Shuttle is to reinforce our position as leading brand in the steep-slope logging equipment market, while boosting the growth of our company: doubling our revenues and creating 45 new jobs at our company until 2023.

Keywords: steep slopes,wood harvesting,mechanical,safety,forestry,productivity
Variations in stress responsivity in hens: matching birds to environments (CHICKENSTRESS)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Innovative Training Networks (ITN)-European Training Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Environment and Geosciences
Countries involved: Austria,Spain,Ireland,Israel,Germany,Switzerland,Norway,Belgium,Sweden,Netherlands,Netherlands,Netherlands,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call: Innovative Training Networks (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018, 2018)
Start date: 2019-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3873244.68
EU funding (EUR): 3873244.68
Participants: 20
Project status: SIGNED

Because of the high demand for eggs, large numbers of hens are farmed in modern egg production. Because of the intensity of this form of farming, the public has justifiably been concerned about the welfare of these birds. Higher welfare also leads to higher quality eggs, higher productivity, and lower incidence of disease and therefore lower need for antibiotics. We aim to reduce the chronic stress experienced by hens. To this end, we will investigate the neurobiological, genetic and developmental factors that lead to higher stress resilience, and the environmental (housing) factors that lead to chronic stress. Europe has led the world in hen welfare with the complete ban of battery cages (European Union Council Directive 1999/74/EC). However, the replacement housing systems have their own potential welfare challenges. Our goal is to identify these challenges and develop improvements for implementation by industry. We will train a new generation of innovative and entrepreneurial early-stage researchers, able to face different challenges related to poultry farming and to apply scientific knowledge and ideas to products and services for economic and social benefit. To do this, we will constitute an international network of groups with expertise in avian brain research, genetics, welfare and egg farming. The training will be complemented by secondments in different laboratories of the network, workshops, and industrial secondments in the poultry industry. The new generation of professionals will apply this knowledge and experience to improve poultry housing systems, welfare, and product quality, which will grow the sector's resilience in addressing growing societal demands for higher animal welfare and healthier diets. Moreover, they will contribute to strengthen Europe's human capital in R&I, increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading research destination, improve Europe's competitiveness and growth, and engage in an improved knowledge-based economy and society.

Keywords: animal welfare,chronic stress,poultry,egg production
Novel Characterisation Platform for Formulation Industry (NoChaPFI)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Panel description: Structure, electronic properties, fluids, nanosciences, biological physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ERC-2019-PoC, 2019)
Start date: 2020-02-01
End date: 2021-07-31
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

We propose a novel platform for particle characterisation in diverse applications making use of colloidal suspensions. These are ubiquitous in applications across many sectors: agriculture, food, household and personal care goods, paints and coatings, oil, water treatment, etc.. In other applications, the role of suspensions is less obvious, but no less vital: molten chocolate is a suspension of sugar crystals in oil, while all ceramics start as particulate pastes (of, e.g. titania) before sintering. Particle characterisation is key to research, development and manufacturing in all of these industries. Our technique is based on the fast and accurate measurement of the dynamics of particles suspended in a liquid, which we have been developing in a current ERC Advance Grant. Our platform is unique in its speed, facility of operation and range of applications.

Keywords: particle characterisation,sizing,suspensions,formulation,manufacturing,microscopy,image processing,soft matter,turbid systems
Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) Assisted Ultra-massive MIMO THz Communications for 6G (IRS-THz)

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: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-12-01
End date: 2023-11-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 212933.76
EU funding (EUR): 212933.76
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

In this project, we aim to develop and experimentally demonstrate terahertz (THz) communication technologies for the sixth generation (6G) of wireless networks. In particular, we will integrate ultra-massive multiple-input-multiple-output (UM-MIMO) and intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) technologies into THz systems and apply directional beamforming to establish reliable, long-distance, and ultra-fast THz communication links. To realize channel training for directional beamforming, we will design hierarchical multi-resolution codebooks and find the optimal phase-shift matrix for the IRS. Since the presence of the IRS complicates the original one-hop communication topology into a two-hop topology and user equipments (UEs) are usually moving, to reduce the channel training overhead and maintain high-quality links, we will study beam management (BM) problems, including adaptive beam alignment and beam tracking. Besides channel training, we will also design joint resource allocation algorithms to fully reap the potentials of the THz networks and support the diverse needs of UEs. To assess the performance of the proposed schemes in a real-world environment, we will also develop an easy-to-use software-defined IRS-assisted THz testbed for experimental demonstration. With seven years of research experience, Dr. Xu has developed a wide range of research expertise in massive MIMO, millimeter-wave networks, IRS-assisted communications in sub-6GHz systems, machine learning, etc. The implementation of this project will not only further extend his research field into IRS-assisted UM-MIMO THz communications, but will also significantly improve his project management and leadership skills.

Keywords: intelligent reflecting surface,multi resolution codebook design,beam alignment,beam tracking,joint resource allocation
Micro-guts for the study of translocation of microplastic (MIGMIPS)

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: France
Call: Individual Fellowships (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, 2020)
Start date: 2021-05-01
End date: 2023-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 184707.84
EU funding (EUR): 184707.84
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The presence of micro and nanoplastics is now documented in the drinking water, ocean, marine invertebrates and fishes. Their toxicity for humans is still mostly unknown, as well as their capacity to translocate through the gut barrier, especially since it depends strongly on the size, shape, surface state, material of these plastics, which are strongly heterogeneous or even contaminated by organic or toxic compounds. In this project, I propose to develop new in-vitro systems in order to quantify the translocation of environmental nano and microplastics obtained from plastic wastes, through the gut epithelial barrier. This proposal includes the development of 1- microphysiological systems mimicking that barrier and 2- detection techniques for the characterization of micro and nanoplastics directly inside biological tissues (Raman-SERS, SEM, AFM, confocal microscopy) or in liquids.

Keywords: microfluidic,organ on chip,microplastic
Future Outboards Run Conventionally and Electrically (FORCE)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Societal Challenges
Programme: Smart, green and integrated transport
Action type: SME instrument
Countries involved: Italy
Call: Small business innovation research for Transport (H2020-SMEINST-1-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2014-11-01
End date: 2015-04-30
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Waterborne transport still offers an enormous potential for pollution reduction and energy efficiency gains. The reduction of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions is far removed from the progress made in road transport, particularly in the category of older, small to medium-size vessels which make up a large proportion of intra-European waterborne transport, including inland navigation. Scope of FORCE project is to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of a new hybrid marine propulsion system, aimed at combining the conventional mechanical powertrain with a commercially affordable and technically effective electric drive train, which is able to increase the overall efficiency of outboards below 50 kW power for both, professional and leisure utilization, allowing zero emission navigation in sensitive areas as for instance near to the coasts, protected areas, marinas or inland waters. The objectives of the FORCE project are very ambitious and innovative, since an outboard able to combine conventional with electrical drive (constituting in fact a hybrid propulsion system) does not exist yet in the market. The technical and commercial feasibility study will be developed verifying the technological/practical as well as the economic viability of the proposed innovative propulsion system and will include an elaborated business plan.

Keywords: hybrid,marine,outboard,innovative and clean propulsion,low emission,cost efficiency
Biophysical Manipulation of Adult Stem Cell Epigenetics (BioMASCE) By Cell-Penetrating Nanoneedle Substrates (BioMASCE)

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: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) (H2020-MSCA-IF-2014, 2014)
Start date: 2016-06-01
End date: 2018-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 183454.8
EU funding (EUR): 183454.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative therapies. In part, their capacity for multi-lineage differentiation and subsequent therapeutic efficacy is controlled by the epigenetic status of the DNA. The Stevens Group at Imperial College London (ICL) has recently developed a novel material platform of porous silicon (pSi) nanoneedles (nNs) that penetrate the cell membrane, stimulating physical changes in the nucleus. Interestingly, nuclear mechanics and shape parameters have been shown to control epigenetic status in various cell types, but this remains under-investigated in hMSC. Therefore, in the present study, pSi nNs will be used to manipulate hMSC nuclear size and shape, as well as the resulting epigenetic status, as a means to identify novel mechanisms for enhancing differentiation capacity. The inherent porosity of the nNs, coupled with their ability for cell penetration, will be exploited as a delivery tool for a cutting-edge class of non-coding RNAs into hMSCs to interfere with, and further regulate, epigenetic status and resulting therapeutic potential. This discovery-driven project leverages a one-of-a-kind engineering tool for investigating and manipulating hMSC behaviour. In parallel, the applicant has proposed to undergo a secondment to a UK-based, non-academic partner organisation to enhance his knowledge of intellectual property protection, technology development, and product commercialisation in order to translate his research findings for clinical benefit. The applicant will increase his knowledge base during the project, creating new contacts in his personal network, as well as for the Stevens Group and ICL. This project represents a multidisciplinary, cutting-edge approach to stem cell biology and biomedical engineering, utilising cross-sectoral collaboration for enhanced training and potential for industrial translation of basic research findings.

Keywords: human mesenchymal stem cells,cell biomaterial interactions,nuclear mechanotransduction,intracellular rna delivery,tissue engineering,clinical translation,cross sectoral collaboration
A Unique Pancreatic Human Beta Cells to revolutionize the Diabetes Drug Discovery (BETASCREEN)

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-1-2016-2017, 2016)
Start date: 2016-08-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 71429.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Univercell Biosolutions (UB) is a pioneering biotech company providing unique human cell models to accelerate and secure pharmaceutical products. UB is generating 1 M€ turnover in 2015 selling its first generation of human beta cell lines to 10 world pharma industry leaders. Pharmas rentability is decreasing facing to high regulatory pressure and low clinical predictability on human. The rate of clinical drug failure is about 90% and cost for marketed a new drug reach up to 1billion dollars. Early clinical predictability is a strategic issue for industrials. Jan Tornell an AstraZeneca division leader says: “The big think is that when we get into patients, we want no surprise”. Cells from human tissues samples are scarce and not accessible for Pharmas applications. Thus, Industrials developed substitute from animal with poor clinical predictability. Recently, Stem cell technologies has open new hope in providing large quantity of human cells but is still faced with major bottlenecks: lack of cell maturity (clinical predictability) and low cell population homogeneity (reproducibility) which prevents large adoption by industrials. UB has developed a portfolio of cutting edge technologies to overcome these bottlenecks. The first outcome of BETASCREEN is a disruptive pancreatic beta cell line for anti-diabetes research, with ultimate objective of replication to other cell types. The solution targets pharmaceutical, biotech, and academia. Within BETASCREEN, UB will define best commercialization strategy in coherence with market’s targeted segments and identify industrial partners for large-scale production (Phase 2) and commercialization. BETASCREEN will improve the predictive value of screening by decreasing the drug attrition rate up to 10%. Resulting cost saving for industrials could reach 100 million dollars per innovative new drug development. This will open exceptional commercial avenues for UB with revenues estimated at 15 M€ in 2021 and 110 jobs creation in Europe

Keywords: cell based analysis,pancreatic human beta cells,cell based assay kits,cell technologies,drug,screening for predictive clinical value,cell based assays market,diabetes
Digital transformation journey for SMEs (DigiJourney)

Framework: Horizon 2020 — Industrial Leadership
Programme: Innovation in SMEs
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Spain,Romania,Luxembourg
Call: Peer learning of innovation agencies (H2020-INNOSUP-2018-2019-05, 2019)
Start date: 2019-10-01
End date: 2020-06-30
Duration (months): 9.0
Total project cost (EUR): 50000.0
EU funding (EUR): 50000.0
Participants: 3
Project status: CLOSED

The digital transformation of EU business and society presents enormous growth potential for Europe. It is estimated that digital technologies, such as Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence or the Internet of Things, have the potential to add 1.5 million jobs to the EU’s digital economy, and that SMEs can grow two to three times faster when they integrate digital technologies into their business models. Nevertheless, on the one hand, SMEs are not currently taking full advantage of these advanced technologies because they usually lack orientation, know-how and hands-on solutions in line with their current business, and on the other hand, digitalisation services in too many occasions do not take into account the rapid changing innovation ecosystem and the emerging of new technologies. The objective of DigiJourney is to enable the participating innovation agencies to exchange knowledge, know-how, and good practices on advanced methodologies and tools for digitalisation assessment to SMEs and customised support services. In particular, based on the Twinning+ methodology, the project aims to cover peer learning activities for three digitalisation approaches and the design of a digitalisation journey for SMEs, which will facilitate all innovation agencies to improve their digitalisation support services adapted to their specific national/regional contexts, and will allow SMEs to get the right digital tools to gain competitiveness. This peer-learning and peer-review scheme has been developed based on each partner's identified competences in advanced digitalisation services for SMEs. DigiJourney will therefore contribute to the specific challenge of increasing SMEs support programmes and the satisfaction of them with the support provided, through a joint learning effort of the three participating partners and the elaboration of a suitable Design Options Paper that will be shared with other EU innovation agencies and networks, and with national and EU policy-makers.

Keywords: digitalisation,peer learning,innovation agencies,assessment programmes,advanced and tailor made support services