Objective
The biodiversity crisis in the Neotropics, driven by illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss, threatens global food security and social equity. Reversing this “defaunation” requires deep historical baselines found in archaeological remains. However, extreme bone fragmentation renders 90-95% of these specimens, and many confiscated wildlife products, taxonomically unidentifiable through traditional morphology. While DNA analysis can bridge this gap, it remains prohibitively expensive and slow for large-scale ecological or forensic applications. Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) offers a cost-effective alternative, but faces two critical bottlenecks: the lack of a comprehensive Neotropical reference library and a heavy reliance on expert-led manual peak matching. This subjectivity and low scalability are particularly problematic for wildlife forensics, where rapid, standardized decision-making is essential. NAIVE will transform collagen peptide mass fingerprinting into the first AI-driven taxonomic intelligence platform for megadiverse vertebrate systems. The project will systematically curate a collagen reference dataset for key Brazilian species by combining LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF MS, prioritizing CITES-listed and trafficked taxa. Furthermore, NAIVE will develop: i) a supervised hierarchical AI classifier and a degradation-aware spectral model capable of identifying taxa from incomplete or fragmented peptide fingerprints; ii) a probabilistic confidence scoring system to guide enforcement, determining when results are definitive or require escalation to DNA analysis; iii) a cloud-based spectral intelligence platform for automated data upload, classification, and reporting. This digital transformation converts ZooMS from an expert-dependent laboratory method into a scalable forensic screening technology. By integrating proteomics, AI, and conservation policy, NAIVE will position itself at the forefront of next-generation biodiversity forensic technologies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
- humanities history and archaeology archaeology bioarchaeology
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.