Areas of research eligible for funding

 As an insurer, we have decided to support research on risks that we are or may be covering in the future. Thus, research projects supported by the Fund can fall within the scope a very large range of disciplines, which include the following :

Applications should tackle one of the eligible research fields relying on several of the following approaches:

• Risk identification and definition
• Risk assessment and measure
• Risk modelling
• Risk mitigation
• Decision-making processes when facing risks
• Risk prevention

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Although these projects must fit into any one of these themes, we will accept applications coming from any discipline, provided that they contribute to greater knowledge and understanding of risks, including but not limited to: Earth Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Social Sciences, Economics, Political Science, Philosophy, Chemistry, Sociology, etc.

2013 THEMATIC PRIORITIES - The AXA Research Fund "OPEN GROUNDS"

AXA is additionally committed to providing particular support for research on “Open Grounds” – topics which are of major concern for both academics and insurers in our three clusters of Risk.

That is why, each year, the AXA Research Fund will issue thematic priorities (“Open Grounds”): a selection of topics resulting from active discussions between international researchers and AXA experts. These serve as a basis for Search Committees to submit proposals to the Scientific Board in the course of our Call for Nominations process.

AXA Research Fund’s thematic priorities (“Open Grounds”) for 2013 will be the following:

 Life Risks:  Because the remarkable gain of about 30 years in life expectancy in developed countries stands out as one of the most important accomplishments of the 20th century, this Open Ground will revolve around the concept of Aging in the 21st century: from malleability of aging, to health, vitality and the study of longevity as a new form of social inequality.

 Socio-economic Risks: Because it is now increasingly possible to track the location, health state, social and economic habits of nearly every person on the planet, and because the flows of Big Data can unleash powerful analytic capabilities, this Open Ground will revolve around the concept of Digital as an Ongoing Revolution: from privacy issues, to e-health and e-marketing evolutions.

 Environmental Risks: Because of increases in the frequency and intensity of climate change-induced extreme weather events combined with escalating population density, this Open Ground will revolve around our societies' Ability to Face Extreme Hazards: from the modeling of climate change at small and mid-scale, to socio-economic resilience and the prediction and impact assessment of local, extreme and recurring events.