Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity.

Program Summary

The AXA Research Fund was launched in 2007 to support science in its crucial role in responding to the most important issues facing our planet. AXA's scientific philanthropic initiative is committed to supporting science, contributing to societal progress and encouraging researchers to share their work with the larger public to inform public decision-making. The AXA Research Fund supports projects in the areas of Health, Environment, and Socio-Economics.

The AXA Chair is a highly selective funding scheme intended to support a significant step change in the development of a research area within a host Institution and to contribute in a distinctive way to the development of that area in line with the Institution鈥檚 long-term strategy. It aims at creating a full-time academic position in the host Institution and fostering a step-change in the career of the appointed AXA Professor. The host Institution must intend to create a permanent full-time position.

The AXA Research Fund does not support applied research and only fundamental projects are allowed.

The AXA Research Fund supports academic projects that contribute to better understanding global risks, in particular in the areas of:

Health 听

  • Artificial intelligence, data science & machine learning applied to health
  • Climate change & health
  • Demographics, longevity, and aging
  • Efficiency of healthcare systems
  • Infectious diseases & epidemics
  • Management of chronic & non- communicable diseases
  • Mental health
  • Micro and nano plastics & their effects on human health
  • Robotics & automation applied to health
  • Well-being, prevention, & personalized health

Environment

  • Artificial intelligence, data science & machine learning applied to environment
  • Biodiversity & natural capital
  • Climate change & climate migration
  • Climate change & health
  • Natural catastrophes
  • Pollution
  • Responsible investment strategies & sustainable finance
  • Robotics, automation applied to climate and environment
  • Sustainable resource management / Sustainable cities

Socioeconomics

  • Artificial intelligence, data science & machine learning applied to socioeconomics
  • Behavioral economics
  • Blockchain
  • Cyber risk & protection
  • Economic and social inclusion
  • Financial risk modeling
  • Geopolitics
  • Inclusive finance
  • Robotics, automation applied to socioeconomics
  • Social & financial inclusion
  • Systemic risk
  • The macroeconomic & societal role of insurance

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MT October 5, 2022

Sponsor Expression of Interest Deadline: 8:00am MT October 13, 2022

Sponsor Application Deadline: 8:00am MT November 21, 2022

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Chairholder Personal Details:
    • Birth Date
    • PhD Defense Date
    • Current Institution
  • Research Program Description (3000 characters maximum including spaces): Include title, area (Health, Environment, or Socioeconomics) and research project details.
  • Chairholder Curriculum Vitae (3 pages maximum): Include a link to an online detailed CV.
  • Fundamental Research Certification: AXA Research Fund does not support applied research and only fundamental projects are allowed.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

The prospective Chairholder is expected to be at least PhD + 10 years minimum, to be of the highest caliber and should have demonstrated outstanding research achievements. The Chairholder is expected to be of the highest caliber, as evidenced by the standard indicators for assessing academic excellence: publications in first-rate journals, international stature, and network.听

Limited Submission Guidelines

Only one application per institution is allowed.

Award Information

Up to 鈧�1 million for a period of 5 years

Review Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the evaluation criteria below:听

Potential to transform the considered research field听

  • Scientific originality and innovative nature of the Research Program.
  • Potential to strengthen international academic networks, including planned collaborations on the Research Program and comparison with existing initiatives in other Research centers.

Feasibility of the Research Program听

  • Operational strength of the Chair Program. The methodology should be consistent and clearly presented.
  • Alignment of the Research Program with the long-term research strategy of the Institution.
  • Organizational set-up to launch and support this Chair, including the size of the team and its competencies, as well as a realistic and coherent budget. The institution is free to make an appointment at a higher cost level but must support the extra expenditure from its own funds. The host institution could also invite other funding partners as long as the conditions of the agreement with AXA are still respected, notably regarding the publicity on the grant (see 鈥淧ublicity on grant鈥� on page 12 of the solicitation).

听Chair outreach and engagement activities

  • Potential impact for society and timeliness of the Research Program, and potential outreach of Research activities, in particular dissemination activities within and beyond the academic community.
  • Engagement with the AXA Research Fund in developing seminars and conferences to disseminate research towards practitioners.