Environment
Climate adaptation, biodiversity, natural catastrophes, pollution, resilient cities...
Sustainability
The AXA Research Fund Accelerating science to protect what matters
The AXA Research Fund is AXA Group’s scientific philanthropy initiative. Its mission is to support independent academic research in key areas related to risk and to inform science-based decision-making to address the most important issues facing our planet.
Informing decision making through research
Science plays a crucial role in responding to the most important issues facing our planet today. AXA’s scientific philanthropy initiative is committed to supporting top-tier and transformative academic research that contributes to societal progress and to help disseminate this knowledge.
The AXA Research Fund supports research projects in the areas of health, climate and the environment, and socioeconomics.
256M€
committed
724
research projects supported
340
leading academic institutions
Thomas Buberl
Chief Executive Officer of AXA
Since its launch in 2008, the AXA Research Fund has been partnering with the brightest and most innovative scientists, dedicated to improving our understanding, anticipation and adaptation of major global risks, such as climate change, pandemics or cyber risk. The Fund is a recognized partner for the academic world, and a unique initiative of scientific philanthropy in the financial industry.
At the forefront of academic excellence
The AXA Research Fund provides three main types of grants for innovative projects carried out by top tier scientists, following a rigorous assessment and selection process overviewed by an independent Scientific Board.
Postdoctoral fellowships are allocated based on open calls for projects on emerging priority topics such as cyber risk, inclusive growth, mental health, or marine biodiversity. AXA Chairs are granted to seasoned scientists that present transformative research projects for the area of intervention and the host institution. Joint Research Initiatives are supported to build partnerships between AXA teams and academic experts with the objective of joining forces to answer a common research question. Awards are attributed to peer-nominated scientists as a recognition of their contribution and to their field.
Areas of Support
For all funded projects, click here
Health
Pandemics, longevity and ageing, mental health, women’s health…
Socio-Economics
Inclusive growth, systemic risks, cyber risks, geopolitical risks...
Engaging a community of scientists committed to human progress
Getting science out of the lab and sharing findings more broadly is also part of the AXA Research Fund’s purpose. The Fund provides dissemination support to its academic community through the organization of webinars, publications and media communication and training. The Fund fully endorses the principles of Open Science and provides Open Access publishing opportunities while a community platform enables connections and collaboration opportunities for this active network of researchers.
Discover our MasterScience
MasterScience is a masterclass program designed to help decision-makers and citizens decipher the major issues of our time and map out courses of action, through the power of science.
Non-Communicable Diseases: The Silent Pandemic
Prof. Lara Dugas AXA Chair in Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Epidemiology at the University of Cape Town discusses the causes of the global pandemic of NCDs such as type-2 diabetes, how they impact the world and what can be done to spread the curb.
The Battle Against Megafires
Prof. Apostolos Voulgarakis, AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Change at the Technical University of Crete, discusses the causes of megafires, their impact on the planet, and strategies to help tackle the issue.
Building Coastal Resilience with Nature
Franck Courchamp, Ecologist and Research Director at the CNRS Institute, AXA Chair in Invasion Biology at the University of Paris-Saclay, tells us about origins and consequences of this little-known threat, and what we can do collectively to combat it.
Closing the Gender Gap in Business
Anne Boring, Head of the Women in Business Chair at Sciences Po supported by AXA, explains the main obstacles to female entrepreneurship and leadership and the possible solutions to close the remaining gender gaps.
Our latest supports
Latest publications
We are convinced that scientific research enables us to better anticipate and address the challenges we are facing. Our publications gather cutting-edge research and expert perspectives to be up to the task.
Activity Report
The 2023 Activity report provides an update on the Fund’s mission, its latest achievements in terms of research funding, strategic partnerships, and research dissemination.
Impact Report of Fund's Third Mandate
This report provides a snapshot of the Fund’s 2018-2022 impact on science, scientists and society, as well as real life stories of supported researchers.
Building Societal Resilience
The 2023 Activity report provides an update on the Fund’s mission, its latest achievements in terms of research funding, strategic partnerships, and research dissemination.