Projects

Le projet GAMMAP vise à l’acquisition d’un détecteur de dernière génération dédié à la spectrométrie gamma très bas bruit de fond. Cette technique permet d’analyser les activités en radionucléides naturels et artificiels dans différents types d’échantillons (ex. sols, matières en suspension, sédiments lacustres ou fluviatiles) à des fins de datation (depuis le début du XXe siècle), de caractérisation des sources ou de quantification des contaminations naturelles et/ou artificielles. Elle permet ainsi de caractériser les (paléo-)environnements. Cette technique non destructive peut aussi permettre de dater des séquences de guano de chauve- souris prélevées dans des grottes ou des stalagmites enregistrant l’historique des pollutions, lui conférant une applicabilité à une vaste gamme d’échantillons patrimoniaux anciens et environnementaux. Parmi les radionucléides analysés par spectrométrie gamma, on notera la quantification de l’activité en 137Cs, radioisotope artificiel dont les émissions dans l’environnement ont débuté après la seconde guerre mondiale. Le plomb-210 (210Pb), radioisotope naturel, permet, quant à lui, de dater des échantillons patrimoniaux anciens et environnementaux au cours du dernier siècle (à partir de ~1900). D’autres radionucléides (comme l’alu- minium-26 – 26Al et le sodium-22 – 22Na) permettent également d’identifier des matières d’origine extra- terrestre. Ce détecteur de dernière génération sera installé dans la salle dédiée du LSCE sur le Plateau de Saclay. Ce projet permettra l’accès aux conditions d’analyse adaptées aux échantillons environnementaux et patrimoniaux aux partenaires franciliens.

L’étude des propriétés de photoluminescence des matériaux anciens fournit des informations précieuses pour déterminer leur composition, et étudier les processus d’altération. La photoluminescence est une technique très sensible, qui se révèle souvent complémentaire d’autres méthodes analytiques utilisées en sciences du patrimoine. Les laboratoires PPSM et IPANEMA ont ainsi développé une activité de recherche autour des propriétés de luminescence de matériaux anciens, notamment des peintures historiques et des échantillons fossiles, très originale à l’échelle de la communauté française des sciences du patrimoine. Cette activité s’appuie à l’heure actuelle sur le parc instrumental du PPSM et sur des prototypes d’imagerie en émission excitation développés à IPANEMA. Le projet ALUMMAP vise à acquérir un spectrofluorimètre à haute sensibilité qui viendra remplacer le fluorimètre actuel du PPSM, arrivé en fin de vie. L’objectif est de disposer d’un fluorimètre de haute sensibilité, avec un détecteur performant de l’UV au proche IR, pouvant discriminer les phénomènes de fluorescence et de phosphorescence, et permettant à la fois l’analyse d’échantillons modèle (solutions, films minces) et d’échantillons réels massifs grâce à un système de fibres optiques. Cet instrument permettra d’une part une analyse précise d’échantillons complexes car contenant de multiples chromophores avec des hétérogénéités multi échelle. D’autre part, il permettra la collecte de données calibrées en excitation et en émission, qui serviront à leur tour à la calibration des prototypes développés à IPANEMA.

L’analyseur de carbone dissous demandé permettra de quantifier le carbone organique dissous (COD) composant principal des matières organiques dissoutes (MOD) des sols, rivières, lacs ou eaux souterraines, i.e. la MO de taille inférieure à 0,45 µm par convention. Il permettra également de quantifier la fraction inorganique dissoute du carbone dans les eaux et les solutions, i.e. le carbone inorganique dissous (CID). Le projet d’achat est motivé par la nécessité de pouvoir quantifier ces paramètres dans les eaux de surface et souterraines ainsi que dans les sols pour mieux comprendre : 1) la dégradation des peintures pariétales dans les grottes sujettes aux vermiculations ; 2) l’écologie microbienne et la formation de microbialites dans les écosystèmes continentaux ; 3) la libération du COD au cours de la fonte du pergélisol participant au changement climatique et 4) les interactions entre les matières organiques dissoutes et les contaminants environnementaux dans les systèmes miniers anciens et leurs relations avec les remédiations. Cet équipement intègrera la plateforme PANOPLY, au sein du pôle géochimie, et sera localisé à GEOPS.

L’altération des peintures murales dépend en particulier des conditions de conservation de la peinture, son degré d’exposition à la chaleur, à l’humidité, aux agents polluants et à la lumière naturelle ou artificielle. Le projet de stage sera donc de mettre en place une étude de vieillissement artificiel de peintures modèles (protéine liantes appliquées sur un support inerte) en présence ou non de différents pigments, à différents degrés d’humidité et de température. Les protéines contenues dans ces échantillons seront ensuite traitées en adaptant la méthode mise au point au laboratoire, car la présence des pigments pourrait avoir une influence sur le vieillissement des liants et perturber l’hydrolyse de la protéine par la trypsine. Les extraits seront ensuite analysés par la chromatographie en phase liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem pour mettre en évidence une éventuelle modification des protéines. Les cinétiques de dégradation de plusieurs protéines liantes associées à différents pigments minéraux sera étudiée, en particulier celles des caséines du lait et de l’ovalbumine dont l’analyse est déjà établie au laboratoire, mais également celles de la vitellogénine et du collagène.

Certaines peintures modernes à l’huile du milieu du XXe, notamment celles de la Seconde École de Paris, présentent un phénomène de ramollissement de la couche picturale. Observées depuis les années 1990, ces altérations se manifestent par l’apparition d’empâtements mous, des surfaces poisseuses ou encore des exsudations de liant et compromettent à la fois la stabilité matérielle et la lisibilité visuelle des œuvres. Les mécanismes physico-chimiques à l’œuvre et l’implication de facteurs tels que conditions de séchage ou l’usage de siccatifs restent encore mal compris. Dans le cadre du stage, deux approches complémentaires seront mises en œuvre pour l’étude de ce phénomène. La première vise à enrichir le corpus d’échantillons modèles de peinture à l’huile en affinant les paramètres variables (conditions de séchage, épaisseur des couches, proportion et type de siccatif) dans le but de créer de l’instabilité ou hétérogénéités. Ces modèles permettront d’évaluer la cinétique des premiers stades d’oxydation et de polymérisation des films de peinture en surface et à cœur avec un suivi par spectroscopie infrarouge (OPT-IR ou IR-TF). La seconde approche consistera à analyser un corpus de fragments historiques du triptyque (Sans titre, 1969) de Joan Mitchell conservé au musée de Brou. Cette étude permettra de mieux caractériser la technique picturale de l’artiste et la matérialité de cette œuvre majeure, à l’aide d’analyses élémentaires (XRF/MEB-EDX) complétées éventuellement par du XAS et XRD, et de spectroscopie infrarouge (IR-TF) pour les matériaux organiques.

Aujourd’hui, la Warm Pool indo-pacifique représente une vaste étendue océanographique caractérisée par des valeurs de température de surface de la mer (SST – Sea Surface Temperature) constamment supérieures à 28 °C, et est souvent considérée comme l’un des moteurs thermiques de notre planète. Le 5ᵉ rapport du GIEC a reconnu le rôle critique de l’océan Indien oriental dans le climat mondial et a classé cette région parmi les principaux « points chauds » climatiques. La reconstitution des températures océaniques de l’océan Indien au cours des périodes dites greenhouse, comme le Paléogène, est donc primordiale pour notre compréhension des changements climatiques actuels. Cependant, malgré l’importance de cette région dans la régulation du système climatique depuis le début du Cénozoïque, peu de reconstitutions de température sont disponibles pour cet océan durant le Paléogène. Ce manque de données s’explique par les nombreux défis méthodologiques qui compliquent la reconstitution de températures océaniques fiables pendant les périodes greenhouse. À travers ce stage, nous proposons d’étudier les sédiments du site ODP 763. Nous utiliserons le signal géochimique porté par les coccolithes afin de générer de nouvelles valeurs de SST. La microstructure monocristalline, sans porosité, de ces organismes les rend exceptionnellement résistants à la dissolution ; ils conservent ainsi un excellent état de préservation, même au cours des périodes greenhouse. Ces mesures de SST seront associées à l’estimation des températures océaniques de subsurface et de fond (foraminifères planctoniques et benthiques), afin de reconstituer la stratification thermique de l’océan Indien en période chaude. Collectivement, ces nouvelles données permettront d’améliorer notre compréhension de l’évolution climatique de cette période, ainsi que de la réponse des différentes faunes marines à ces changements climatiques majeurs.

Les Rencontres Franciliennes de Mécanique (RFM) sont organisées chaque année par la Fédération Francilienne de Mécanique (F2M). Cette année, les RFM2025 ont pour objectif de dresser un état des lieux des apports de la mécanique des matériaux, des structures et des procédés à la préservation de notre patrimoine culturel. Ces rencontres se dérouleront sur deux journées le 3 et 4 juillet 2025: la première sera consacrée au patrimoine muséal, la seconde au patrimoine architectural. La première demi-journée portera sur les contributions de la mécanique aux processus de conservation des œuvres muséales : étude du comportement thermo-hygro-mécanique des panneaux de bois, problématiques liées aux vibrations dans les musées, instrumentation et modélisation de tableaux et de textiles anciens. La seconde demi-journée sera dédiée aux études acoustiques des instruments de musique, en lien avec des problématiques de reconstitution ou de compréhension de leur fonctionnement. La deuxième journée sera entièrement consacrée au patrimoine architectural. La matinée sera dédiée au chantier de Notre-Dame, où quatre domaines disciplinaires seront mis à l’honneur : la mécanique des structures maçonnées, de la charpente, des éléments métalliques et des vitraux de la cathédrale. Enfin, la dernière demi-journée portera sur les matériaux anciens du patrimoine et les méthodes d’instrumentation pour le suivi de l’état de santé du bâti ancien.

L’art rupestre est une forme universelle d’expression humaine dans le monde entier, les premières formes de comportement symbolique remontant lointain dans l’histoire de l’humanité. Il continue d’être l’une des formes les plus importantes en raison de l’universalité de l’utilisation des matières colorantes pour exprimer des perspectives culturelles. Dans de nombreuses régions du monde, y compris en France et en Australie, l’art rupestre est un moyen de comprendre notre histoire lointaine collective, nos connaissances dans le présent et d’identifier les questions de recherche clés pour l’avenir, y compris en ce qui concerne l’interprétation culturelle et l’analyse scientifique. La préservation de ce patrimoine culturel est encore plus essentielle compte tenu de la vulnérabilité de l’art rupestre dû au changement climatique et autres événements catastrophiques ainsi que les effets humains. Dans de nombreux sites, il ne reste que des traces de pigments ce qui menace la préservation de ces sites jusqu’à leur anéantissement complet et la perte des liens culturels. Par conséquent, des méthodes analytiques appropriées pour l’étude des pigments vulnérables de l’art rupestre nécessitent des approches non invasives et non destructives, afin de les protéger davantage. Les pigments de l’art rupestre correspondent à des couches complexes de liants et de pigments appliqués au fil du temps, et dans certains cas dans des endroits éloignés. Par conséquent, toute approche analytique doit être sensible, robuste et portable ou ne nécessiter que de très petits volumes d’échantillonnage. L’un des principaux résultats du projet sera une évaluation et un examen approfondis de l’analyse non invasive des pigments vulnérables de l’art rupestre. Ces résultats constitueront la base d’un examen clé de l’état scientifique des approches visant détecter des traces de pigments sur un site d’art rupestre et de l’élaboration de méthodes scientifiques appropriées. Un aspect fondamental de ce projet est de renforcer les partenariats interdisciplinaires avec les propriétaires traditionnels, les archéologues, les scientifiques, les chercheurs en début de carrière et les étudiants, qui collaborent sur des questions de recherche communes.

A l’échelle globale, la transition Jurassique – Crétacé est classiquement décrite dans la littérature scientifique comme une période de crise biologique qui voit notamment se produire un renouvellement faunique important des écosystèmes continentaux. Toutefois, cette transition s’accompagne également d’une importante régression marine, un contexte géologique moins propice à la préservation des faunes et des flores. Autrement dit, la crise biologique observée pourrait être au moins pour partie artéfactuelle, puisqu’elle découlerait de la rareté des gisements continentaux datés du début du Crétacé par rapport à ceux plus abondants de la fin du Jurassique. A cet égard, la région des Charentes (nord du Bassin aquitain) est particulièrement intéressante puisqu’elle abrite en son sous-sol des gisements paléontologiques qui datent à la fois de la fin du Jurassique et du début du Crétacé. Ceux de Chassiron (Charente-Maritime), Cherves-de-Cognac (Charente) et Angeac-Charente (Charente) ont tous les trois livré des faunes continentales de vertébrés abondantes et diversifiées. Les différents travaux de datation menés jusqu’à présent indiquent que le gisement d’Angeac-Charente serait légèrement plus jeune que le gisement de Cherves-de-Cognac daté du Crétacé basal (Berriasien, 143 millions d’années), lui-même plus jeune que le gisement de Chassiron daté du Jurassique terminal (Tithonien, 150 millions d’années). Ces trois gisements paléontologiques représentent donc une succession temporelle clé pour comprendre comment ont évolué les écosystèmes continentaux de la bordure nord-aquitaine autour de la limite Jurassique – Crétacé. Toutefois il existe encore des incertitudes quant à la datation exacte de ces trois gisements. Le projet ÉcoCLimat a pour objectif de mieux contraindre chronologiquement la succession temporelle de ces trois gisements par des datations robustes et de caractériser finement leur paléoenvironnement, leur paléogéographie et leur paléoclimat afin de retracer l’évolution des écosystèmes continentaux au cours de la transition Jurassique – Crétacé.

Préparés à partir de peaux animales, les parchemins sont constitués essentiellement de fibres de collagène et sont sensibles à divers facteurs d’altération, principalement l’eau (hydrolyse) et la chaleur (oxydation). Un défi crucial pour définir des traitements ou des conditions de conservation adaptées est de déterminer l’état de conservation du collagène de manière non invasive et ainsi prévenir une dégradation irrémédiable du parchemin, la gélatinisation. Le but de ce projet est de mesurer et caractériser les modifications physico‐ chimiques et morphologiques du collagène en fonction des conditions de température et d’humidité et de comprendre leurs origines. Notre approche est basée sur la microscopie optique non‐linéaire, technique non invasive à l’échelle micrométrique pour caractériser l’état de conservation du collagène sous forme fibrillaire. En parallèle, des techniques d’analyse infrarouge multi‐échelle apportent un suivi des altérations du point de de vue chimique. L’enjeu principal de ce projet est de faire le lien à la fois entre les différentes échelles sondées (du nanomètre au micromètre) et les différents signaux physico‐chimiques collectés. Les connaissances nouvelles apportées sur l’altération du collagène au sein des parchemins permettront à terme une interprétation plus fine des observations avec des techniques plus conventionnelles utilisées en conservation‐restauration, telles que l’observation de fibres sous loupe binoculaire ou par platine chauffante (MHT, Micro Hot Table).

Le musée national de la Renaissance au château d’Écouen conserve plusieurs milliers de fragments archéologiques de terre cuite et de plâtre provenant de l’atelier parisien du célèbre céramiste de la Renaissance Bernard Palissy (1510-1590), fouillé dans les années 1980. Installé au jardin des Tuileries à partir de 1565, il travaille à la création d’une grotte artificielle pour Catherine de Médicis, après avoir œuvré à un premier projet pour le connétable Anne de Montmorency. L’innovation majeure de ces constructions réside d’une part dans le matériau employé, la terre cuite glaçurée, d’autre part dans son répertoire dit de “rustiques figulines”, mêlant les représentations naturalistes d’animaux, de végétaux et de minéraux moulés sur nature. Le musée du Louvre financera, dans les mois précédents le post-doctorat, la numérisation 3D d’une sélection de fragments représentative des divers éléments constitutifs des grottes de Palissy. Dans le cadre du post-doctorat, ces données numériques seront traitées puis mises à la disposition de la communauté scientifique, par le biais d’un site web sémantique hébergé par les serveurs d’Huma-Num. Une fois cet équipement achevé et mis en ligne, le projet PALINUM vise à formuler et développer des hypothèses de restitution de ces grottes, en composant avec l’hétérogénéité des sources et les lacunes de l’information. À cet objectif de recherche scientifique au sens strict s’ajoute un volet de conception d’outils numériques à des fins de médiation scientifique et culturelle, destinés à un large public autant qu’à la communauté scientifique, dans le cadre de l’exposition temporaire programmée en 2027 au musée du Louvre et en vue du renouvèlement de la muséographie des salles du musée national de la Renaissance à Écouen.

Les fossiles de tétrapodes du Permo-Trias du Bassin de Morondava, au Sud-Ouest de Madagascar, sont d’une grande importance scientifique et historique. Ils documentent en effet de nombreuses étapes charnières de l’évolution des vertébrés terrestres et de transformation des écosystèmes continentaux en réponse aux changements climatiques globaux de la fin du Paléozoïque et à la crise biologique Permo-Trias. Cependant, ces collections actuellement conservées au MNHN posent de nombreuses questions en termes d’historicisation, de contextualisation et d’extraction. Du fait de leurs nombreux déplacements au sein de différents ensembles, les données de collecte indispensables à leur étude, voire certains spécimens, ont disparu de la scène scientifique. Des limites techniques liées à la propriété des matériaux ont empêché l’extraction de plusieurs spécimens clés, parfois pendant plus de 70 ans. L’objectif de ce projet est la valorisation historique et scientifique de cette collection patrimoniale à travers le développement de deux approches innovantes et transdisciplinaires. Un premier axe « pratiques patrimoniales et histoire des collections » vise à modéliser le principe d’une recherche de provenance, appliquée ici à des naturalia. Cette historicisation, de la collecte à la gestion scientifique et muséographique, des spécimens, sera fondée sur une approche historienne associée à la matérialité des collections. Un second axe, « innovations instrumentales et expérimentales », développera une méthode optimisée et non invasive de micro-préparation avec contraste augmenté par photoluminescence et réflectance permettant d’assurer l’extraction mécanique des fossiles. Ce projet permettra plus largement de formaliser une approche transdisciplinaire d’étude de provenance en sciences naturelles et de démocratiser un nouvel équipement de préparation-restauration pour les laboratoires de paléontologie et d’archéologie.

La datation par le radiocarbone et la géochimie isotopique sont des outils essentiels pour les musées, leur permettant d’authentifier des œuvres et de retracer l’histoire des objets et des collections. Le Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF), service à compétence nationale du ministère de la Culture, joue un rôle central dans ces domaines à l’échelle francilienne et nationale. Le projet CARPEDIEM vise à renforcer la capacité analytique du C2RMF en développant un dispositif permettant, à partir d’un même échantillon, d’effectuer simultanément la préparation pour la datation par le radiocarbone et la mesure de proxys isotopiques. Celui-ci sera composé de trois équipements : un analyseur élémentaire, un système de graphitisation et un spectromètre de masse à rapport isotopique (Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer, IRMS). Dans ce système, l’analyseur élémentaire assure la combustion complète de l’échantillon organique (bois, charbon, textile animal ou végétal, collagène osseux, etc.), suivie de la purification et de la séparation des gaz produits. Une fraction du dioxyde de carbone (CO2, ≈5 %), puis le diazote (N2) sont transférés vers l’IRMS pour la mesure des compositions isotopiques (δ13C, δ15N). Parallèlement, le reste du CO2 (≈95 %) est dirigé vers le système de graphitisation, où il est piégé puis graphitisé de manière automatisée dans un réacteur à haute température. Le carbone graphite obtenu est ensuite envoyé pour datation par le radiocarbone par l’instrument national ARTEMIS (Plateau de Saclay). En permettant à la fois la datation et l’analyse isotopique sur un même prélèvement, CARPEDIEM offrira des bénéfices majeurs aux musées et aux établissements de recherche franciliens, tant à court terme (réduction de la taille et du nombre de prélèvements) qu’à long terme (analyse isotopique systématique des objets datés, facilitant la constitution de référentiels et de bases de données).

De nombreuses reconstructions paléoenvironnementales et enregistrements paléoclimatiques reposent sur l’identification et l’analyse d’éléments carbonatés. C’est le cas, par exemple, des reconstitutions paléoclimatiques basées sur l’identification de foraminifères issus de carottes marines, ou encore de l’étude de coraux, de malacofaunes, de tufs calcaires et de spéléothèmes pour retracer les environnements anciens. A ces reconstitutions paléoenvironnementales s’ajoutent des recherches plus directement liées à l’archéologie, comme le suivi des dynamiques urbaines à travers l’analyse des dépôts carbonatés des réseaux hydrauliques ou encore l’exploration du symbolisme dans les sociétés passées via la caractérisation de l’art pariétal, protégé parfois par des voiles de calcite. Cependant, pour donner à ces études une dimension dynamique, en retraçant leur évolution avec le temps, il est essentiel de les adosser à une chronologie fiable. Pour les derniers 50 000 ans, la datation radiocarbone (14C) s’impose comme la méthode de référence. Le projet EXCITAN a pour objectif l’acquisition d’un système d’extraction et de graphitisation automatique du carbone pour les échantillons de carbonate ou pour le carbone inorganique dissous (CID) dans l’eau, en vue de leur analyse radiocarbone. Cet instrument viendra renforcer le parc déjà existant autour du plateau technique ECHoMICADAS, spectromètre de masse par accélérateur (installé en 2015, avec le soutien de la région via le DIM Analytics). Il viendra en renfort de certaines lignes d’extraction vieillissantes (>20 ans pour certaines) et de la ligne de graphitisation semi-automatique. Cet équipement automatisera plusieurs étapes du procédé à savoir 1) l’extraction du carbone sous forme de CO2 par ajout d’acide orthophosphorique, que ce soit pour les carbonates ou l’eau, 2) le transfert du CO2, séquentiellement, dans les réacteurs, 3) l’estimation des quantités de CO2 et l’ajout du H2 en conséquence, 4) la graphitisation à température contrôlée. A la pointe de la technologie, il permettra d’optimiser le temps analytique et de réduire les coûts.

Lumisync a breveté le 1er oscillateur 100% photonique au monde, un composant qui permet au data centers et réseaux télécom de synchroniser la donnée à la vitesse de la lumière. Au sein d’un data centers, la synchronisation de la donnée est clé car elle permet de faire communiquer entre eux les millions de servers qui y sont intégrés. Avec la technologie Lumisync, l’objectif est de réduire la latence et la consommation énergétique dues à la synchronisation d’un facteur 1000 afin de permettre la mise en service d’infrastructures plus performantes pour répondre aux besoins de l’IA tout en réduisant significativement l’impact du numérique sur les émissions de GES. Grâce à ce projet iLab, Lumisync va pouvoir accélérer son développement en renforçant les performances de ses oscillateurs et en commençant à tester la mise en réseaux d’oscillateurs Lumisync afin de préparer l’intégration future dans des serveurs de data centers nouvelle génération avec des partenaires industriels. Être lauréat iLab permet à Lumisync de poursuivre son continuum de financements publics sans lesquels le projet n’aurait pas vu le jour. En effet la technologie Lumisync se base sur les travaux de thèse de Giuseppe Modica ainsi que d’autres actifs du CNRS pour lesquels Lumisync a obtenu une licence d’exploitation. Ainsi qu’un soutien financier sous la forme d’une prématuration CNRS et d’une maturation technologique par la SATT Saclay.

Les biomédicaments, tels que les vaccins à ARN messager, les thérapies cellulaires ou géniques, connaissent un essor considérable grâce à leur efficacité et à leur potentiel face à de nombreuses maladies, notamment certains cancers et pathologies auto-immunes. Aujourd’hui, ils représentent déjà 60% des médicaments en développement. Un grand nombre d’entre eux reposent sur l’utilisation d’un nanovecteur qui est une nanoparticule de quelques dizaines de nanomètres qui transporte un principe actif (e.g., l’ARN des vaccins à ARN) jusqu’à sa cible dans l’organisme. L’usage de ces vecteurs (par exemple des virus) est nécessaire pour ces biomédicaments car sans lui le principe actif n’atteindrait pas sa cible, et l’effet thérapeutique serait nul. Cependant, les méthodes de production de ces biomédicaments sont imparfaites et mènent la fabrication d’un mélange de vecteurs pleins et vides (i.e. sans principe actif). L’existence de ces vecteurs vides est un problème majeur car ils diminuent l’efficacité du médicament et peuvent déclencher des réactions allergiques potentiellement dangereuses pour le patient. La taille nanométrique de ces vecteurs et le fait qu’ils aient la même forme, qu’ils soient vides ou pleins, rend très difficile le contrôle de leur chargement, aussi bien en phase de R&D que de production. Aujourd’hui, la technique de référence pour contrôler le chargement de vecteur est l’Analytical Ultra Centrifugation (AUC). Si elle fournit des résultats précis et fiables, elle présente des défauts rédhibitoires : (i) elle est chère, (ii) elle est trop lente (>10 heures pour une mesure), et (iii) elle utilise trop d’échantillon. Notre solution est un instrument de mesure optique et sans marquage équipé d’un logiciel d’analyse automatisé qui détecte les vecteurs individuellement dans une microgoutte d’échantillon. Il permet de mesurer le taux de vecteurs vides et pleins avec 50000x moins d’échantillon et en quelques minutes. L’objectif d’UNVEIL est de démocratiser cette technologie et d’en faire la méthode de référence pour le contrôle qualité du chargement de bio-vecteurs, afin d’accélérer, sécuriser et fiabiliser le développement de biomédicaments.

L’instrumentation est un besoin fondamental de l’industrie face aux révolutions numérique et écologique. Elle conditionne la sécurité, l’automatisation et l’efficacité des procédés les plus complexes. Myriad4Sensing apporte une réponse de rupture : des capteurs à fibre optique robustes, insensibles aux radiations et aux perturbations électromagnétiques, capables de mesurer simultanément des centaines de points avec une précision inédite dans les environnements les plus hostiles. Notre technologie s’adapte à des domaines variés : suivi de la concentration d’hydrogène en zones ATEX pour la production par électrolyse, ou pilotage de procédés plasma grâce à la mesure fine de profils thermiques en conditions extrêmes. Nous mettons en place notre première ligne de production, capable de fournir 200 000 points de mesure par an, afin de répondre à un marché d’instrumentation en forte croissance. Myriad4Sensing s’appuie sur 15 ans de recherche et 7 brevets issus du CEA List et de l’Université de Lille. Elle bénéficie également du soutien d’incubateurs d’excellence tels qu’Evolen’UP et LuminEdge. Avec l’appui de l’i-Lab, notre ambition est de devenir un acteur européen de référence dans la mesure optique pour environnements extrêmes.

Le projet UPNYL vise à donner une nouvelle vie aux déchets nylons. Ultra-résistants et imperméables, les nylons sont des polymères dérivés du pétrole, omniprésents dans des secteurs variés comme l’automobile ou le textile. Faute de solutions de recyclage adaptées, ces matériaux en fin de vie sont aujourd’hui majoritairement enfouis ou incinérés. UPNYL propose une alternative durable : grâce à un procédé chimique innovant développé en laboratoire, les déchets nylons sont transformés en matériaux à haute valeur ajoutée, impossibles à obtenir par les méthodes de synthèse classiques. Les matériaux obtenus offrent des perspectives d’intégration variées dans de nombreux secteurs industriels et positionne UPNYL au coeur de l’économie circulaire des polymères.

The food security on the planet is still a challenge. Experts predict that we will need to double food production in order to feed a population projected to reach 9,2 billion by 2050. Crop improvement should not only focus on species such as maize, wheat and soybean. Many other crops contribute to food security. The Cucurbitaceae family is positioned in front list of plant families for the number of species used as human food and for cultural, medicinal, and botanical significance. According to FAO estimate, despite a large growing area improving yield of many Cucurbitaceae crops could significantly add to food security. F1 hybrid cultivars have made a significant contribution to the world's food supply. Yet, one of the continuing challenges of plant breeding is still to master production of F1 hybrid seeds in many crops. The production of F1 hybrid seeds requires controlled pollination to ensure that the seed descent is indeed resulting from a crossing and not from a self-fertilization. Most of cultivated Cucurbitaceae species are monoecious or andromonoecious. The use of these two sexual morphs for F1 hybrid production requires hand emasculation and hand pollination of the female parental line. Furthermore, monoecious and andromonoecious sexual morphs are usually hurdles for yield improvement and yield stability. HybridSeed project aims to engineer plant prototypes with the goal to (i) reduce the cost of F1 hybrid seed production, (ii) improve yields of F1 hybrid plants, and (iii) simplify the itinerary of the crops, from the seed companies to the producers. HybridSeed technology is built on the knowledge of the genes controlling the development of unisexual and hermaphrodite flowers and their use to engineer sexual types that do not exist in nature, or more stable than those currently existing. The produced plant prototypes will be grown in conditions approaching seed companies and producer conditions and evaluated for yield and yield stability.

An organism’s survival depends on accurately perceiving and interpreting the environment. A significant part of our visual stimulations is however generated by our own actions, rather than external events. For example, the retina can experience similar visual stimulus driven by head-movement, or by a moving object. Therefore, self-motion related information is fundamental to contextualize visual stimuli. In other words, what the eye sees may not be what our brain perceives depending on our actions. In mammals, the vestibular system reports both the motion and orientation of the head. Very little is known about the pathways connecting the vestibular system to visual cortical areas, and how this signal is integrated with external visual stimuli to ultimately impact behaviour. The goal of this project is to unravel the neuronal circuits underlying visual processing during self-motion in mice, thereby providing new insights in sensory processing. To this aim, I will address the following questions: 1) What is the long-range and local connectivity of neurons modulated by head rotation in V1; 2) What are the circuit mechanisms and neuronal computations involved in the integration of self-motion related signals with visual inputs in V1; 3) How do head motion inputs to V1 influence visually-guided actions during behaviour. Achieving these goals relies on a multidisciplinary experimental strategy based on cutting-edge approaches to monitor and control circuit activity with high spatio-temporal resolution in a cell-type specific manner, neuroanatomical tracing, and computational modelling. This experimental strategy combined with my research background in visual and vestibular systems provides a unique opportunity to understand unexplored aspects of sensory processing, at both the cellular and systems levels. Altogether, this project will reveal a novel framework to understand how sensory processing operates during self-motion to guide behaviour.

The main goal of BlueGreen Governance is to develop innovative land-sea governance schemes based on scientific evidence and societal choices. The current management of oceans, seas and coasts is fragmented across multiple institutional layers and policy areas and based on past experience. BlueGreen Governance pursues an innovative approach to the governance of the seas and coastal areas that: promotes integration between institutional layers and across policy sectors with a clear impact on the use of the land and the sea; involves and engages citizens in decision-making processes, while at the same time including scientific evidence; responds predictively to changing physical conditions as indicated by scientific evidence as well as indigenous and local knowledge and citizen science; and uses e-governance tools in support of the previous three points. With this focus and approach, the project responds to the need for better-informed decision-making processes, social engagement and digital innovation while promoting more harmonious and effective science-policy-society interfaces. The promotion of better science-policy, science-society and society-policy interactions will be embedded in the digital transformation and application of e-governance tools for co-design and service delivery. BlueGreen Governance will implement and assess these innovative governance schemes in 8 cases across several European regions and sea basins and will draw lessons on how to trigger and facilitate effective institutional change via capacity building. The cases are: Comunidad Valenciana; North Adriatic; the Solent; Western Scheldt; Oslofjord; Canary Islands and Reunion. With this geographical scope, the project will investigate five marine basins (Western Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), including one transnational marine basin (i.e. the North Adriatic case) and one transnational river basin (i.e. the Western Scheldt case).

Conversion between electrical and optical signals enabled the use of near-infrared (near-IR) photons for high data rate transmission through optical fibre networks. Likewise, coherent conversion between microwave and optical photons stands as a promising solution to transfer quantum states between remote quantum processors, thus enabling the development of large-scale quantum networks. However, the vast frequency difference between microwave (GHz) and near-IR (200 THz) optical photons hampers direct coherent conversion. This limitation could be circumvented by phonon-mediated transduction, which is a coherent two-step process, comprising electromechanical and optomechanical conversions. On-chip microwave-optical conversion mediated by GHz phonons has the potential to be extremely efficient due to the large optomechanical response of common materials, and the similar wavelength of GHz phonons and near-IR photons. Yet, it is an open challenge to achieve efficient electromechanical and optomechanical conversion simultaneously in a single integrated circuit. State-of-the-art demonstrations show that surface acoustic waves (SAWs) allow efficient electromechanical conversion, while cavity optomechanics utilize tightly confined optical and mechanical modes to yield strong optomechanical coupling. However, combining these two approaches is still considered challenging, if not impossible. The SPRING project will overcome these limitations by developing a fundamentally new optomechanical coupling approach to bridge SAW electromechanics and cavity optomechanics. The original idea is to use subwavelength nanostructuration of silicon cavities to couple tightly confined optical modes and SAWs. The SPRING strategy will be used to demonstrate coherent microwave-optical conversion of single photons and quantum state transfer between superconducting qubits, monolithically integrated in a silicon chip, opening a new path for applications in communications, sensing and computing.

The execution of coordinated and adaptive movements is the final manifestation of virtually all brain processes. Altered motor function is hence an associate feature of almost all conditions that affect the nervous system and is highly debilitating. This program will shed new light on the neuronal basis of movements with a focus on the cooperative roles of the brain and the spinal cord for composing and orchestrating multifaceted and adaptive motor behaviors. Reticulospinal (RS) neurons of the brainstem reticular formation (RF) are pivotal for controlling the most vital movements. They have long been seen as a unified relay of command signals from various integrative centers upstream, to most, if not all, “executory” motor circuits downstream. Yet, based on recent findings and our ongoing work, we posit that RS neurons rather exhibit a substantial diversity and specialization by inputs and outputs that may support a form of selection and mixing of unitary components of composite motor behaviors. Imprinting from the advent of “multi-omics” strategies in the mouse model, we will intersect functional connectomics and single-cell gene expression (the transcriptome) to achieve a most comprehensive characterization of RS neurons’ diversity, specialization, and interactions with their upstream and downstream brain areas. We will first investigate the anatomo-functional organization of an already circumscribed subset of RS neurons for orchestrating orienting motor actions. We will in parallel investigate the role and connectivity of other RS neurons, and provide genetic hallmarks of new functionally-relevant subsets. Our results will propel forward our understanding of the complex organization of the RF, its role in orchestrating composite movements, and its links with the rest of the brain. They will also provide new genetic hallmarks of RS neurons’ diversity which will be precious handles to ultimately examine and act on specific cell types in post-traumatic contexts.

Animal pollinators are vital for life on earth. While human population keeps growing, pollinator populations are dropping, thus threatening food security. In agriculture, the main insect pollinators are bees, by far. The lack of knowledge on how domesticated plants attract and reward bees has hampered the selection of varieties with improved and mutually beneficial crop-pollinator relationships. We propose to investigate flower features, including developmental, morphological and chemical cues, in relation with bee foraging. Elucidating the molecular basis of these processes would not only help sustain yields, but it is key to understand the co-evolution of plants and pollinators. We chose melon as a model system, because it is a strictly entomophilous crop, and because it provides all flower sexual morphs useful to probe plant-insect interactions. ForBees is a multidisciplinary project that integrates molecular genetic analysis and precise phenotyping. First, we will study melon genetic biodiversity with the aim to identify alleles that control nectar-related traits and bee attraction. The comparative analysis of wild accessions, landraces and breeding lines will further test whether domestication led to the loss of useful traits affecting insect visits. Second, we will analyse the gene networks that drive nectar gland development and nectar production. Finally, potential key regulators will be validated genetically. Through this work, we aim to develop a toolbox to tailor the morphology and chemistry of the flowers towards improved bee foraging activities. In addition to research in melon, results from this project, and from previous works, will be translated into neglected crops of the Cucurbitaceae family. These are major food crops in many developing countries, ensuring food security and generating income for poor farmers. Yet, these crops suffer from low fruit set because of partial pollination and would greatly benefit from enhanced breeding tools.

This project will combine for the first time strong light-matter coupling in quantum-confined electronic systems with the optical and electronic non-linearities of semiconductor heterostructures: we will develop device concepts with unique ultra-fast, non-linear and quantum functionalities. The key ingredient is an unconventional use of the strong light-matter coupling regime (SCR), a fascinating concept that is recently transitioning from basic physics to quantum devices. We will first address fundamental physics problems, then we’ll turn to device applications. A key conceptual building block is that the nature of optical non-linearities is radically modified when operating in the SCR. This has profound consequences. We will study few-photon non-linearities, in particular the ultimate case of devices that can “sense” virtual photons. This will lead us to device concepts whose behavior is enabled by vacuum-field photons, bringing us radically beyond the state of art. We will then move to the case of many photons. We will focus on absorption saturation, that explored only in the weak coupling regime, where it is difficult to engineer. We have discovered that in the SCR instead it becomes tailorable and previously unavailable functionalities can be envisioned. This has profound consequences: we will demonstrate semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAM) for the mid-IR spectral range, a technology that revolutionized ultra-fast lasers in the near-IR, but is missing at longer wavelengths. We will apply them to fiber and interband cascade lasers, radically advancing the potential of those sources. These are ground-breaking demonstrations for mid-IR science and technology. SMART-QDEV is a project rooted in fundamental physics research, able to open up new horizons and research opportunities on longer-term and visionary topics. At the same time, SMART-QDEV has a clear vision for applications.

Silicon (Si) photonics stands as a solid candidate to address the scaling challenges of emerging communication systems with an ever-growing number of interconnected devices. However, Si has major physical limitations that prevent on-chip integration of key functions: strong two-photon absorption limiting nonlinear optical devices, Si centrosymmetry preventing fast optical modulation, and an indirect bandgap nature hindering light emission and amplification. The common solution to overcome these limitations is the hybrid integration of various materials on Si, each addressing one specific limitation. However, this strategy requires a dedicated technology for each material to be integrated, which compromises cost and scalability. In this context, the CRYPTONIT project will explore a new paradigm for Si photonics based on the hybrid integration of multifunctional zirconia-based crystalline oxides (c-oxides), providing several physical properties non-existent in Si: strong nonlinearities, ferroelectricity and light amplification. The original idea is to develop hybrid superlattices, comprising multiple nano-scale layers of different c-oxides to combine key optical functionalities, using a common Si-compatible fabrication process. The project will focus on the demonstration of advanced nonlinear and optoelectronic devices on Si, operating in the near-infrared for the development of highly-efficient and broadband photonic integrated circuits. The main objectives are: i) The development of a hybrid Si photonics platform based on multifunctional c-oxide superlattices; ii) The demonstration of high power and broadband frequency comb sources (strong nonlinearities and amplification); and the demonstration of high-speed >100 GHz optical modulators based on Pockels effect (ferroelectricity). These objectives are ground-breaking in nature and will open new horizons for research and applications in communications, sensing, and quantum photonics.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It is essential to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need more and better photovoltacis (PV) to drastically reduce the CO2 emissions. PV will need to be widely distributed to be able to replace the enormous (and growing) amounts of conventional electrical energy. Availability of surface areas allocated to PV, preferably close to the end use of the electricity, will become an issue. Reliability and a high energy yield per area will become important for the success of PV products. Europe presents higher complexity than other regions, because of its limited space and high-density population. Current Silicon technology is basically limited by its single junction (one semiconductor bandgap) to efficiencies below 30%. Multi-junctions/Tandems using more than one semiconductor diode (aiming at different energies in the spectrum) are the demonstrated path to overpass this limit and achieve efficiencies close to 40%, as done for three junctions (3J) on III-V and with 35% achievable by using a Si bottom junction (3J GaInP/GaAs/Si). Two tandems technologies have emerged as promising to upgrade the current Si technology: perovskites/Si and III-V/Si. III-V/Si presents the highest efficiency and stability (20-30years) but two orders of magnitude higher cost. The ATACAMA project will develop the top junction for a III-V/Si tandem (AlGaAs/Si), with a drastic reduction in cost for the III-Vs by (1) ultra-thin absorbers using low-cost nanostructuring and (2) substrate multi-thin-epitaxial enable by a novel epitaxial lift-off process. Furthermore, the III-V/Si tandem has to attain a high efficiency (>30%)(3), that will ensure a cost-effective solution. Nevertheless, the tandem must ensure circularity (recyclable path) to split the Si from the III-V, by gluing with transparent polymers, with a melting point of 200°C, ensuring the possibility of easily recycling in the future the AlGaAs cell from the Si cell.

The impact of climate change is the largest in polar regions, due to multiple feedback loops leading to polar amplification. In Antarctica, short meteorological time series hamper our ability to evaluate the climate variability at interannual and decadal scale, and in particular the one linked with the anthropogenic climate change. It is also not clear though whether climate variability in polar region will increase, despite significant consequences on the global climate system. In this proposal, I will evaluate how climate variability in Antarctica varies for changing climatic conditions, using ice core isotopic composition (δ18O, d-excess and 17O-excess). The objectives of this project are to study the climate variability thanks to a large network of ice core records at high resolution and high precision. A large number of ice cores are available through large European projects (Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice (BE-OI), EAIIST, …) but the analytical platform to measure all this ice at high precision is missing. By implementing the new generation of infrared spectrometer in an ice core measuring line, we will be able to increase both the throughput and precision, and measure triple isotopic composition on a large number of cores and resolve the climate variability in Antarctica.

Meiotic crossovers make us unique. Their distribution along chromosomes dictates which traits will be reassorted to create new and unique allele combinations on which selection can act. Early during meiosis, a large number of recombination interactions are initiated all across the genome, but only a few ultimately mature into crossovers. The final number and positions of crossovers are tightly regulated: along each chromosome, crossovers tend to be evenly spaced. This phenomenon, called crossover interference, was discovered in 1914 by Sturtevant and Morgan while drawing the first recombination map in flies. Emergence of spatial patterning requires communication. But how does the crossover formation machinery communicate with neighboring crossovers half a chromosome away? Our understanding of how this communication is established has been hindered by the limited resolution in time provided by classical cytology, giving us access to only snapshots of the process. In the DYNACO project, I will develop innovative solutions to explore the dynamics of crossover designation and interference. Using gentle live super-resolution microscopy combined with groundbreaking genetic and optogenetic tools in a very amenable system, the filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora, I will address the following questions: (i) How do pro-crossover factors behave dynamically to enact and respond to crossover interference? (ii) What is the medium supporting crossover communication? (iii) What are the consequences of locally disrupting this communication? The DYNACO project will provide fundamental breakthroughs in our understanding of crossover formation, designation and interference. We will confront and reconcile many aspects of current models for crossover interference, and develop our own unified model. This work also has the potential to provide tools for the manipulation of recombination, to accelerate the introgression of selective traits into elite crop genomes.

Liver metastases commonly develop in up to 50% of patients with various cancer types. The most common cancer that metastasizes to the liver is colorectal cancer (CRC). At least 25% of CRC patients develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) during their illness. CRLM represent the major unmet clinical need for this malignancy, as the 5-year survival rate of patients with unresectable disease does not exceed 2%. New therapies that promote antitumor immunity have been recently developed, mostly focusing on enhancing T cell responses. Although these therapies have led to unprecedented successes, only a minority of patients benefit from these treatments, highlighting the need to identify new cells and molecules that could be exploited in next generation immunotherapies. Given the crucial role of innate immune responses in immunity, targeting these responses opens up new possibilities for tumour control. We hypothesize that the immunotherapy of liver metastases can be significantly improved through harnessing the biology of innate lymphoid cells (ILC), such as Natural Killer (NK) cells and ILC1s, and myeloid cells such as macrophages and DCs. Our team brings together experts in the biology of tissue-resident myeloid (Ginhoux, PI4) and lymphoid (Gasteiger, cPI) cells, in liver immunology (Fumagalli, PI3), and in the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies that modulate immune cells in the fight against cancer (Vivier, PI2). By combining cutting-edge single cell and spatial transcriptomics of human patient samples with cross-species analyses in advanced genetic mouse models, we aim (1) to identify cellular interactions defining the metastatic tumor microenvironment across murine and human tissue-specimens, (2) to investigate immune cell functions regulating metastatic disease using a unique combination of advanced genetic mouse and human tissue models, and (3) to harness the anti-tumoral functions of innate immune cells via next generation cell engagers.

There is an urgent medical need for efficient diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, as well as disease modifying treatments, due to the heavy burden of the disease on patients, families and society. To address this public health issue, TAME R&I training network gathers leading academic and industrial experts in tau research with the ambition to keep older people active and independent for longer. TAME aims to provide better understanding of tau-related diseases and supports the development of new, safer, personalised and more effective diagnosis and interventions for AD and the less common tauopathies. The beneficiaries and partners bring together resources and knowledge across different fields and technologies to provide a multidisciplinary approach necessary to take on the challenge. They have teamed-up to combine molecular and cellular neuroscience with computing, chemical and bio-engineering and their technology expertise. The first tau network of Europe, TAME, will focus on novel approaches using nanobodies, which have emerged as very promising antibody formats in tau research. The primary objective of the TAME is to train 9 fellows to deliver the next generation of talented life scientists. The program will be a combination of training in research, in personal and professional development and in open science, achieved by conducting research projects, attending courses and benefiting from internal mobility within TAME. The research training is based on cutting-edge technologies and advanced models for medical research, emphasizing the need for more human-based research, gender-personalised models and reduction in the use of animals. Consequently, through intense collaboration with all partners and the relevant industrial experience, these 9 fellows can anticipate improved career prospects and higher employability. TAME will provide an innovation-friendly framework in which scientific results can mature and be developed into products.

MolCal will contribute to establishing a critical mass of researchers in promising exploratory topics on caloric materials and energy conversion technologies for solid-state cooling and heating applications at near-ambient and very-low temperatures. Temperature control systems are responsible for approximately half of the EU energy consumption expenditure. This figure alone amply justifies the need to dedicate great efforts to the search for alternative refrigeration and heat pump methods. Research on caloric materials has never been as active as it is now, due to the prospect of new-generation refrigerators and heat pumps that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly, on the one hand, and the policies on low-energy consumption and global warming refrigerants, on the other. MolCal presents an approach never tried before in similar collaborative research training programmes. We will consider caloric materials that fall under the umbrella of molecule-based materials and can respond to different sources of the driving stimulus, be it magnetic, electric, and/or mechanical. Since there is no clear-cut consensus on which type of caloric material holds the most promise, this multi-front approach will be an advantage because it will permit transfer of methods already developed from the magnetocaloric subfield into the others, which are increasingly in the spotlight because of their enormous potentiality. Furthermore, MolCal will develop devices based on low-cost barocaloric materials and, due to the molecular characteristics, will progress towards challenging applications by exploring the limits of the smallest size of magnetic refrigerators. Academic and non-academic leaders, from top research institutions in Europe and outside, will expose the doctoral researchers to integrative, multidisciplinary, and multisectoral training in chemistry, materials science, physics, device development, and relevant transversal skills.

Developing the bioeconomy features high on the European policy agenda to tackle societal challenges such as climate change, the phasing out of fossil resources or the advent of the much needed ecological and energy transitions. However, transitioning into an economy based on regionally available biological resources will substantially increase the demand for biomass from forestry and agriculture, and may incur adverse effects on biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions or water resources. Comprehensive, rigorous and transparent assessment procedures are thus required to ensure that the bioeconomy will deliver on its sustainability promise. Assessment methodologies have so far failed to embrace the various dimensions of sustainability and the multiple facets and stakeholders of bioeconomy systems. This lack of an integrated, holistic approach constitutes the key scientific question that DESTINY will address, by developing novel methods and tools as well as demonstrating how they can be mobilised to maximise systems performance in a range of generic value-chain cases-studies. Since such concepts mobilise a number of disciplines from agronomy and engineering to economics, political and social sciences, a novel type of scientist is warranted : the bioeconomist. The DESTINY doctoral network will train this new generation of researchers and practitioners through a multi-disciplinary curriculum, equipping 15 Doctoral Candidates with the knowledge they need to design and assess novel biomass production systems and bio-product value-chains. In their research programme at the crossroads between bioeconomy and sustainability science, these candidates will design sustainable bioeconomy systems for Europe, factoring in social, economic and governance aspects. DESTINY graduates will bridge a well-evidenced gap on the labour market for the bioeconomy and will secure jobs in the agricultural and forestry sectors, the bioeconmy industry, academia, consultancies and governments.

BullNet, consisting of 8 beneficiaries and 13 associated partner organisations, will build a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectorial research programme designed to unravel the complex underlying biology of compromised fertility of individual bulls. Cutting-edge basic, applied and machine-learning approaches will be used to deliver a robust, flexible semen product from young, appropriately reared and managed, first-season elite sires that can be used successfully for artificial insemination (AI) with predictable and consistent fertility, so as to provide the industry with key tools to meet current emissions and animal welfare demands. BullNet will also lead to the advancement of knowledge in how bull management strategies and semen processing affect the functional and molecular characteristics of sperm, thus opening scientific horizons for new applications in the area of assisted reproduction. The overall aim of this programme is to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative doctoral candidates (DCs) in the area of bull fertility. BullNet will expose DCs to different sectors and they will acquire a comprehensive set of transferable skills working in the specific research area relating to their individual research projects, with an emphasis on the need for technology transfer from academic institutions to commercial users. Moreover, given the wide range of academic and industry organisations involved, the DCs will be able to face current and future challenges in order to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic, technological and societal benefit.

The development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has provided an alternative for people with difficulties conceiving naturally, and over 9 million babies have been born through ART since 1978. Moreover, the use of ART has increased dramatically (5.3-fold) during the last two decades and this trend will continue. While ART have undoubtedly made a positive impact on the lives of couples and individuals dealing with infertility, numerous studies reported potentially negative ART-derived effects on the health of offspring. The mechanisms involved and their consequences are poorly understood and there are critical unanswered questions, including whether the manipulations and the artificial environments in which gametes and embryos are cultured, or the increased paternal and maternal age at the time when the treatments are applied entail ART-derived health risks. Thus, there is a growing need to advance research on ART consequences and propose holistic solutions, as well as to develop innovative training programmes to prepare new researchers to deal with such concerns. The AFRODITA (Advancing Fertility and Reproduction thrOugh Dedicated and Innovative Technological Applications) consortium takes up this challenge and aims to implement jointly an innovative international, multi-sectorial, and multidisciplinary research and training programme (Joint Doctorate) by bringing together key scientific staff from the academia (5 European universities and 3 excellent research centres), the largest hospital in Denmark and the corporate world (8 enterprises) with a history of fruitful collaboration, that will guarantee excellent training and effective supervision for AFRODITA’s 15 doctoral candidates to enhance their career opportunities for different professional paths.

CanDoIt will show how a smart multimodal multi-physic sensor array associated with DNA oligonucleotides and their peptide nucleic acid (PNAs) analogues dedicated for liquid biopsies analysis has the potential for more accurate diagnostic and treatment monitoring of BC through the study of cutting-edge technologies in bio/nanomaterials, sensors and transducers design, fluidics systems, and artificial intelligence. The CanDoIt objectives are to: (1) Train the excellent next generation researchers for interdisciplinary careers in basic, applied and especially translational BC research and with “raising awareness” on social issues; (2) Develop cutting-edge technologies for BC diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic response by bringing together eminent experts from both industry and academia, including engineers, computational scientists, chemists, physicists, and clinicians; (3) Pursue key biological targets through intelligent methods, all the way from early stage to preclinical and clinical investigation; (4) In addition to respond to the BC issue, the intelligent biosystems proposed will be a real technological advance (breakthrough), thanks to the association of different transducers to go towards a multimodal platform, the association of structured nanomaterials inspired by living world and an implementation of intelligent algorithms for optimal analysis; (5) Build a high-impact structure ensuring multi-level dissemination and exploitation of all results.

Transformative advances in product formulation are required to meet the demand for sustainability across a wide range of EU-priority industrial areas. Colloidal gels – complex, out-of-equilibrium soft matter systems – are core components in many of the formulations encountered therein, including building materials (e.g., cement), energy materials (e.g., batteries and fuel cells), consumer care and food products, and medicine. Current industrial practice requires delicate balancing between thermodynamic parameters (composition and interactions), quenching kinetics, and processing conditions to achieve gel structures with the desired material performance (e.g., mechanical, thermal, or electrical properties). Without a robust physical understanding of how the microstructure can be controlled and how this links to material properties, this balancing remains limited to trial and error. Recent advances in colloidal-gel physics strongly imply that the rational design of colloidal gel properties is within reach. This design is based on tuning gel microstructure via external stimuli, such as shear, ultrasound, and (magnetic/electric) fields, and the addition of non-Brownian inclusions. The CoCoGel doctoral network will enable the translation from the current academic state of the art to industrial practice, focusing on these routes to controlling microstructure. We will bring together 6 academic and 6 industrial partners – experts in a range of experimental, computational, and theoretical techniques – who can realize the creation of new sustainable materials and production processes via these routes. Key to the success of our industrial doctoral training network is a deepening and extending of existing collaborations, as well as the training of a new generation of researchers with both multi-disciplinary expertise in soft materials and practical experience engaging with industry. These will drive further sustainable development over a wide range of European industries.

A transition towards sustainable food systems is urgently needed to face challenges such as climate change or scarcity of resources. Food impact accounts for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Animal-based food products in the European diet is the most important factor determining the footprint of food consumption. Plant-based dairy and meat alternatives have grown in popularity in recent years for various reasons, including sustainability and health benefits as well as lifestyle trends and dietary restrictions. However, plant-based food products can be nutritionally unbalanced, and their flavour profiles may limit their acceptance by consumers. Microorganisms have been used in making food products for millennia. Besides their primary role in food preservation, by virtue of their fermentative metabolism, they contribute to improving food safety and organoleptic properties and can provide additional health-promoting effects. However, the diversity of microbial communities driving plant-based fermentations, as well as their key genetic and phenotypic traits and potential synergies among community members, remain poorly characterized. Many data exist but they are spread into different literatures (scientific and grey) or in best case in different databases, but not always reusable because difficult to find, access and because databases are not systematically interoperable. The FAIROmics innovative interdisciplinary research programme will gather universities and private companies to enable the FAIRification of omics data and databases interoperability, and develop knowledge graphs for data-driven decision making to rationally design microbial communities for imparting desirable characteristics to plant-based fermented foods in the context of open science and its regulations. The FAIROmics training programme aims at developing Doctoral candidates’ skills at the interface between artificial intelligence, life sciences, humanities and social sciences.

Identity theft is rapidly expanding, causing substantial financial loss to millions of people all around the world. This invisible crime is also widespread across EU countries, where a growing number of citizens is targeted by sophisticated fraudulent attacks each year, both offline and online. 56% of Europeans have experienced at least one type of fraud in the last two years. European security officials speak of an “epidemic” created by a spike in demand from asylum-seekers and from terrorists carrying counterfeit documents to enter the EU. Security documents are increasingly being counterfeited or tampered with by criminals to facilitate transnational crime. The continued vulnerability of different types of identity and travel documents makes it extremely difficult to combat this problem. SafeTravellers value proposition aims at a) strengthening the security at the borders, b) improving the productivity of the Border Authorities and LEAs by providing them with the appropriate tools to combat identity fraud at the hardware, identity and travel document, and biometrics level, while c) offering a frictionless border crossing experience for EU/TCN citizens as they will not have to stop at the border checkpoints. SafeTravellers is both proposing a new way of citizen identification based on multiple biometrics instead of the problematic identity document, as well as an enhancement of the current way of identity verification at the borders through a set of tools that will detect attacks at the biometric hardware, identity and travel document fraud and attempts to falsify biometrics. The proposed solution is GDPR compliant and introduces various privacy-preserving mechanisms to safeguard the citizens' rights. Through the distributed European Multi-Biometric Data Space offered by SafeTravellers, each Member State will keep in its jurisdiction the personal data of its country nationals while allowing cross-border identity checks without transferring or revealing any biometric data.

Accurate and reliable analyses of medical images have become a key step to determine the presence or severity of diseases, directly impacting the clinical care for patients. Among the numerous and various biomedical image analysis, the identification of blood vessels and the associated vascular trees is one of the most central topics for diagnosis of the coronary, lungs, liver, or retina, which require detection methods to assist physicians. Many such methods show intrinsic limitations due to the required pre-processing of the images, to the approach used, e.g. limited training databases, etc. Complex filamentary patterns, such as the vascular trees, are common and widely observed in geology, astrophysics, etc. In astrophysics, elongated structures made of the alignment of galaxies, called filaments of the cosmic web (CW), reveal the nature of matter in the Universe and the way it assembles over the ~14 billion years’ history of the cosmos. For these reasons, detecting CW filaments and studying them is an increasingly important topic in astrophysics and is one of the aims of the ERC-Advanced project ByoPiC (Baryon Picture of the Cosmos). This proposal is a direct offspring of ByoPiC. It is the first step of a multi-step technology transfer strategy which aims at transferring an innovative algorithm to detect filaments in the distribution of galaxies to the analysis of biomedical images, laying the ground for applications in scores of other domains, e.g., satellite imagery, geophysical tomographic data, engineering, etc.

The ocean absorbs 90% of the heat associated with global warming and 30% of anthropogenic CO2. How such tracers are accumulated and redistributed within the turbulent ocean is a central issue of long-term climate prediction. The challenge stems from the existence of ocean mesoscale eddies: turbulent vortices tens of kilometers wide that are not resolved by climate models despite being key contributors to ocean transport. In the absence of a better theory, the associated transport is parameterized in global models using ad hoc coefficients with arbitrary depth dependence. The present project will improve upon this unsatisfactory state of the art. Based on a multi-method approach combining theory, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations and satellite data analysis I will derive a physically-based parameterization for turbulent transport in the 3D ocean. The derivation hinges on my recent quantitative theoretical advances for the magnitude and 3D structure of turbulent transport in the canonical models of oceans and atmospheres (the Charney, Eady and Phillips models): - I will augment these theories by including the additional physical ingredients of the real ocean: bottom slope, arbitrary large-scale flow and density stratification, etc. - I will determine the frictional dissipation on the ocean floor by combining rotating-platform laboratory experiments with 3D-printed realistic ocean-floor topography. - I will infer transport and bottom friction independently through the combination of satellite and profiler data. - I will derive the resulting parameterization using multiple-scale expansion before implementing it in a state-of-the-art climate model. As opposed to the current practice of adjusting transport coefficients to the current state of the ocean, the physically-based parameterization will remain valid in a warming climate, a necessary condition both for paleoclimate studies and for reliable climate forecast over the coming centuries to millennia.

Artificial intelligence is a pervasive and ubiquitous technology, with fast developments and ever-growing applicative horizons. While achieving outstanding results, estimating the decisions’ reliability is a critical and open problem with strategic outcomes: from estimating uncertainty in numerical simulations to harnessing system reactions in open environments. Uncertainties both in input data and model output should be handled to increase the confidence in AI applications : physics-based models, edge computing, data frugal approaches, interactions with humans, with many applications in energy, climate change adaptation, bioinformatics, engineering, fundamental and material science,… DeMythif.IA is an international doctoral training and career development program driven by UPSaclay, and its 19 research and industrial partners supported by thematic networks to enhance the scientific excellence and career development of 30 PhD fellows in Greater Paris area. The program focuses on 3 interdisciplinary scientific axes 1) handling uncertainties on data and model and quantifying uncertainties on the predictions, 2) managing explainability, so that the trained model outcome can be trusted and explained to a human, and 3) encouraging frugality, both in term of labelled data and energy for training, so that real-life applications (as opposed to proofs-of-concept) emerge. The fellows will benefit from world-class scientific programs, quality supervision and industrial secondments and also from personalized career development activities and transferable skills training (interpersonal, communication, digital, entrepreneurship, open science, gender, ethics). DeMythif.AI’s strength lies in its diversity permitting to fine-tune the content offered to the fellows from a professional perspective. It ultimately allows concretizing dynamic research collaborations and developing strong synergies around the academic and industrial community, opening new perspectives beyond the project.

High resolution optical spectroscopy in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range (3-12 µm wavelength) is an unambiguous way to detect and quantify small traces of greenhouse and toxic gases down to sensitivities of parts-per-billion. Such sensitivities are a prerequisite to safeguard low-pollution and toxic-free environment defined by the EU Action Plan: "Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil.” However, size, cost, and general complexity of the commercially available instruments limits their use to a small number of highly specialized applications, and prevents their deployment with sufficient coverage e.g. in networks, wearable electronics, etc. Particularly in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, on chip integration of spectroscopic systems would constitute a game changer for mid-IR high-precision and portable sensors. The objective of UNISON is to address this challenge and demonstrate a highly scalable platform for infra-red spectroscopy that has both high-end performance and is compact. UNISON sensing scheme relies on dual comb spectrometers obtained by leveraging on electrically pumped cascade lasers (QCL and ICL) and on silicon-germanium (SiGe) mid-IR photonic circuits to surpass current spectroscopic systems in terms of detection bandwidth, point spacing and system compactness. UNISON is organized around 3 main cornerstones each of them relying on ambitious physical and technological challenges: (i) tunable large bandwidth frequency combs will be generated on SiGe photonics circuits by combining electro-optical comb generation, non-linear effects and dispersion engineering ; (ii) the comb sources will be pumped by novel electrically-driven cascade laser sources integrated with the SiGe photonics circuits ; (iii) compact, broadband, and sensitive interaction region for trace gas detection, designed and optimized for the SiGe platform, will be integrated with the dual comb source to showcase the sensing capability of the spectrometer.

The MaxImmun project aims at preventing and treating infections, and situations of conflict between the host and its microbiota, by developing a disruptive technology based on molecules that boost antimicrobial peptides (AMP) of the innate immune system. To face the problem of antibiotic resistance, this high-potential technology may be relevant both in situations of endemic infections in the developing world, and infectious or inflammatory pathologies in industrialized countries. Our objective is to establish the proof-of-concept that among a series of hit molecules identified for their capacity to promote AMPs, a small subgroup may qualify to lead molecules that can then be pushed into the late phases of the R&D pipeline, with the perspective of a phase I clinical trial. To achieve this transition, our project will range from the comprehension of microbial mechanisms leading to antibiotic resistance, to the comprehension of AMP regulations, the identification of molecules and their optimization by medicinal chemistry, and the characterization and evaluation of their protective efficacy in pre-clinical validation models. Thus, we expect to develop innovative molecules as future antimicrobial drug candidates.

It has become increasingly clear that the European Union’s manufacturers largely rely on microelectronics components from outside the EU that make them vulnerable to materials supply bottlenecks. To support EU’s high-tech development and enhance its industrial sovereignty, novel technologies engaging radically new concepts are required such as, but not limited to, spin-based electronics. Crucially, these novel technologies must also demonstrate sustainability and resilience to material supply chain interruptions, while at the same time reducing the environmental footprint of this growing sector. OBELIX will contribute to this strategic effort by a twofold paradigm shift: (i) harnessing the orbital degree of freedom shall bring disruptive solutions to existing spin-based technologies, reducing power consumption and (ii) opening entirely new avenues for devices that do not require any heavy metals that are sourced outside EU and are often detrimental to the environment. OBELIX will demonstrate how the orbital moment can be engineered and controlled using electrical as well as optical means, enabling thus a novel information carrier that can be transmitted and used to write and read information thus outperforming conventional spin-based devices.

The new technology envisioned in CIRCULIGHT will establish a breakthrough in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) capabilities, with impact across a wide range of applications of high economic and societal value. It will lay the foundations of a new class of PICs which are highly functional, miniaturized and low power-consuming, as well as being manufacturable at low cost, thereby contributing significantly to environmental protection and related quality of life. The essential building block that will be created in this project is a truly integrated optical circulator, which protects active and passive integrated functions from each other, distributes light between them, and finally allows very large scale integration of photonic components within diversified PIC architectures. The practical realization of such a structure will be a world-first and a breakthrough in PIC technology. CIRCULIGHT technological decisive progress is based on magneto-optical (MO) nanoparticle-composite sol-gel material and on magneto-biplasmonic (MBP) effect, which will enable the monolithic insertion of circulators on any photonic platform. Within the project, a demonstration will be made on two of them, based on InP and Si respectively, operating at 1.3 or 1.5 µm. While PIC foundries rely on specific and independent technologies, our solution will bypass these specificities, thanks to a universal integration of functional materials. In addition, our interdisciplinary approach is based on the analysis of real world needs, feeding the co-creation of an exploitation roadmap together with end users, industrial and societal stakeholders, in preparation for the scaling up of our technology developments to transform society for the better. To reach these objectives, our consortium of nine partners encompasses competencies in material sciences, photonics, plasmonics, PICs technology and social science, and includes two SMEs.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in Europe. Pancreatic (PC) and biliary tract (BTC) cancer are rare gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas with an increasing incidence particularly among the elderly and women in an ageing European population, and a poor prognosis poses major clinical challenges and public health burden. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has shown potential regressing various cancer types in the laboratory setting. Owing to their properties, CAP is a unique source of high concentrations of reactive radicals, electrons, ions, UV etc. that may induce various effects in living tissue. CAP has shown selectivity in where cancer cells are treated with minimal effect to healthy ones; this renders plasma suitable to treat carcinomas in very sensitive areas or organs where an unmet need to minimise damage/side-effects exists. CAP can be delivered through dielectric tubes of variable length, which makes it ideal for minimally invasive and precise laparoscopic and endoscopic operations. Despite the great promise and potential of this concept, there is no single laparoscopic or endoscopic medical platform in the market today based on CAP to treat carcinomas. This project proposes a novel solution using cutting-edge plasma technology, in-silico models, and a system-level approach. It will combine plasma with tumour multiscale simulations and will take input from pre-surgery diagnostics for in-silico model initialisation and CAP operational window determination. The developed technology will be demonstrated through in-vivo experiments, while the foundations for clinical trials and market introduction for CAP-based care of PC/BTCs will be laid out in this project.

We aim at realizing a novel class of high-temperature Josephson junctions (JJs) that behave as artificial neurons and synapses. These JJs will enable a new neuromorphic computing paradigm, in which neural networks are much faster, more energy efficient and compact than with non-superconducting approaches, and possess novel capabilities (combined sensitivity to light, magnetic and electric fields). Via these rupture ingredients, JOSEPHINE will dramatically enhance the impact of neuromorphics on its broad range of projected applications: from artificial intelligence (where it would allow supercomputer-level processors at a fraction of the environmental cost) to the control of autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things, and novel medical applications. That constitutes the long-term vision for the science we propose. To reach that goal, we will use different strategies to realize high-Tc Josephson junctions whose weak-links are active and can be changed "in operando" by external stimuli. Those strategies include "weak links" modified by a nanoscale redox reaction, by the motion of domain walls in a ferromagnet, or by locally doping a graphene or a 2D semiconductor. Once realized, these JJs will be implemented and tested in neural networks to demonstrate their performance and their transformative effect on neuromorphics. The proposed strategy exploits recent breakthrough results of the partners (physical effects that will be implemented) and synergizes their complementary expertise via a multidisciplinary approach that marries traditionally distant disciplines: neural network engineering, superconducting electronics, and various facets of solid-state physics (superconductivity, magnetism, Dirac materials, and electrochemistry).

Since the establishment of EATRIS as an ERIC in 2014, the infrastructure has developed a growing portfolio of services and collaborative projects serving several user groups including industry (large pharma and SME), academia, research funders and patients. EATRIS has progressed from proposing a strong proof of concept service portfolio, to building and delivering innovative tools for translational research and is now advancing its strategy to further exploit these tools for the extended research and innovation community. EATRIS-CONNECT will accelerate this strategy by focusing specifically on advancing the digital readiness of EATRIS to support biomedical challenges in Europe and provide translational solutions for the benefit of personalised medicine. Through curated access to novel digital tools and services, as well as node strengthening, EATRIS-CONNECT will equip EATRIS across the entire distributed research infrastructure to address bottlenecks and challenges for the application of digital solutions in the context of use. Moreover, the project will ensure this digital transformation is environmentally sound by improving energy, resource, and material efficiency, supporting the environmental goals of the European Green Deal. The project will promote the cross-border alignment in the adoption and application of digital tools and help consolidate the European RI landscape by fostering interdisciplinary collaborations between cross-sector RI and exploring how RI can together unlock innovation in the digital domain. EATRIS-CONNECT will provide the pathway for the evolution of EATRIS. All 14 national EATRIS nodes form the central pillar of EATRIS-CONNECT, facilitating the alignment of strategic national priorities across the infrastructure and empowering EATRIS widening nodes to strengthen their digital competencies, ultimately ensuring the long-term sustainability of EATRIS.

Research in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology is vital for sustainability globally: advancement in nanoscience and nanotechnology cannot be achieved without using research infrastructures (RI). RIANA encompasses 7 European networks of top-level RIs to cover the most advanced techniques relevant for synthesis, nanofabrication, processing, characterization, analytics, as well as simulation capacity. Highly customised and efficient access to 69 infrastructures is coordinated via a single-entry point and enabled through comprehensive Science and Innovation Service by senior scientists, experts for the transfer of technology from academia to industry, and highly trained Junior Scientists. The Junior Scientist boost RI experience to an entirely new level: they provide customised Science Service supporting users from initial ideas to hands-on experiments, data analysis and dissemination of results to generate the greatest impact from access to world-class RI. This core of RIANA is aligned to attract experienced and new users from academia or industry making their promising ideas a success and push them to higher TRL. RIANA is flexible to upcoming emergent scientific topics and needs: together with stakeholders from the nanocommunity, RIANA implements the opportunity to offer flexible access to additional infrastructures in, and even outside of Europe beyond the current consortium, and to direct the Science Service towards evolving user needs via additional specialised Junior Scientists. Based on the four years of experience, the RIANA consortium will develop a roadmap for the future of the nanoscience and nanotechnology at European RIs.

The Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) is a fully operational European Landmark research infrastructure providing standardised high-precision observations on greenhouse gases and their fluxes. The ICOS infrastructure is currently covering 16 countries with 170 stations. In this project, we will work with new users for ICOS data from satellite and modeling communities and prepare products for policymakers. We are improving sustainability of ICOS by streamlining the data pipelines and strengthening the community engagement including new members. In addition to data, ICOS is producing protocols and processes, which are now needed for the global greenhouse gases (GHG) initiative coordinated by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), thus strengthening the European leadership in it. NUBICOS will focus on four specific objectives: 1. The cooperation between ICOS and the remote sensing community will be deepened. 2. The value chain from observations to climate services will be improved. 3. The internal engagement of ICOS and the identity of the ICOS community will be strengthened. 4. The global cooperation of ICOS, particularly in the WMO framework, will be intensified.

ELIXIR unites Europe’s leading life science organisations in managing and safeguarding the increasing volume of data being generated by publicly funded research. It coordinates, integrates and sustains bioinformatics resources across its 23 Nodes. ELIXIR enables users in academia and industry to access services (databases, software, training, standards, compute) provided through national Nodes. ELIXIR is the ESFRI Landmark for life science data and plays a unique role in the landscape, with millions of users globally, supporting the digital-needs of other ESFRIs and Horizon Europe research projects. Increasingly, life-science data is held at national and institutional centres. Thus, large-scale data analytics requires that researchers can find and analyse data distributed across Europe. The purpose of ELIXIR-STEERS is to build capacity for large-scale, cross-border data analysis and for this capacity to be embedded across member states. ELIXIR-STEERS directly benefit Europe’s life scientists by allowing software and workflows to meet requirements of those using them in national centres. A ‘robust, reproducible and green’ approach to software and workflow provision will ensure that scientists have access to high quality, energy-efficient analysis tools. The project will also develop the crediting and recognition systems for software, supporting improvements to research assessment frameworks. Further, ELIXIR-STEERS supports ELIXIR’s long-term operations by addressing the recommendations of the European Commission and ESFRI on the long-term sustainability of research infrastructures. It will strengthen the operational excellence of ELIXIR’s Nodes; support the training and development of professional and scientific staff in ELIXIR Nodes; expand the membership of ELIXIR to new countries, especially widening countries; enable international collaborations in particular with Latin America and Africa; and stimulate innovation and industry engagement.

ENVRI-Hub NEXT develops and implements the open access hub to the data and services provision framework of the Cluster of Environmental Research Infrastructures (ENVRI) and connects the environmental research community to the European Open Science Cloud. The overarching goal of ENVRI-Hub NEXT is to consolidate and advance the robust conceptual and technical structure established by the ENVRI-Hub to empower the ENVRI Science Cluster to provide interdisciplinary data-driven services. These services will support climate change research, including the development of mitigation and adaptation measures and strategies, and the assessment of the climate change risks. Through this platform, ENVRI-Hub NEXT will facilitate the integration of the environmental sciences community into EOSC, guided by the concept of Essential Climate Variables. In direct answer to the Call Topic, ENVRI-Hub NEXT expands the frontiers of multidisciplinary environmental sciences by fostering operational synergies between ENVRI RIs and developing and utilising complementarities in their data and services provision. The joint forces of ENVRI and e-infrastructures allow for the integration of cutting-edge information technology, alignment with the EOSC architecture, and efficient resource allocation for the advancement of a more integrated, productive, and globally competitive ENVRI Science Cluster. The ENVRI-Hub NEXT consortium brings together the key ESFRI Landmarks (ACTRIS, AnaEE ERIC, EPOS ERIC, EuroArgo ERIC, IAGOS AISBL, ICOS ERIC, LifeWatch ERIC) and ESFRI Projects (eLTER) participating in ENVRI-FAIR, the ENVRI information technology development and support providers from the University of Amsterdam, SeaDataNet as the key marine data infrastructure, FMI for the close relationship to EOSC Association and stakeholders, and the EGI Foundation and members of the EGI Federation to implement the operation of the services and the integration with EOSC Core.

Adaptation to climate change requires in-depth understanding of climate change driven risks, including their determinants (hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities) and impacts to human, production and natural systems. Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change Risks (IRISCC) is a consortium of diverse and complementary leading research infrastructures (RIs) covering disciplines from natural sciences to social sciences, across different domains and sectors. IRISCC provides scientific and knowledge services to foster cutting-edge research and evidence-based policymaking to improve Europe's resilience to climate change. IRISCC ensures a “one-stop-shop” for various user communities on climate change risk related RI services by setting up a dedicated Catalogue of services and related access management system both for granting transnational (onsite and remote) and offering virtual access. The Catalogue of services will be built through three consecutive releases, each delivering increasingly integrated services to its user communities. The IRISCC service integration will include Service Design Labs employing co-design and transdisciplinary action, and Service Demonstrators benchmarking the integrated cross-RI services. In addition to services aimed towards the scientific community, IRISCC will offer knowledge services aimed towards policymakers and other stakeholders. This is done together with risk management platforms. The research enabled by IRISCC contributes to future reports on climate change effects (IPCC, IPBES) as well as policy- and decision-making to meet the targets of climate adaptation strategies. IRISCC contributes to training a new generation of scientists to efficiently use RI services and for data stewardship. Data from IRISCC will be open and made available in compliance with FAIR principles and linked to European initiatives such as EOSC. Strong links will be created between IRISCC and current and future efforts under Horizon Europe.

ENVRINNOV will co-design, test, and validate a common Innovation Roadmap for the European Environmental and Earth System Research Infrastructures (ENVRI) community. This Roadmap will set a credible pathway for the ENVRI community to establish and operate an ENVRI Innovation Hub (EIH), for the future development of new state-of-the-art technologies and services. The project will also develop the tools, policies, and community necessary for the Roadmap’s successful implementation. To achieve this, ENVRINNOV will: i) Conduct a comprehensive analysis of ENVRI services and technological needs & gaps, and define how to monitor them regularly. ii) Define, digitalize, and promote the uptake of common ENVRI innovation strategies for new technologies/services development to meet emerging needs/gaps. This will be done by defining and testing innovation co-creation mechanisms between ENVRIs, industry and the scientific community and shaping them into common policies. The project will also develop an ENVRI innovation capacity-building programme, a digital platform to enable them, and an uptake strategy to promote them. iii) Engage the ESFRI and R&I environment ecosystems to ensure long-term synergies and complementarities with ENVRI and gather feedback and support for the Roadmap. Finally, the project will plan for the timely and realistic implementation of the Roadmap, by also creating and validating with the ENVRI community an implementation plan, governance model and business model for the EIH. ENVRINNOV’s approach supports ESFRI’s strategic objective to “accelerate the exploitation of EU RIs as knowledge & innovation hubs”. It will help strengthen the European response to the climate crisis and its associated scientific, societal and economic challenges, by increasing the capacity of ENVRIs to respond to them. It will contribute to a more effective EU RI landscape, and support better integration across thematic areas and with the EU Technology Infrastructure landscape

Particle accelerators have become essential instruments to improve our health, the environment, our safety, and our high-tech abilities, as well as to unlock new fundamental insights in physics, chemistry, biology, and generally enable scientific breakthroughs that improve our lives. Accelerating particles to higher energies will always require a large amount of energy. In a society where energy sustainability is critical, keeping energy consumption as low as reasonable possible is an unavoidable challenge for both research infrastructures (RIs) and industry, which collectively operate over 40,000 accelerators. Based on state-of-the-art technology, the portfolio of current and future accelerator-driven RIs in Europe could develop to consume up to 1% of Germany's annual electricity demand. With the ambition to maintain the attractiveness and competitiveness of European RIs and to enable Europe’s Green Deal, we propose to Innovate for Sustainable Accelerating Systems (iSAS) by establishing enhanced collaboration in the field to broaden, expedite and amplify the development and impact of novel energy-saving technologies to accelerate particles. For many frontier accelerators superconducting RF (SRF) systems are the enabling technology. iSAS will innovate those technologies that have been identified as being a common core of SRF accelerating systems and that have the largest leverage for energy savings to minimize the intrinsic energy consumption in all phases of operation. In the landscape of accelerator-driven RIs, solutions are being developed to reuse the waste heat produced, to develop energy-efficient magnets and to operate facilities on opportunistic schedules when energy is available. The iSAS project has a complementary focus on the energy efficiency of the SRF accelerating technologies. This will contribute to the vital transition to sustain the tremendous 20th century applications of the accelerator technology in a green and energy conscious 21st century.

Lasers4EU is incorporating the major laser research infrastructures, in a large number of European member states, into a comprehensive virtual distributed laser research infrastructure that is offering to a broad user community, from academia and industry, access to an exceptional portfolio of technical and scientific capabilities. This unique set of instruments together with the specific scientific expertise at the host facilities allows Lasers4EU users to carry out high-level research in an extremely wide range of high-impact topics in life sciences, materials nano-processing, etc. Laser technology has experienced remarkable advances and breakthroughs and is now a key innovation driver for highly diversified societal applications and products, thereby substantially contributing to economic growth and to solving challenges in the areas of health, environment and energy. Through its strategic approach, Lasers4EU aims to strengthen Europe’s leading position and competitiveness. It facilitates long-term coordination of the laser research activities within the European Research Area and provides concerted and efficient services to scientific, industrial and medical researchers. The main objectives of Lasers4EU are to: • provide coordinated access to high-quality services based on a coherent and comprehensive consortium of 27 leading European laser installations offering to users from academia as well as from industry cutting-edge performances at the forefront of the laser technologies, • structure the European landscape of laser Research Infrastructure through enhanced access, extended geographical coverage, novel science diplomacy activities, improved synergies with other European networks and projects, • increase European human resources in the field of laser science by implementing training activities towards researchers from new domains of science and technology and from geographical regions where laser communities are still less developed.

Terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems are being challenged by global changes, and threats to agricultural and forestry ecosystems represent some of the most serious environmental and socio-economic menaces that the planet and humanity are facing. Climate change (CG) is widely recognised as one of the most impactful global changes, and since it goes hand-by-hand with biodiversity and services loss in terrestrial ecosystems, they should be tackled together. Microbes constitute the life support system of the biosphere, but they are its most overlooked fraction and are not considered in the context of CG. The overall understanding of the impact of CG on the assembly and functions of microbiomes is still very limited. How the complex microbes-plants-soil interactions and its consequences on plant performance and productivity are impacted by CG is still largely unknown. Additional knowledge also needs to be obtained on the overall ecosystem functioning, and to what extent microbiomes may mitigate stress conditions due to CG. The project MICROBES-4-CLIMATE will provide a wider community of users/researchers, irrespective of location, efficient access to a cluster of complementary world-class Research Infrastructures and their integrated, advanced services along with training and scientific and/or technical support, to address such need. An excellence-driven programme of Transnational Access, which is at the core of the project, will enable users to conduct curiosity-driven research addressing terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems, in light of the abovementioned multidimensional and still poorly understood microbiomes-plants-soil-environment interactions, and its roles in CG responses, resilience, and mitigation. This will foster the advancement of frontier knowledge and also pave the way to applied research on harnessing plant-microbiome interactions to improve the climate resiliency of plants/crops and to enable e.g., precision, sustainable and resilient agriculture.

The goal of CARGO-ACT is to deliver a clear roadmap for sustainable global cooperation between key ground-based aerosol, cloud and trace gas research infrastructures, each having invested in infrastructure and services to support their observing networks with a long-term perspective, with a view to consolidating into a sustainable global research infrastructure in the future. There is a strong desire for global integration from the research community, including weather, climate, and air quality monitoring and modelling, and in particular from space agencies, since global networks of ground-based observations are an essential component complementing Earth Observation from space, providing calibration and validation of the remote sensing information collected by current and future satellite missions. The integration of the current ground-based networks, which may have different interests and priorities, requires cooperation and agreements at the global level, including engagement with relevant stakeholders. Their service provision is not limited to data services, but includes access to the measurement facilities, reference instruments, reference standards and laboratories, all of which are topics to be assessed in CARGO-ACT. The specific objectives of CARGO-ACT are to, develop sustainable partnerships and decision making processes with relevant partners, demonstrate the benefits of converging interoperability and standards to stakeholders and the global research community, establish the mechanisms for providing international access to distributed research infrastructures and develop a roadmap for upscaling towards an integrated global research infrastructure for aerosol, cloud and trace gases.

Europe’s rural and urban areas are facing increasing negative impacts from climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use, and an increasing disconnect between citizens from urban and rural areas. These megatrends threaten the sustainability of urban development and associated food systems. Throughout Europe’s cities, different types of urban farming, such as gardens, rooftop or vertical farming, have emerged which could provide impactful responses to these megatrends. Policy-makers and practitioners urgently need knowledge on the benefits, impacts and risks of urban farming, to help them shape policy and legal frameworks that can foster benefits and mitigate risks of urban farming. FOODCITYBOOST will develop a knowledge-based decision-support tool, consisting of (i) evidence-based indicators of environmental, social and economic performance and impacts of urban farming at farm, regional and EU scale and providing (ii) guidance on policy instruments that foster the development of urban farming. The future potential of urban farming will be assessed in foresight analysis and scenario analysis, as well as development and prototyping of novel forms of urban farming. FOODCITYBOOST will closely collaborate with >100 stakeholders from 6 case studies, using an approach based on the idea of living labs. This allows us to learn from regions throughout Europe where urban farming thrives and is supported by regional policies. FOODCITYBOOST brings together expertise on social science and humanities, land systems, urban farming, and life cycle assessment, to expand the knowledge base on urban farming from an integrated perspective. We connect to the EFUA and NEW BAUHAUS initiatives to best take stock of recent insights, which allows us to stimulate the development of a varied landscape of urban farming that optimally fulfils the needs of communities and minimises negative impacts and risks.