The AXA Research Fund is the scientific philanthropy initiative of AXA, the leading insurer, dedicated to supporting research around key societal issues and risks. Our work is based on values of transparency, excellence, relevance, diversity, and the support of a community of researchers that is committed to building solutions towards the best possible future.
Academic research provides us with the capacity for anticipation, adaptation, innovation, and solution building. To navigate increasingly complex and inter-twined environments and novel risks requires the development and support of the best scientific knowledge and its dissemination towards informing decision-making and the public debate.
The AXA Research Fund offers two different types of grants.
1. The AXA Chair is the premium funding scheme of the AXA Research Fund for up to €1 M and is awarded for a period of 5 years. The applicant is expected to be at least PhD + 10 years minimum, to be of the highest caliber and should have demonstrated outstanding research achievements.
An AXA Chair aims at:
2. The AXA Fellowship can go up to €125 000 and is awarded for a period of 2 years. It relies on calls for proposals around specific themes and aims at supporting researchers that are PhD+5 years maximum with proven scientific excellence and a high potential for innovation, transformation and dissemination. Candidates must have defended their Ph.D. before applying for an AXA Fellowship.
AXA grants are only open to researchers and academic institutions worldwide. The following organizations are NOT eligible for AXA funding: associations, hospitals, foundations, NGOs, governmental bodies, independent research centers, cultural institutions, museums...
The AXA Research Fund solely supports academic research projects lying within the scope of eligible areas (more details available for AXA Chair and AXA Fellowship). The following types of projects are NOT eligible for AXA funding: research and development, company’s creation, educational programs…
Academic institutions can apply for an AXA Chair each time a new campaign is launched. However, the institution cannot re-apply with the same candidate as their last application for a period of 3 years.
Step 1: Expression of Interest
The expression of interest provides initial information on the candidate and on the program submitted in the aim of accessing rights to the full application process.
Academic institutions should appoint a single point of contact “Operational Contact” (holding an administrative position within the institution) who will register the AXA Research Fund’s online platform to submit the expression of interest. Candidates cannot submit their expression of interest independently of the host institution.
Step 2: Full Application
Only candidates selected during the expression of interest phase can submit a full application which consists of a robust application providing in-depth information on the candidate’s research background and research proposal.
Tips for writing your application
Expressions of interest are reviewed by the AXA Research Fund Team based on the relevance of the research topics and the candidates’ scientific CVs.
Full applications are assessed by a panel of independent experts in a standard peer-review process according to our criteria and the expert’s knowledge.
The final decision in granting funding is made by the AXA Research Fund’s Scientific Board composed of top-tier scientists from a variety of research fields and following a rigorous process of academic pre-screening and peer review. The selection of the research projects is an independent process in which neither the AXA Research Fund nor AXA, interfere.
Whether or not your project has been successful, you will be informed about this decision by email. However, we are not able to provide any feedback on our selection process or decisions.
An official letter mentioning that you have been selected for an AXA grant will be sent by email to the dean of your institution. You will be on copy of this email.
For AXA Fellowships: The grant offer is valid for a period of 2 weeks following the announcement of the results.
For AXA Chairs: The grant offer is valid for a period of 4 weeks following the announcement of the results.
Projects are expected to start no later than 6 months after the announcement of the results.
Once the Institution officially accepts the grant and the conditions, the AXA Research Fund and the Institution enter in the process of setting-up the agreement. The AXA grant is officially announced only when the agreement is signed. The agreement covers the entire duration of the research grant.
The AXA Research Fund does not cover expenses that are not directly connected to the Research Program. Therefore, the AXA Research grant cannot be used for administrative and infrastructural expenses.
Eligible costs are:
For AXA Chair:
The grant is paid in yearly installments, following the Institution’s submission of calls for funds. The funds are processed in accordance with a payment schedule stipulated in the agreement.
The first transfer of funds is triggered by the signature of the agreement, the Chairholder’s official acceptance of the AXA Chair, and the receipt of an official project start letter (to be sent via email) confirming that the research program has begun. The Institution will need to send the first call for funds to axarf.agreement@axa.com to start the payment process.
In case of early termination, on behalf of the researcher, the Institution shall provide AXA with a statement of expenses. The remaining funds will be retained by the AXA Research Fund.
For AXA Fellowship:
Payment of the grant is contingent on the launch of the research project.
The grant is paid in 4 installments, on the Institution’s submission of the relevant call for funds. Calls for funds should be ideally sent 1 month before the schedule corresponding due date to axarf.agreement@axa.com to start the payment process:
T corresponds to the date on which the project starts.
Grantees and their host institutions are expected to update the AXA Research Fund on a regular basis and must submit their activity and financial reports yearly and in due course.
This activity report will provide the highlights of the Research Program, progress, achievements, and outputs versus objectives, impacts of the AXA Grant, and research related activities. It is to be submitted on the AXA Research Fund’s grantee portal. The grantee will receive dedicated and secure access credentials upon signature of the agreement.
This financial report must include the annual expenditure explaining how the grant has been allocated. This report is to be submitted on the AXA Research Fund’s institution portal by the operational contact.
Grantees are expected to fully commit to their research program (at least 80% of working time spent on selected project) for its whole duration and to demonstrate high level of rigor, seriousness, and professionalism. Grantees are required to be proactive in engaging science with society when supported by the AXA Research Fund and use an open-data framework when applicable. AXA Research Fund grantees commit to sharing their project and communicating their research to a broad audience, supported by the AXA Research Fund.
The AXA Research Fund believes that providing free and unrestricted access to the scientific outputs of the research projects it supports to be a fundamental part of its mission. Since July 1st, 2016, an Open Access policy is effective for all new agreements and granted funding. To build on best existing practices in this area, this policy closely follows the guidelines instituted and recently updated by the European Research Council.
Considering the fast evolution of current debates and the diversity of approaches between disciplines, no binding commitment to this policy will be requested from the Chairholder.
To comply with the open access policy, the AXA Research Fund:
The AXA Research Fund furthermore strongly encourages its researchers to:
Research projects supported by the AXA Research Fund must conform to the AXA Group Compliance and Ethics Guide which excludes (but is not limited to):
Cases of scientific misconduct such as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or misrepresentation of data will be considered as breaches of fundamental ethical principles and proposals concerned will be excluded.