Section: Partnerships and Cooperations

National initiatives

National programmes

• ANR-GeMCo: The objective of this project is to do model reduction, experimental validation, and control for the gene expression machinery in E. coli. The project is coordinated by M. Chaves (BIOCORE, Inria)

• ANR-Symbiose: The objective of this project is both to improve the energetic balance of biofuel microalgal productions and to recycle nitrogen and phosphorus. The project proposes to study the coupling between a microalgal production system and an anaerobic digester. The objectives of BIOCORE are to propose a model of the coupled system, and to compute the optimal fluxes between the various compartments in order to optimize the energy recovery. See http://anr-symbiose.org/

• ANR-Facteur 4: The objective of this project to propose non GMO strains of microalgae with enhanced performance. BIOCORE is involved in the directed selection of microalgae with interesting properties from an industrial point of view. The theory of competition is used to give a competitive advantage to some species. This competitive advantage can be provided by an online closed loop controller.

• RESET: The objective of this project is to control the growth of E. coli cells in a precise way, by arresting and restarting the gene expression machinery of the bacteria in an efficient manner directed at improving product yield and productivity. RESET is an “Investissements d'Avenir” project in Bioinformatics (managed by ANR) and it is coordinated by H. de Jong (Ibis, Inria)

• FUI-Salinalgue: The objective of this project is to take benefit of endemic microalgae species in areas of high salinity (previously used to produce salt) to produce both biofuel (either lipid based or methane) and co-products. BIOCORE is in charge of lab scale experiments and of the modeling of the process.

• Green Stars: Green Stars was laureate of the French call for projects known as the “French Stimulus Initiative” (Investissements d’Avenir), Institute of Excellence on Carbon-Free Energies. It federates a network of collaborative platforms bringing together all the players in the development of micro-algae in France. The Institute includes 45 partners, including academics, large companies and SME. BIOCORE plays a key role in the project set up.

Inria funding

• ColAge: The goal of this joint Inria-INSERM consortium is to study bacterial growth and aging by using mathematical modeling and computational predictions to design and implement a de novo biological system. This Large-Scale Initiative Action is partly funded by Inria and supervised by H. Berry (Beagle, Inria).

• Nautilus: O. Bernard is coordinating the Inria-Nautilus ARC whose objective is to understand and model the coupling between hydrodynamics and microalgae photosynthesis.

INRA funding

• Eco-tuta: INRA-SPE is funding the project “Ecologie des communautés dans les agro-écosystèmes et implications pour la lutte biologique contre une espèce invasive: le cas Tuta absoluta sur tomate" in which BIOCORE is a partner with INRA Sophia Antipolis (2010-2012).

• Propagules: INRA-SPE is funding the project “Effet de différentes composantes de la pression de propagules sur le succès d’établissement d’un auxiliaire de lutte biologique" in which BIOCORE is a partner with INRA Sophia Antipolis (2011-2013).

• Dynamique spatiale: INRA-SPE is funding the project “Intégration des approches comportementales et démographiques de la dynamique spatiale des populations d’insectes” in which Biocore is a partner with INRA Sophia Antipolis and Agrocampus Ouest (2012-2014).

• Metacarpe: This INRA SPE-GAP-EFPA-EA project (call “Gestion durable des résistances des bio-agresseurs”) is entitled “Modélisation de l'évolution des traits d'histoire de vie en lien avec l'agressivité des champignons parasites biotrophes : application au pathosystème rouille-peuplier”. BIOCORE is taking part with CIRAD, INRA Sophia Antipolis, Nancy and Rennes (2010-2012).

Networks

• RTP-M3D: BIOCORE is a participant in the RTP-M3D workgroup (Mathématiques et décision pour le développement durable) that is supported by the “Environment and sustainable growth” department of CNRS. L. Mailleret is one of the co-leaders of M3D.

• GDR PROBBE: The objective of this GDR is the development of new biotechnological processes based on microorganisms producing metabolites which can be used as fuel for transportation (lipids, sugars, methane, hydrogen, ...). BIOCORE is taking part mainly in the modeling and control aspects of the processes involving anaerobic bacteria or microalgae.

• COREV: BIOCORE is an active participant in the research group COREV (Modèles et théories pour le contrôle de ressources vivantes et la gestion de systèmes écologiques).

• Seminar: BIOCORE organizes a regular seminar “Modeling and control of ecosystems” at the station zoologique of Villefranche-sur-Mer or at Inria.