AXA Research Fund inauguration speech
« It is our duty to invest in the future, for our societies and our children"
Henri de Castries, Chairman & CEO of AXA
As a global leader in its industry of Financial Protection, AXA can contribute to progress and knowledge for the well-being of people and the emergence of new talents.
Knowledge and understanding of our environment can only come from academic research. We must get involved, for ourselves and for future generations regardless of the development status of the country.
As with any evolution, the current and future changes in our world present both threats and opportunities. Understanding those better will help us on one hand anticipate the risks and as much as possible control them, and on the other identify opportunities of economic and social development
We intend that the fund we launch today contributes to this noble objective by understanding and hence preventing risks that individuals and the environment are facing. The Fund will support academic institutions involved in fundamental and applied research as well as more specific research projects.
This initiative is in line with AXA's tradition of involvement in the communities where it operates. The AXA Fund will encompass the existing partnerships we have developed with academic institutions over the years. With its Euro 100 million budget, the fund escalates our commitment to our educational endeavors. The Scientific Board we put together today will help us select the most relevant projects to make the best possible allocation of funds.
I do hope that the AXA initiative will foster similar initiatives by other corporations because the needs are so large. Developing and promoting knowledge and understanding is everyone's matter and by joining forces we will be able to tackle the challenges of a global economy together.