Andre Colonese receives an ERC Proof of Concept grant
ICTA-UAB researcher Andre Colonese is one of the 182 high-level scientists to receive an ERC Proof of Concept grant in this first round of 2026. The NAIVE project will identify animal species from fragmented biological remains using artificial intelligence, with the aim of improving biodiversity conservation and combating illegal wildlife trafficking.
The biodiversity crisis affecting Neotropical regions, driven by habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade, represents a challenge with significant environmental, social, and economic consequences on a global scale. Understanding how animal populations have changed over time and improving the protection of threatened species requires tools capable of accurately identifying biological remains that, in many cases, are highly fragmented or degraded.
The NAIVE project seeks to develop an innovative artificial intelligence-based platform to identify animal species from small molecular traces preserved in bones and other tissues. This technology will help overcome some of the limitations of current methods, which are often slow, expensive, or dependent on a high degree of technical expertise to interpret results.
NAIVE will combine advanced molecular analysis and artificial intelligence to create a system capable of recognizing species even when samples are incomplete or damaged. In addition, it will incorporate tools that automatically assess the level of confidence of each identification, as well as a digital platform that will facilitate rapid and standardized data processing and analysis.
Thanks to this approach, the project aims to transform a specialized laboratory technique into a scalable tool with applications in biodiversity research, species conservation, and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. By integrating data science, molecular biology, and conservation policy, NAIVE is positioned at the forefront of a new generation of forensic technologies aimed at protecting biodiversity.
Each grant is worth €150,000 and helps ERC grantees explore the commercial or societal potential of their research findings. This funding is part of the EU research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
Out of 554 proposals evaluated, 182 projects were selected for funding. The new grants will be awarded to researchers working in 14 countries. The highest number of grants will be awarded in Germany (31 grants), the Netherlands (27 grants), Italy and France (both 18 grants) and Spain (13 grants).