Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Environmental control of physiology through the brain-gut axis (GutSense)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and R egeneration
Panel description: For all organisms : Structure and function of the cell, cell -cell communication, embryogenesis, tissue differentiation, organogenesis, growth, development, evolution of development, organoids, stem cells, regeneration, therapeutic approaches
Countries involved: France
Call: ERC STARTING GRANTS (ERC-2023-STG, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2028-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1929674.0
EU funding (EUR): 1929674.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

A series of tightly controlled processes ensure that energy is either stored or consumed within an organism. This control is central to survival and prosperity of the animal, yet we only partly understand it. Communication between the brain and the gut, the so called “brain-gut axis”, has emerged as a key player in regulating aspects of animal physiology by directly affecting energy stores. Nevertheless, due to the astonishing anatomical complexity of the underlying neural circuits in mammals, an in depth understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling this axis is still lacking. Using the simpler yet functionally comparable Drosophila brain-gut axis as a model system, I have recently shown that adult enteric neurons are functionally plastic. This constitutes a physiological feature highly relevant for the adjustment of food intake by the animal to meet energy demands. I explored this in females in the context reproduction, where mechanisms underlying appetite regulation are evolutionary conserved across multiple species. Building on my expertise, I will now investigate the long-standing question on how environmental factors, such as dietary habits or levels of physical activity, impact the function of the brain-gut axis. For GutSense, I will leverage the unique experimental opportunities available in Drosophila to address the role of gut-neurons in metabolic adaptation: (a) characterize neurons which respond to these environmental cues, and the relevant neural circuits and mediators (b) identify the target tissues and the nature of inter-organ signals involved (c) investigate the impact of timing and duration of exposure to these factors, on metabolic adaptation. Through these, I will uncover basic and likely evolutionary conserved mechanisms and better understand the context-dependent tolerance of metabolic challenges. Such insight can lead the way in elucidating the contribution of brain-gut networks to the development of pathophysiology.

Keywords: inter organ communication,neuron,gut,homeostasis,energy balance,adult organ development
Ferrimagnet powered memristors for neuromorphic computing (FERRIMEM)

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: Spain,Germany
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, 2023)
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2027-08-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 181152.96
EU funding (EUR): 181152.96
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Neuromorphic computing (NC) represents a groundbreaking approach to computation, drawing inspiration from the human brain to enhance power and efficiency compared to traditional computing methods. However, to achieve even greater efficiency, NC requires hardware that also mimics the behavior of neurons and synapses. Memristive synapses are pivotal components in emulating the synaptic plasticity observed in biological neural networks. Nevertheless, the implementation of spintronic memristors compatible with state-of-the-art computing is challenging due to the large current density needed, the long switching times present in ferromagnets and the need of small applied magnetic fields. The objective of this project is then to design, fabricate, and characterize field-free memristive synapses using Gd-based ferrimagnets. We will use two approaches: all-optical magnetic switching and the use of multiferroics to switch the magnetization by the application of electric fields. By taking advantage of the unique properties of ferrimagnets, ultrafast and energy efficient magnetic switching, we aim to develop highly efficient synapses that exhibit memristive behavior without the need for an external magnetic field.

Keywords: ferrimagnetic spintronics,memristor,field free memristor,all optical switching,multiferroics
Escape from upheavals: evolutionary potential of migratory plasticity facing climate changes (PLASTMIG)

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: Norway,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): 210911.04
EU funding (EUR): 210911.04
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Critical ambitions in evolutionary ecology are to understand how wild species will respond to climatic and environmental upheavals caused by anthropogenic impacts. Populations are postulated to respond to changing environments through phenotypic plasticity or micro-evolution in situ, or by moving elsewhere. Yet, the ways in which these responses could interact, potentially generating rapid micro-evolution of plasticity in movements, have scarcely been considered. Hence, full responses of mobile populations to rapid environmental changes cannot yet be predicted, impeding population management. In PLASTMIG I will break new ground in the nascent field of Evolutionary Movement Ecology by providing first estimates of: 1) Environmentally-induced plasticity in seasonal migration, thereby bringing new insight on environmental sensitivity of movement underlying population dynamics and distributions. 2) Quantitative genetic variation underlying such plasticity, hence providing new understanding of the potential for rapid micro-evolution of environmentally-induced movements. I will achieve these ambitious objectives by extending and applying advanced quantitative genetic statistical analyses to an exceptional multi-year dataset on free-living European shags. Available data comprise year-round field observations and pedigrees for numerous migrant and resident individuals experiencing varying environments, allowing quantification of all key effects. I will work in a leading international Centre of Excellence, ensuring outstanding scientific and career developments. PLASTMIG will thereby achieve the threefold challenge to have important scientific impact by providing new conceptual and methodological advances linking evolutionary and movement ecology; crucial societal impacts by laying key foundations for innovative conservation strategies for migrant species; and personal impacts through exceptional career training making me a leading international researcher.

Keywords: phenotypic plasticity,micro evolution,gene by environment interaction gxe
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the reliable analysis of solid-state surfaces (NanoStruct)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Innovative Europe
Programme: European innovation ecosystems
Theme: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Destination: Elevating the scalability potential of European business
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Germany
Call: Women TechEU (HORIZON-EIE-2021-SCALEUP-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-07-01
End date: 2022-12-31
Duration (months): 6.0
Total project cost (EUR): 107142.86
EU funding (EUR): 75000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

In many industrial fields, the purity of materials is a key feature and the identification of impurities is crucial. For instance, a quicker detection and allocation of dangerous germs and a closer monitoring of smallest traces of environmental pollutants like nano-plastics lead to a higher safety. Likewise, in the production process of high purity devices like ultraprecise lenses or semiconducting devices contaminations can lead to a change in functionality and understanding its origin is decisive. Our technology offers a new reliability to a powerful method – so-called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy or “SERS”. Moreover, with our so-called “SERS-plasters” we enable the application of SERS on solid state surfaces which was up to now not possible, thus opening completely new industrial markets. Our technology is based on ultra-precise nanostructures that enhance the signals of the substances in question up to a billionfold. Our nanostructures consist of a novel material, and are fabricated by a scalable nanostructuring method, that was invented by us and tailored specifically to the material. The combination allows reproducible nanostructures and enables a new reliability in ultrasensitive detection. In the proposed project we will develop an extensive marketing strategy for our SERS-plasters and successfully bring our product to market. In addition, the coaching and mentoring program will sharpen the leadership skills of our CEO and female-founder, Dr. Henriette Maaß, and raise our awareness for gender inequalities in a deep-tech surrounding.

Keywords: nanotechnology,surface enhanced raman spectroscopy
PROTECTING AND RESTORING BIODIVERSITY USING MAINSTREAM FINANCE (BIOFIN) (BIOFIN)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Programme: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Theme: Bio-Environment
Destination: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Action type: Research and Innovation actions
Countries involved: Ireland,Netherlands,Sweden,France,Belgium,United Kingdom,Greece,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Italy,Portugal
Call: Biodiversity, economics and finance: unlocking financial flows towards reversing of biodiversity loss (HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-01-01
End date: 2026-12-31
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4382052.5
EU funding (EUR): 4382052.5
Participants: 14
Project status: SIGNED

If biodiversity is to be placed back on a path to recovery, new tools and knowledge are required to redirect financial resources from destructive economic activity towards nature-positive investment. The financial system consists of interacting and dynamic actors who value certainty (rules and governance structures) and efficiency (outcome transparency and low monitoring costs). We aim to create a unifying framework and technology that creates the enabling conditions for nature-positive investments. Activities that protect and restore biodiversity (such as nature-based solutions) are frequently unique, multi-actor efforts carried out at a local scale with positive, but complex outcomes. We resolve this by establishing a categorisation of nature based solutions (NBS) alongside a menu of good governance structures and a library of stakeholder engagement. This will draw on expertise and best practice in natural capital and economics to streamline decision making and accelerate transaction completion by standardising the investment process and creating the enabling conditions for large-scale finance. To accelerate nature-positive business models, we create a data analytics and underwriting engine to advance conventional project appraisal and risk assessment and account for and model expected outcomes. We will assess and validate our approach across diverse real-life case studies (learning sites). Our findings and approach will initiate a twin green and digital transition that resolves transaction complexity and creates the enabling conditions for large-scale investment that are required if the EU is to achieve its biodiversity goals. Our outcomes will identify remaining gaps in the Taxonomy and support policy forming through evidence-based recommendations and we will co-design, develop and establish pathways for skills and knowledge accelerators for the European financial services industry.

Keywords: decision support,unifying framework and technology,mainstream finance
Harnessing Hydrogen’s POtential With Rotating Detonation (H2POWRD)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Doctoral Networks
Action type: Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
Panel: Information Science and Engineering
Countries involved: Germany,France,Italy,Sweden,Belgium,Netherlands,United States,Hungary,Japan
Call: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023 (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01, 2023)
Start date: 2024-10-01
End date: 2028-09-30
Duration (months): 48.0
Total project cost (EUR): 4305844.8
EU funding (EUR): 4063536.0
Participants: 22
Project status: SIGNED

H2POWRD seeks to harness hydrogen's potential with rotating detonation combustion (RDC) integrated with a gas turbine (RDGT). Rotating detonation is a paradigm breaking technology that revolutionizes the thermodynamic process to be significantly more efficient. This efficiency leap also introduces new challenges in the form of unsteady, transonic flow at the turbine inlet and higher heat transfer. Building on insights of a previous ITN (INSPIRE), which underscored the potential benefits of RDC, H2POWRD focuses on efficiently harnessing the unsteady outflow from the combustion of H2 in an RDGT. This project revolves around three primary areas of investigation: (1) delving into the fundamental aspects of the combustion, encompassing reactant injection, mixing, detonation propagation, and heat transfer; (2) optimizing the transition region between the combustor and the turbine to tailor Mach number, pressure, and velocity fluctuations for turbine compatibility; and (3) refining the aerodynamics of rotors and stators to maximize efficiency within relevant design philosophies and Mach number regimes. Employing a comprehensive approach, H2POWRD combines experimental and numerical methods to gain profound insights into both individual component physics and their intricate interactions. The project's outcomes are expected to deepen our understanding of critical scientific questions surrounding the unique features of RDC detonation waves, exhaust flow conditioning for targeted properties, and the design of turbines adept at handling heightened levels of unsteadiness. Beyond scientific inquiry, H2POWRD will showcase the technology's potential and delineate pathways toward realizing higher efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. Moreover, H2POWRD is committed to fostering sustainable innovation in research and in a training program designed to prepare the next generation of researchers with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of RDGT technology.

Keywords: rotating detonation,pressure gain combustion,gas turbines,aviation,power generation,experimental diagnostics
Development of novel technology based on a hybrid of bio-photo-electrochemical detritiation light-water for tritium separation and simultaneously H2 generation (BPEC-DW)

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: Chemistry
Countries involved: Slovenia
Call: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01, 2021)
Start date: 2022-12-01
End date: 2025-02-28
Duration (months): 27.0
Total project cost (EUR): 171399.36
EU funding (EUR): 171399.36
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Currently, nuclear installations release approximately 4.4E+16 Bq/year of tritium, the radioactive isotope of hydrogen, to the environment worldwide as no technologies seem to be technically and/or economically feasible for water detritiation. Aiming at the development of a novel and effective technology, a hybrid of bio-photo-electrochemical system for detritiation of light-water (BPEC-DW) is presented for water reuse and simultaneously H2 generation as one of the most effective alternative energy sources. In this multidisciplinary project, solar activated nanomaterials based on modified TiO2 and BiVO4 and graphene oxide and/or reduced graphene oxide will be synthesized and coupled with different bacteria to enhance the feasibility of hydrogen isotope (H and T) separation and catalyses H2 generation. The BPEC-DW will be optimized by study of influence of key parameters on BPEC-DW performance to be accepted for the designing of the facility in the future. The societal challenges in energy and water research are among the focus areas and recent priorities. The economic impact of BPEC-DW relies on the utilities of solar irradiation and non-expensive materials, decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases, eco-friendly and cost-effective techniques. There is a strong and clear two-way transfer of knowledge objective linked in BPEC-DW project with the transfer of a wide array of materials synthesis, photo-electro-catalytic, and PEC water splitting expertise from applicant to the host institution, while she will receive world-class training in different research fields such as biotechnology, microbiology, and radiochemistry and develop her communication skills in an international environment which are excellent conditions for the development of her future career.

Keywords: isotope separation,tritium enrichment,water treatment,biotechnology,nanomaterials,photoelectrochemical activity,h2 generation
Breaching the boundaries of safety and intelligence in autonomous systems with risk-based rationality (BREACH)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Advanced grants
Action type: ERC actions
Panel: Products and Processes Engineering
Panel description: Product and process design, chemical, civil, environmental, mechanical, vehicle engineering, energy processes and relevant computational methods
Countries involved: Norway
Call: ERC ADVANCED GRANTS (ERC-2023-ADG, 2023)
Start date: 2025-01-01
End date: 2029-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2499773.0
EU funding (EUR): 2499773.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Autonomous systems able to comprehensively assess and model risks would be a scientific breakthrough leading to highly intelligent system behaviors, safe interactions in unstructured environments, and public trust. Currently, risk perception is an important part of human cognition not adequately implemented in the situation awareness, control and decision-making of autonomous systems. Therefore, this project addresses fundamental research challenges related to risk-based autonomy and safe and efficient shared control with human supervisors. The aim is to develop powerful risk modelling and built-in risk control solutions, closely connected to risk-based decision support for human supervisors in-the-loop. The outcomes of the project will allow for new, safe, and advanced types of transport, mapping and monitoring of oceans and land, and inspections of structures difficult to access. Although there are a few preliminary concepts coupling risk models with control algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), a fundamental framework providing risk-based control and decision support – for both the autonomous system and human supervisors – does not exist. In BREACH, I will establish such a framework constituted by quantitative risk models merged with data-driven approaches, simulation and model-based approaches, integrating hardware, software, human, and environmental risk elements. The complexity of the framework will gradually evolve in two parallel tracks along with demonstrations for mission planning and execution for autonomous marine “organizations”. The focus on marine systems is due to the demanding challenges in that domain, and my knowledge and experience as a researcher in the Centre of Excellence on Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems (NTNU AMOS). For several years, I have contributed to fundamental research related to risk management of autonomous marine systems, which has convinced me that this project will be a major leap forward with great impact.

Keywords: safety risk assessment risk modeling autonomous system supervisory risk control decision support simulation
Hyperspectral Fiber Photometry for Flexible, Multiplexed Optical Measurements of Brain Function (HyFiPhotometry)

Framework: Horizon Europe — Excellent Science
Programme: European Research Council (ERC)
Theme: European research council
Destination: Proof of concept grants
Action type: ERC actions
Countries involved: Germany
Call: ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS (ERC-2023-POC, 2023)
Start date: 2024-06-01
End date: 2025-11-30
Duration (months): 18.0
Total project cost (EUR): 150000.0
EU funding (EUR): 150000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: SIGNED

Fiber photometry allows the activity of molecularly defined neuronal populations to be measured in freely behaving animals. The method is based on an implanted optical fiber through which fluorescent genetically encoded indicators of cellular activity, metabolites or signaling molecules can be monitored and is widely used in neuroscience research. However, conventional photometry systems are not flexible and typically limited to a fixed configuration of one or two readout channels. We will develop a new product based on a radically redesigned concept of fiber photometry called Fused Fiber Photometry (FFP). This new design is highly flexible and allows the fiber photometry setup to be easily reconfigured to a large number of spectral configurations at low cost. Furthermore, by combining spectral detection with spectral control of the fluorescence excitation signal, we will realize hyperspectral fiber photometry. Fused fiber photometry and hyperspectral photometry have the potential to gain large attraction in the academic research, industrial R&D and manufacturing processes, and in medical diagnosis. The technique has therefore high commercialization potential and a competitive advantage over existing commercial systems. It allows companies to offer a simple, out-of-the-box, turnkey system that can be easily modified and upgraded to meet user requirements. Our goal is to develop a commercializable hyperspectral fiber photometry system based on FFP. We will work hand in hand with established industrial partners to bring the system to market. By realizing HyFiPhotometry in this PoC project, want to exploit the full potential of hyperspectral photometry and demonstrate the feasibility of the basic idea. In the long term, we aim it to drive inventiveness in the fields of biomedical research, medicine and beyond. In this way, we expect to move our product from the niche of neuroscience to a wide range of applications that are highly relevant to society.

Keywords: fiber photometry,fused fiber,neuroscience,