The Drâa-Tafilalet region in south-eastern Morocco is one of the country’s poorest. Here, and in the Saharan desert regions of Morocco in general, camels are a major income source for the nomad population. The camels are kept mainly for meat and transportation, while their milk is mostly consumed locally by family members or by the young dromedaries (Al haj and Al Kanhal, 2010). This part of the country increasingly suffers from droughts due to climate change. Due to the lack of feed caused by drought, milk production of the camels decreased by 30% in 2022 compared to 2021 (Taha, 2023). This project focuses on three different aspects: (1) Development of a camel feed based on argan, tomatoes and watermelon by-products to compensate for the lack of natural feed; (2) Valorization of the camel milk with the development of new dairy products; (3) Development of a centralized production site in the form of a cooperative (preferably for women).

This grant will allow the team from Switzerland to work with the team from Morocco to perform an extended value chain analysis to understand the needs and production challenges of all stakeholders in the camel-milk value chain. During this first phase, a market analysis and focus group discussions with potential consumers and production actors will take place. The goal is to understand the production challenges, possibilities and solutions for producers. Thanks to this preliminary study, it will be possible to focus on the development of the right camel dairy products, as well as a potential feed component based on by-products, for the next steps of the project.

La formation et l'accompagnement pédagogique des enseignant·e·s de l'enseignement supérieur sont devenus une priorité à l'échelle internationale. En France comme en Suisse, divers rapports ont insisté sur la mise en place de formation à l’enseignement universitaire de manière institutionnalisée. Ainsi, on a assisté à l’émergence des services de soutien à l’enseignement (centres, structures ou unités d’appui et de soutien).

Dans le contexte tunisien, les services de soutien pédagogique de manière institutionnalisée pour les enseignant·e·s-chercheur·e·s (accompagnement au sein de l'université, centre d'appui pédagogique) sont absents. De plus, aucun pré-requis pédagogique n’est exigé lors du recrutement des nouvelles et nouveaux enseignant·e·s. Par conséquent, il n’est pas rare de passer toute sa carrière à enseigner sans jamais avoir accès à une quelconque formation ou à un soutien pédagogique.

Aujourd’hui, l’enseignement supérieur agricole est au cœur de la transformation des métiers, et se doit d’assurer une offre de formation répondant aux besoins du milieu socio-économique et du secteur agricole dans sa globalité. Cette formation doit permettre aux futur·e·s diplômé·e·s d’acquérir des compétences et de fortes capacités d’adaptation et d’innovation pour relever les défis de l’agriculture tunisienne dans un contexte marqué par le changement climatique et la rareté des ressources naturelles (eau, sol, biodiversité). Toutefois, l’enseignement supérieur agricole ne bénéficie d’aucune structure d’innovation pédagogique et d’appui à la formation des enseignant·e·s-chercheur·e·s en ingénierie de formation et aux méthodes pédagogiques actives et au numérique.

L’objectif de cette proposition de collaboration bilatérale est :

• identifier les lacunes en compétences pédagogiques de l’enseignement supérieur agricole en Tunisie,
• élaborer et valider un référentiel des compétences pédagogiques adapté à l’enseignement supérieur agricole en Tunisie,
• développer des réseaux de coopération internationale en matière de pédagogie universitaire et créer un pool de catalyseurs afin de transposer cette expérience et faire émerger ultérieurement la mise en place de dispositifs d’appui pédagogique et d’accompagnement au sein des universités tunisiennes et plus tard dans la région MENA et l’Afrique Francophone.

Obesity is one of the world’s largest health problems, constituting a major risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Globally, >39% of adults are overweight, and countries in North-Africa and the Middle East suffer from some of the biggest increases in obesity rates worldwide.

Obesity constitutes an excess accumulation of fat, which, under physiological conditions, is stored in white adipose tissue (WAT) depots in specialized cell types called adipocytes. Adipose depots expand via an increase in adipocyte size (hypertrophy) and/or number (hyperplasia). The expansion capacity of WAT depots is intimately linked to the metabolic health status of an individual. Indeed, obesity is associated with impaired WAT expansion and increased inflammation and AT fibrosis, which results in the deposition of lipids in other organs, leading to metabolic derangements. Adipocyte numbers are controlled by the engagement of adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) to differentiate into new adipocytes. Our laboratory has pioneered the study of ASPC subpopulations in different fat depots at the single cell transcriptomic level, leading, for example, to the identification of cell types within the ASPC niche that can control adipogenesis in a paracrine manner. However, how ASPC subpopulations are affected at different stages of obesity, most notably between healthy obese patients and those displaying metabolic complications, is still poorly understood.

Through this grant, we aim to collaborate with the Sidra Medicine in Qatar, which has been collecting human fat biopsies from control, healthy obese, prediabetic and type 2 diabetic patients. From these biopsies, a cellular fraction containing ASPCs was isolated and frozen, which we now aim to analyze using single nuclei transcriptomics (snRNA-seq). This will allow us to evaluate how obesity and diabetes functionally influence specific ASPC subpopulations. In addition, we intend to integrate our ASPC snRNA-seq data with other single cell and histological datasets that are being generated in our lab and in Sidra Medicine, allowing to evaluate how compositional and/or molecular changes in APSCs correlate with adipocyte size and number, as well as AT inflammation, in diverse disease stages. Thus, the proposed studies will contribute to an increased understanding of the biology and functional relevance of multiple ASPC subtypes in health and disease.

Ce projet part du constat d’un déficit en termes de formations en compétences globales (soft skills) chez les étudiants marocains et suisses issus des facultés leur permettant de suivre leurs études de manière efficiente, mais surtout de pouvoir s’intégrer dans le monde professionnel. La littérature a montré de manière patente qu’au-delà des compétences strictement disciplinaires et techniques (hard skills), les entreprises sont d’abord sensibles, dans les processus de recrutement, aux qualités personnelles et interpersonnelles des collaborateurs. Tout d’abord, nous organisons un workshop en Suisse qui nous mettra en lumière les pratiques actuelles et les attentes des entreprises suisses et marocaines. Nous échangeons sur l’importance des compétences globales en termes d’employabilité et nous introduisons la discussion sur le rôle de l’enseignement supérieur suisse et marocain dans la formation sur ces compétences. Au Maroc, nous organisons une école d’été qui vise à établir l’état des lieux quant aux activités existantes et non formalisées menant à des formations sur ces compétences (activités de clubs, modèles pédagogiques, initiatives ponctuelles de certains enseignants…). Nous programmons des ateliers participatifs analysant de bonnes pratiques et co-créons des pistes de réflexion en la matière. L’occasion sera également donnée aux représentants d’entreprises de nous présenter les besoins professionnels. Des doctorants en science de l'éducation participeront aux réflexions durant les ateliers. En parallèle, nous procédons à des évaluations de ces compétences chez les jeunes étudiants marocains et suisses en mobilisant le questionnaire développé par l’équipe suisse lors de ses précédents travaux de recherche. Ces différentes activités permettront d’orienter efficacement nos réflexions et de définir les axes prioritaires pour le dépôt d’un projet européen. Afin de disséminer les résultats de ce projet, des actions de sensibilisation et de communication seront programmées. La participation commune de l’équipe Suisse-Maroc à une conférence internationale ponctuera le projet et permettra de créer un réseau pérenne bilatérale tant en termes de formation que de recherche. En résumé, notre projet portera sur des activités de diagnostic, de sensibilisation, de soumission d’un projet Erasmus et de publication.

Region of interest: Northwest Africa, Lake Ifrah (Middle Atlas, Morocco)
Main objectives:

• Further explore the relationship between precession minima and sustained high lake levels and propose mechanisms that
  may be involved to explain the effect of the cause.
• Decipher the suborbital signatures (HSs and GSs) from lacustrine offshore facies deposited presumably during MIS-3.
• Address deliberately the question of the Last Termination, whose information is seriously lacking in NW Africa, and the relationships between the Saharan wind intensity and its signature in the studied lake basin.
• Attempt to conduct quantitative reconstruction of palaeotemperature using clumped isotopes combined with trace elements.
• Build a model to showcase the orbital control on sedimentation dynamics using the sequence stratigraphic approach in an interior basin case.
  Research method:
• Sampling water, sediments, and plant remains/charcoals (for radiocarbon dating).
• Taxonomic IDing of ostracod fauna and petrographic examination of carbonate layers.
• Analytical work for isotopes and trace elements, total organic carbon, and grain size measurements.
• Radiocarbon dating of 10 samples.

The primary objective of this project is to advance the frontier agriculture in Jordan, by incorporating innovative practices within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus). This involves focusing on food security, job creation, skill development, and environmental resource management to drive positive change.
Frontier agriculture comprises a range of innovative and climate-smart and water-saving technologies like hydroponics, bioponics, and aquaponics, which hold immense potential for both rural and urban settings.
Presently, global malnutrition impacts around 2 billion people, leading to micronutrient deficiencies and obesity issues.
Vertical soilless cultivation in constrained urban spaces, like walls and rooftops, is versatile, as it spans from low- to high-tech solutions. Aquaponics, which combines fish and crop growth, is an integrated approach that holds the potential to maximize productivity on the same spatial footprint, avoiding the negative ecological impact of conventional aquaculture or crop farming. The environmental sustainability of aquaponics is well-established, however, its economic feasibility depends on a plethora of factors, including climatic conditions, inputs (materials, fish feed, fertilizer, plant protection, water, energy) and all associated costs.
Jordan is one of the world’s driest countries. It hosts millions of refugees following the civil war in Syria. In this arid context soilless cultivation methods emerge as a promising avenue for food production, as they provide nutrient-rich food and create income opportunities. The project's long-term vision aligns with the empowerment of women, refugees and other vulnerable groups through hands-on training, demonstrating the potential of "-ponics" to drive positive change in their lives.
The ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains and emphasized the need for localized agro-food systems.
The project focuses on capacity building for soilless technologies (aquaponics, hydroponics, bioponics) through a community of practice, interdisciplinary research, and targeted skill development for vulnerable groups. Prioritizing frontier agriculture in Jordan, can enhance food security, reduce the pressure on the WEFE Nexus, generate income and profitable businesses, and decrease inequality, becomes a step toward building overall resilience.

Breast cancer prevalence and incidence have increased worldwide and remain the major cause of mortality and morbidity among women, including in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Breast tumors express higher DNA polymerase 1 (POLA1) levels compared to normal breast tissues. POLA1 is the initiating enzyme of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells. Dr. Nadine Darwiche (the main applicant in the MENA region) and collaborators have reported that the adamantyl retinoid ST1926 is a POLA1 inhibitor that impedes the proliferation and induces cell death of human breast cancer cells while sparing their normal counterparts. They have recently synthesized the ST1926 analogs, MIR002 and GEM144, which are dual POLA1 and histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11). Breast tumors express higher HDAC11 levels compared to normal breast tissues.

Breast cancer patients encounter cancer recurrence and drug resistance, pressing the need for novel therapeutics. In particular, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the subtype with the least favorable outcomes due to its highly invasive nature and poor response to therapeutics. The partners aim to test for the antitumor activities and mechanisms of action of ST1926, MIR002, and GEM144 in TNBC in vitro and in vivo models. Their hypothesis is that these drugs suppress breast cancer cell and tumor growth, as breast tumors express elevated POLA1 and HDAC11 levels.

The development of adequate and orthotopic preclinical animal models provides a more suitable assessment of successful therapies. Available mouse models do not allow the development of different phases of breast tumor formation. However, breast cancer cells of any hormonal status and stage engraft intraductally in mouse teats, progress, and mimic their clinical counterparts. Dr. Cathrin Brisken (the main Swiss partner) is a leading reference in breast cancer using the orthotopic intraductal breast cancer mouse model. The partners will establish this model at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon using TNBC cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). This latter animal model will be the first of its kind to be set in the MENA region. It will be used to treat mice with POLA1 inhibitors compared to standard therapy. In addition, the PDX model offers an opportunity to investigate patient-derived tumors and suggests specific and potentially effective treatments, therefore impacting the future of clinical research.

The project's main aim is to develop century-long chronologies of conifer wood cell anatomical traits within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with the intention of linking these traits to drought events documented by instrumental data. MENA, being a climate change hotspot with rapid and projected climate changes, raises concerns about water resources' vulnerability to climate change. In this context, historical long-term perspectives are crucial, as they provide insights into natural climate variability and contribute to climate model parametrization, enhancing predictions. The project seeks to address uncertainties in drought variability records by using innovative methods like quantitative wood anatomy (QWA) and investigating individual tracheid cell dimensions for hydroclimatic reconstruction. By delving deeper into wood anatomy and exploring how cell characteristics correlate with drought events, the project aims to offer a more mechanistic understanding of intra-ring proxy-related drought signatures.

To achieve these goals, the project will gather tree-ring samples from conifer trees at key MENA locations. Utilizing fully- and semi-automatic processing of high-resolution imagery, the team will delve into the microscopic aspects of xylem trait features to link cell anatomical characteristics with environmental signals. The QWA approach will allow the creation of continuous century-long chronologies, with a minimum of ten trees sampled per chronology. By applying this approach, the project aims to produce new insights into the relationships between cell traits and drought events, enhancing the understanding of the impacts of water availability on cell formation processes, growth, and wall thickness. The constructed chronologies will be standardized and detrended, and their correlation with drought data will be explored, utilizing Pearson correlations and drought indices. The anticipated outcomes include more accurate historical climate variability records for the MENA region, which can offer valuable insights for climate modeling, risk assessment, and adaptation strategies in this vulnerable region.

"Immersive Imperfection" converges architecture, technology, and sustainability. This project reimagines the way of design, construction, architecture and participation across its core dimensions.

Project Core: "Immersive Imperfection" endeavors to revitalize construction methods by infusing traditional materials with modern digital capabilities. The primary objectives reinterprets construction practices using recycled and vernacular materials, catalyzing climate-adapted architecture, and fostering inclusive social participation in design. This project tackles the pressing global challenges of carbon emissions within the construction sector.

Key Innovation: The project's focal innovation centers on the creation of open masonry walls, employing vernacular clay bricks or recycled materials, all facilitated by cutting-edge digital tools like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). By seamlessly merging these diverse elements, "Immersive Imperfection" pioneers a dynamic, transformative, and sustainable approach to architectural design and construction.

Transformative Activities: The project unfolds through workshops, material experimentation, and the integration of AR and VR in architectural design. These activities span international collaborations between industry partners in Switzerland and Egypt, uniting traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology to yield climate-responsible, sustainable architectural solutions.

Tangible Outcomes: "Immersive Imperfection" envisions material and design models for open masonry, the fusion of AR and VR within design and construction, a showcase illustrating feasibility, documentation.

Foundational Collaboration: This project builds upon a partnership between research partners Prof. Christian Schmitt and Prof. Simone Stürwald. Their previous projects emphasized circular and vernacular materials, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence of human craftsmanship and digital innovation.

Sustainable Legacy: Beyond its immediate scope, "Immersive Imperfection" envisions a sustainable legacy. It commits to advancing circular sustainable architecture, promoting inclusive augmented building concepts, climate-adapted solutions, and digital production methods.

In essence, "Immersive Imperfection" charts a transformative course for architecture, harmoniously fusing tradition and technology to empower communities and professionals in co-creating a sustainable future for the built environment.

Historically, disasters have been seen as exceptional events, but their frequency and severity have been on the rise due to the rapid growth of population, increased human concentration in hazardous areas and fast climate change. These factors impact today (and will continue) both Tunisia and Switzerland, which imply the needs for a good preparation for disaster management and relief operations. Failing to account for the increased uncertainties in such conditions can lead to significant delays in relief distribution. It has become imperative to enhance the quality of relief operations, and designing effective Disaster Logistic Networks (DLNs) is a crucial aspect.
This collaborative research project aims to bridge the gap between theoretical models and practical applications with a focus on developing optimization models for pre- and post-disaster DLNs. These models will incorporate prevailing risk factors to tackle the challenges faced in real-world scenarios. By incorporating risk-averse networks, strategic plans can be devised to optimize service levels and response times to affected areas and people while considering the growing pressure of cost efficiency for humanitarian organizations. The research will introduce a novel decomposition model to solve the optimization problems using realistic data models.
The literature review reveals that current mathematical models and solution approaches need improvements to generate more practical and realistic results. The innovation in this research lies in two key areas. Firstly, both pre- and post-disaster factors, including casualty transportation to healthcare facilities, will be considered while constructing the DLN models. Secondly, risk measures for disasters impacting the DLN will be incorporated through various scenarios encompassing both pre- and post-disaster elements. This comprehensive approach will enable the identification of the most critical factors in the system and lead to optimal solutions concerning relief quality, response time, and cost efficiency.
The outcomes of this research will provide valuable insights for researchers in the area of Operations research and Logistics as well as the humanitarian practitioners involved in relief operations in Tunisia and Switzerland. Moreover, it will support decision-making in the design and management of pre- and post-disaster logistics networks, making them more effective and responsive in times of crisis.

Depuis plusieurs années, la fabrication additive connaît un essor remarquable parce qu'elle complète les procédés de fabrication traditionnels en offrant des solutions pour réaliser des pièces complexes non usinables ou pour fabriquer des petites séries, lorsque l'amortissement d'un outillage dédié est impossible.

Le présent projet concerne le procdédé additif LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion). Il consiste à déposer une poudre en fines couches successives. Chaque couche déposée est balayée par un laser parcourant une trajectoire en rapport avec la géométrie de la pièce. Là où elle est touchée par le laser, la poudre fond et se transforme en un solide cohérent lorsque la température retourne à la valeur ambiante.

La précision du procédé L-PBF est affectée par le retrait de la matière lors du refroidissement. Ce mécanisme provoque des gauchissements dans des proportions incompatibles avec les applications mécaniques. Dans ces conditions, il est nécessaire d'imprimer une géométrie légèrement fausse de sorte que la pièce récupérée après les déformations thermiques, soit aux cotes souhaitées. Dans la pratique, l'anticipation des retraits est réalisée de façcon empirique. En se basant sur son expérience, l'opérateur corrige la géométrie à imprimer, fabrique la pièce puis la mesure. Si elle n'est pas correcte, il applique une nouvelle correction à la géométrie puis réimprime et ainsi de suite jusqu'à l'obtention d'une pièce aux cotes. Cette démarche allonge considérablement les délais de fabrication et compromet l'intérêt économique du procédé lui-même.

Le but de ce projet est de combiner les compétences de les écoles d'ingénieur d'Yverdon et de Sfax en modélisation, en calcul scientifique et en fabrication additive (L-PBF) pour développer une technique d'anticipation des déformations basée sur la simulation. Remplacer par des calculs le protocole classique d'essai-erreur devrait permettre une économie de matière de temps et de coûts de production.

Ce projet créera un cadre collaboratif entre les deux écoles dans le domaine de la fabrication additive métallique. Le projet Def@Fab donnera une occasion aux jeunes chercheurs ayant un intérêt pour la thématique abordée de s'impliquer activement et proposer leurs propres solutions. L'intégration de ces connaissances renforcera la formation des élèves ingénieurs en prototypage - fabrication additive et simulation EF.

To reach a net-zero emission electrical grid in the established time targets, power systems would depend on significant amounts of renewable generation and the flexibility to cope with the volatility of these technologies. This offers opportunities for new ideas and innovative solutions. The idea of transferring solar electricity from North Africa to Europe has received increasing interest in recent years, particularly after the concern of European countries to meet electricity demand during winter periods, as anticipated e.g. in the winter time 2022 which turned to be very mild in the end. However, there is a risk that this will not always happen. Different studies have been carried out addressing only political and economic perspectives. Very little has been done to investigate the actual technical challenges to interconnect the European and the North-African power grids. The objective of this project is to demonstrate that solar electricity import from North Africa via new High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) links to continental Europe can have a positive impact on the European electrical grid, and consequently the investments needed in power transmission infrastructure and storage could be reduced. The project would address the benefits of the interconnection between North Africa and Continental Europe that have not been presented before.

Dans le cadre des efforts de réduction des émissions de CO2 et de sécurisation de l'approvisionnement en électricité, l’hydrogène joue un rôle de pilier d'avenir. De plus, les piles à combustible offrent également plusieurs avantages qui en font une technologie prometteuse pour un large éventail d'applications. Ce projet porte sur la modélisation multiphysique d'une pile à combustible PEMFC pour tester des stratégies de contrôle correspondants. Le contrôle est essentiel pour l'optimisation, la sécurité et la prévention des dommages et des fuites. De plus, le contrôle peut être utilisé pour détecter les défauts et augmenter la durée de vie des piles à combustible.
Ce projet associe des chercheurs de la HEIA-FR Suisse et de l'USEK Liban. Tous deux, ayant une formation professionnelle dans les piles à combustible et leur contrôle, ont pour objectif de développer un stack de piles à combustible totalisant 200W avec leurs connectiques et leur fonctionnement. En parallèle, un jumeau numérique de la pile à combustible sera implémenté et validé afin d’y appliquer – de manière flexible et peu coûteuse – des tests et des stratégies de contrôle en vue de les implémenter en réel.
À la fin de ce projet de recherche, l'équipe vise à disposer d'un prototype de module fonctionnel de puissance 200 W accompagné de son jumeau numérique. De plus, des résultats d'analyse de tests et de simulations seront livrés avec d'éventuelles recommandations de développement de piles à combustible.

Mental health of young individuals is a major concern worldwide that has been reinforced by the COVID pandemic situation. More than 20% of youths experience a mental health disorder by the end of adolescence and 45% of the global burden of disease lies in the youth age range (18-25 years). Added to that, physical pain has become a major health problem among youth in general and university students in particular, with around 30-50% suffering from it in Lebanon. However, most of the studies on this subject of mental health and physical pain and their interaction, were performed in western-oriented countries. In that framework, a previous study by our group conducted by Dr. Tandon and Prof. Martin-Soelch aimed at identifying protective factors for instance, self-efficacy, social support, and risk factors like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress, anxiety, and depression related to physical pain, showed cultural differences among a European country and a South-Asian country, i.e., Switzerland and India. Based on our first studies indicating strong cultural differences, it seemed important to investigate them in more cultural contexts, such as middle eastern context for instance. With this research, we will investigate the specific mental health markers i.e., PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress, and protective factors i.e. social support and self-efficacy related to physical pain in young adults in Lebanon as well as the role of reward responses as a potential underlying mediating mechanism in this relationship using a similar design as in our previous studies conducted in Switzerland and India. We expect this project to have a beneficial effect on the mental health and well-being of university students and will provide tools for the development of easily accessible and culturally tailored preventive and/or clinical interventions that can be easily translated into scalable and largely accessible interventions and extended to the general youth population to address the strong societal and health burden represented by mental health problems in youths in the two cultural contexts. This project, led by Professor Martin-Soelch who is a Professor in Clinical and Health Psychology, and Vice-rector for Teaching, Continuing Education, Gender Equality, and Diversity and Inclusion from University of Fribourg in Switzerland, will be developed in strong collaboration with Dr. Zalaket, head of psychology department at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon.