Objective
Chemical reaction networks (CRNs) underpin both living and synthetic systems, enabling compartmentalisation, energy transduction, homeostasis, and adaptive organisation. On the synthetic side, systems chemistry has achieved remarkable progress in making CRNs produce complex behaviours, yet it lacks predictive principles to guide design. On the biological side, we still lack a framework that explains how living systems operate and maintain organisation through complex chemistries. At the same time, nonequilibrium physics has made major advances, delivering powerful tools to quantify energy flows, responses, and fluctuations far from equilibrium. These developments call for a unifying theory of systems chemistry.
Building on advances from my group—gear and circuit formalisms for energy transduction, exact fluctuation–response identities, thermodynamics of growth in open CRNs, and chemically consistent random ensembles—we will develop a predictive framework for CRNs operating far from equilibrium. The project pursues four objectives: (I) generalise energy transduction theory from simple cycles to modular, multimolecular CRNs, to reveal how efficiency and adaptability emerge across scales, with applications from dissipative assemblies to metabolic energetics; (II) establish nonequilibrium response theory for nonlinear CRNs, to derive predictive rules for sensitivity, robustness, and inference; (III) develop thermodynamics of CRNs in evolving compartments, to explain how growth, division, and ecological-like interactions arise from chemical–mechanical coupling; and (IV) construct statistical and dynamical frameworks for large CRNs, to identify universal organising principles and control entropic growth.
By extending nonequilibrium thermodynamics to a predictive theory of CRNs and complex chemistries, this project will provide foundations for systems chemistry as a rational design science and clarify how the principles of life emerge from physicochemistry.
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 physical sciences thermodynamics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- natural sciences chemical sciences
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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 - HORIZON ERC 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-2025-ADG
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.
4365 ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE
Luxembourg
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.