With more than 5300 exoplanets detected so far, it is clear that planet formation is a robust and efficient process. The current population of known exoplanets exhibits a wide diversity, both in nature (mass, radius) and in architecture: while giant planets can be found at large separations, the most common type of exoplanetary systems revealed by Kepler transits consist of chains of low-mass planets, super-Earths and mini-Neptunes, located close to their host stars. To understand the origin of this diversity, we need to explore the birth environment of the planets, namely the planet-forming protoplanetary disks, and to investigate their structure and evolution on both local and global scales. While considerable progress has recently been made in probing the disks on large scales (a few tens of astronomical units, au), little is known about the innermost regions (less than a few au). The IRYSS (Innermost Regions of Young Stellar Systems) project aims at deciphering the processes at play in the innermost regions of protoplanetary disks (PPDs). For the first time, we will provide a statistical view of the inner parts of a large sample of PPDs, thus bringing to light the main missing piece in our understanding of planet formation. The project builds on the unique synergy between the observational approaches developed by the partners, IPAG and IRAP, on national Research Infrastructures such as ESO/VLTI (with the PIONIER and GRAVITY interferometric instruments, largely developed at IPAG) and CFHT (with the ESPaDOnS and SPIRou spectropolarimeters, both developed at IRAP), in combination with the development of advanced physical models of the inner disk edge and of the accretion flows onto the central star. Benefiting from these world-class facilities, which are at the heart of the orientations of the call, we will conduct a multi-wavelength, multi-technique, and multi-scale investigation of the inner disk regions in a few tens of young stellar systems. We will explore the initial and environmental conditions that prevail at the time of planet formation by addressing three intrinsically interconnected pillars: 1) the morphological (asymmetry, vortex, dead zone) and physical (temperature, density) properties of the innermost scales of the protoplanetary disk, by spatially resolving at the sub-au level the near- and mid-infrared continuum emission with interferometry; 2) the magnetic star-disk interaction region, extending over a few stellar radii, and whose outer edge is thought to be the place where inwards migrating planets pile up, with spectropolarimetric observations and Zeeman-Doppler Imaging to derive the magnetic field topology and strength; 3) the dynamical timescales of the physical processes from a few days to months, by monitoring the variability of both the magnetic topology and the small-scale disk features. The combined analysis of these data sets arising from these two state-of-the-art observational techniques will put the world-leading French experts in a unique position to provide the stellar and exoplanet communities with legacy databases of magnetic maps, line profiles, inner rim positions and disk substructures. These are the key ingredients to relate the magnetic properties of young stars to the structure of their inner disk, and to investigate their evolution over periods as long as 10 years for some emblematic objects. As such, this legacy will provide access to a detailed overview of the innermost regions of nascent stellar systems and their disks where close-in planets form. Our team has access to all the ESO and CFHT Large Program and Guarantee Time observations to be exploited in the IRYSS project, and has developed during previous ERC-funded grants cutting-edge analysis and modeling tools required for their interpretation. We therefore gather the optimal expertise to yield major advances in this competitive field, supported by the appropriate workforce provided by this specific and quite timely ANR call.

The objective of LabCom RT-Twin is to improve the work in the field of Earth observation (i.e., remote sensing), such as the preparation of space missions and the exploitation of measurements from existing observation systems. The approach is based on the physical modelling of remote sensing measurements, in particular with the three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer (RT) model DART (https://dart.omp.eu) developed at CESBIO. DART has now reached a level that allows accurate and efficient simulation of remote sensing measurements of natural and urban landscapes, for any observation configuration (viewing direction, spatial resolution, spectral resolution, any altitude, etc.), from ultraviolet to thermal infrared, including LiDAR signal and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF). In addition, CNRS certified DART on July 2023, and Toulouse III University already delivered more than 600 DART licences to scientists. The aim is to take advantage of the scientific progress in TR modelling made by the DART team at CESBIO, to consolidate DART, adapt it to the needs of ACRI-ST and thus improve the potential of ACRI-ST in the field of Earth observation. ACRI-ST and CESBIO have collaborated several times for the optimization of Earth Observation missions with DART. This joint work has confirmed the validity and the need to create a common laboratory to progress in the transformation of the DART model into an operational tool for a wider audience (scientists and technicians of Earth observation). This approach ensures the valorisation of DART. It is a two-way process: ACRI-ST will benefit from CESBIO's expertise on the DART tool to jointly enhance its use, and CESBIO will benefit from an ideal context to maintain and "keep alive" DART in its scientific excellence, in a very competitive environment. These joint benefits are naturally built on an iterative approach between the activities of the two entities. Two areas in particular are being considered for this joint laboratory: 1) DART enhancement: - TR modeling in DART for operational simulation (i.e., computation time, memory space) of realistic and physically correct images of natural and urban landscapes. - Landscape models and landscape elements (e.g., house, tree, plant) used by DART, with in particular georeferencing of DART models and products and coupling with plant growth models, and operational parameterization of the atmosphere. - Propagation of uncertainties within DART due to unavoidable uncertainties concerning in particular the optical properties of landscape elements. 2) Valorization of research work: - Preparation / pre-dimensioning of new space missions, with evaluation of their performance, based on DART simulations. - Qualification of new processing algorithms on reference landscape simulations, and support for validation activities and space applications. - Promotion of developments with an on-demand image generation and expertise service for space industry players. - Promotion and valorization of developments within the framework of institutional space missions and/or the NewSpace ecosystem.

Natural disasters - intended as hurricanes, landslides, fires, avalanches, flooding, earthquakes, industrial accidents, terroristic attacks, eruptions, pollution, etc… - have been seriously threatening the well-being of the global society. Over the past 50 years, more than 11,000 disasters have been attributed to weather, climate and water-related hazards, involving 2 million deaths. In this context Space assets and remotely piloted aircraft (drones) play a crucial role in emergency response and disaster management. First responders ask for a quick to deploy in-situ solution based on resilient and robust infrastructure to perform accurate mapping and extended surveillance for people and assets localisation. Accordingly, EUSATfinder is about demonstrating the effectiveness of a synergic use of three main European space programs, namely GOVSATCOM, Copernicus and Galileo in such critical situations. Three (3) GOVSATCOM resources will be used, namely ATHENA FIDUS Italina and French payload and VHTS Konnect from Eutelsat. Interfacing versus GOVSATCOM HUB will be also studied so that stakeholders may benefit of common pool of SATCOM resources (capacity and services) to face a situation crisis management. The purpose of the EUSATfinder is to provide an innovative integrated and scalable solution to support first responders in real-life during different operational phases and improving citizens wellbeing. In particular, in the tactical phase, EUSATfinder aims at improving the intervention capability and reducing the reaction time using shared capacities from different governmental and private satellite systems interoperable with terrestrial communication services. The above introduced objectives confer to the EUSATfinder project a worldwide dimension, having European public authorities, industries and research centres with the clear role to bring innovation and know-how to allow an effective crisis area management in emergency situations worldwide.

Blue-Cloud addresses the IA ‘The Future of Seas and Oceans Flagship Initiative’ (BG-07-2019-2020) for the following topic: [A] 2019 - Blue Cloud services. The project implements a practical approach to address the potential of cloud based open science to achieve a set of services identifying also longer term challenges to build and demonstrate the Pilot Blue Cloud as a thematic EOSC cloud to support research to better understand & manage the many aspects of ocean sustainability, through a set of five pilot Blue-Cloud demonstrators. It seeks to capitalise on what exists already and to develop and deploy, through a pragmatic workplan, the pilot Blue Cloud as a cyber platform bringing together and providing access to: 1) multidisciplinary data from observations and models, 2) analytical tools, & 3) computing facilities essential for key blue science use cases. Outputs include: a Blue Cloud Framework, Data Discovery & Access Service (approx. 400 users) & VRE (approx. 1,000 users) from 25 countries, Blue Cloud Service Catalogue including 50+ services deployed through 5 compelling pilot demonstrators, A Blue Cloud 2030 implementation Policy Roadmap, Whitepaper on outcomes of the Food/Blue-Cloud Pilots to support the implementation of thematic EOSC, 4 focused Roadmap events & Workshops, 1 hackathon, 10 webinars, 1 Final results conference, engaged community with all stakeholder groups represented. Led by a consortium bringing together leading European marine data management infrastructures, EOSC horizontal e-infrastructures, and excellent marine researchers. Coordinated by a neutral ICT intensive SME with over 15 years’ experience, technically coordinated by a community leading marine & ocean data specialist, and supported by 17 experienced partners, from research, academia & industry, with strategic and practical involvement in design and delivery of blue community needs. An influential External Stakeholders Experts Board & an Expert Foresight Group support the project.